Children learn best by discovering solutions on their own. Instead of giving answers, guiding them to think independently builds confidence and problem-solving skills. Here’s how you can support your children by guiding them to the answer while fostering independence.

Younger Children (Preschool & Early Primary Kumon Levels 6A–B)

Keep Sessions Short & Positive

Break worksheets into smaller parts and celebrate efforts. Maintain a calm, playful approach to mistakes like:

• Let’s try again and see if you can beat your last attempt!

Example: if a 5-year-old skips letters while reading (Kumon English – Level 7A), suggest tracking sounds with a finger to help them slow down.

Turn Mistakes into Learning Opportunities

Encourage self-correction with prompts like:

• What do you notice in this correct example?
• Try tracing it first.

For example: if a child writes the number ‘5‘ backward, have them trace it.

Older Children (Upper Primary & Secondary Kumon Levels C–J)

Ask Questions Instead of Giving Answers

Strengthen problem-solving skills by asking questions like:

• What do you think the question is asking?
• Have you encountered a similar example before?
• Can you check where your answer went wrong?

For example: if a child makes a mistake with fractions (Kumon Maths – Level E), you might ask, “Did you find a common denominator first?”

Encourage Self-Checking

Prompt your children to review their work before submission. If errors occur frequently, suggest they redo the question.

For instance, in algebra (Kumon Maths – Level G), prompt them to evaluate if their answer aligns with prior questions.