What is Kumon? How it works, its strengths and what to know before you sign up
Maybe you walked past a Kumon center, or heard another parent mention it, and wondered: what is Kumon – a school, a company or a special kind of math? We are Japanese, teach soroban to children in Hanoi, and are often asked this question too. This article explains Kumon the way Kumon describes itself on its official websites, so you can judge for yourself whether it suits your child.
Kumon is a learning method from Japan in which children work through worksheets on their own, starting at a comfortable level and moving forward in small steps every day.
- Kumon is the name of a Japanese education company, not a regular school
- In Vietnam, Kumon offers two programs: math and English
- It starts with a placement test to find the right “starting point”
- Children read the examples and work alone; an Instructor grades and gives hints
- Usually two center visits a week, with worksheets at home on other days
- Suits children who can work alone, and families who can keep a daily routine
What is Kumon? A company, a school or a subject?
Kumon is the name of a Japanese education company, the Kumon Institute of Education, headquartered in Osaka. The name comes from the family name of its founder, Toru Kumon, and is also the name of the way of learning he created: “the Kumon Method”.
Kumon is not a school that replaces regular school, nor a special math subject. It is a network of after-school learning centers where each child works on worksheets matched to their own level. According to Kumon, the goal is for children to learn new things on their own without being taught first.
In Vietnam, according to Kumon Vietnam’s website, there are two programs: math and English. The English program is for children learning English as a foreign language and focuses on reading comprehension.
How did the Kumon Method begin?
According to Kumon, the story begins in 1954. Toru Kumon was then a high school math teacher. When his son was in grade 2, he started writing calculation problems on loose-leaf sheets for his son to do on his own at home.
After years of teaching high school, he knew that many students struggled with math simply because their calculation skills were weak. So his worksheets focused on calculation and were designed for children to learn by themselves, without a teacher explaining.
His son studied on his own for about 30 minutes a day. According to Kumon, by grade 6 he had reached differential and integral calculus. In 1958, Toru Kumon opened an office in Osaka to bring this way of learning to more children.
Today’s Kumon worksheets have been revised many times based on how students work through them. But the original idea is unchanged: each child moves forward at their own pace.
How does Kumon study work?
At Kumon, there is no teacher at the front explaining a lesson to the whole class. Each child works on their own worksheets at their own speed. According to Kumon, study usually follows these 5 steps:
- Take a placement test
When enrolling, your child takes a test. The Instructor uses the results to choose a “starting point” – a level your child can do easily and get fully correct.
- Start with easy work
The starting point is often below what your child is learning at school. That is on purpose: from day one, your child feels “I can do this”.
- Do worksheets at the center and at home
Children usually visit the center twice a week, about 30 minutes per subject. On the other days, they do worksheets at home.
- Grading and self-correction
The Instructor grades the worksheets. When your child makes a mistake, the Instructor doesn’t give the answer right away but offers hints so your child can find what is wrong and why.
- Move forward in small steps
Once your child has mastered a level, the next worksheets get a little harder. Over time, your child catches up and may go beyond their school grade.
According to Kumon, the math program runs from counting all the way to high school math, divided into thousands of worksheets, each just a little harder than the one before. Kumon calls this the “just-right” level: a level your child can do without being taught, while feeling a little progress every time.
Strengths of the Kumon Method
Here are four strengths that Kumon emphasizes, and that parents often mention too:
A little every day, steadily, until sitting down to study becomes as routine as brushing teeth.
Children read the examples on the worksheet and think before asking. Kumon places special value on this.
Doing many problems of the same type helps children calculate on paper faster, with fewer mistakes.
Children who need review can firm up the basics; fast learners can move ahead of their grade.
Because study always starts at a level children can manage, Kumon can help children who once “feared math” feel more confident when they pick up a pencil. According to Kumon, the feeling that “if I try, I can do it” is what makes children want to keep learning.
Which children does Kumon suit? Things for parents to consider
No method suits every child. The points below are general observations often mentioned, not a review of any particular center.
Often a good fit when
- Your child likes working quietly on their own
- Your child doesn’t mind repeating similar problems
- Your child needs to firm up basic calculation
- Your child learns fast and wants to get ahead
- You can keep a fixed study time every day
Worth thinking about when
- Your child gets bored quickly with repetition
- Your child stays motivated through friends, games or someone leading
- The family schedule makes daily time hard to find
- You mainly want your child to get strong at word problems and geometry
Some families find that daily worksheets gradually become a source of stress, especially when a child is tired or schoolwork piles up. If that happens, talk with the Instructor – they adjust the number of worksheets each day for each child.
Many people also say that since Kumon worksheets focus on calculation, word problems and geometry are best supported at school and at home. For example, work out prices together when shopping, or measure things around the house. A little every day, steadily, is still the key – whichever method your child follows.
How are Kumon and soroban different?
Both come from Japan and both build skills in small daily steps, but they teach in different ways: in Kumon, children work alone with worksheets and a pencil; in soroban, they use an abacus with a teacher leading the class, then gradually move on to mental math by picturing the abacus in their head. For a detailed comparison, see Soroban or Kumon?. If you are also considering Shichida or Montessori, see Shichida, Montessori, Kumon, Soroban: how do these 4 approaches to education differ?.
Before you sign up for Kumon: 5 things to check
Whether you choose Kumon or another after-school class, check a few things before you decide:
- Let your child try it. Ask the center whether a trial is available, and watch your child: do they understand the instructions, and can they work on their own?
- Plan the daily time in advance. Who will remind your child or sit with them, at what time – including weekends and holidays?
- See whether your child enjoys it. After a few weeks, does your child take out the worksheets on their own, or do you have to keep reminding them?
- Think about the commute. Two visits a week for many months – a center close to home is easier to keep up with.
- Ask the center directly. The schedule, the fees, and how the Instructor keeps parents updated when a child’s progress stalls.
The right method is the one your child still wants to do after three months, not just after the first session.
If you are also considering soroban, Kodomo Soroban Center offers a free trial lesson at our center in Vinhomes Gardenia, Hanoi: 3–5 children per class, 60 minutes per lesson. Learn what soroban is, see the class schedule at our center, or sign up on our Contact page or by calling or messaging us on Zalo at 096.802.8484.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kumon – is it a school?
Kumon is the name of a Japanese education company, and also the name of the learning method Toru Kumon began in 1954. It is not a regular school but an after-school learning center: each child works on worksheets at their own level, and an Instructor grades them and gives hints. In Vietnam, Kumon offers two programs: math and English.
Is Kumon good for kids?
Kumon has clear strengths: a daily study habit, the ability to learn independently, and fast, accurate calculation. It usually suits children who can sit and work on their own, in families that can keep a regular study time. If your child gets bored quickly with repetition, try a trial and watch for a few weeks before deciding.
What age can children start Kumon?
According to Kumon Vietnam, students can start from preschool age and continue through high school. Kumon doesn’t assign work by age: each child takes a placement test, then starts at a level that is right for them. For young children, what matters is whether they can sit with a worksheet for a while and enjoy it.
How long does Kumon take each day?
According to Kumon, students usually visit the center twice a week, about 30 minutes per subject, and do worksheets at home on the other days. The actual time varies by child and by level; if your child takes both math and English, plan time for both subjects.
What is the difference between Kumon and soroban?
In Kumon, children learn with worksheets on their own, building written calculation skills and the ability to learn independently. In soroban, children learn with an abacus, led by a teacher in class, then move on to mental math by picturing the abacus in their head. For a detailed comparison, see Soroban or Kumon?.
Try a free soroban lesson
Classes of 3–5 children at Vinhomes Gardenia (Hanoi), 60 minutes each, taught exactly as in Japan. Phone · Zalo 096.802.8484.
Written by the teaching team of Kodomo Soroban Center, following the method and textbooks of Kodomo School (Japan, teaching soroban since 1976). The center is licensed by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, and our project is a 2026 EDU-Port Nippon supported project of Japan’s Ministry of Education (MEXT).
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