Toddler tutoring won’t give kids a head start, experts warn

Children as young as three are being given academic tutoring to get a head start on school, but experts have warned overeager parents to prioritise playtime instead.

CHILDREN as young as three are being sent to academic coaching classes to learn how to write letters and numbers in a bid to get a head start against their toddler peers.

But experts say it is ridiculous and it is best to let children play in those years before school so they can learn skills like sharing, creativity and how to use their imagination.

North Shore Coaching College now advertises tutoring programs aimed at children as young as 30 months old as part of its “Bright Sparks Fastrain Program (Ages 2.5-3+)”.

The program promises to introduce them to writing and mathematics in a bid to “improve early literacy and numeracy skills” while students are given homework to complete after their two hour lesson every week.

“Each lesson includes an experienced educator teaching learning concepts and examples, students completing exercises and homework tasks to reinforce concepts,” the tutoring company says of the program which costs $520 for a 10 week term.

Tutoring programs to prepare toddlers for primary school are now being offered. Picture: Supplied.

When contacted by The Daily Telegraph, National Deputy Principal for North Shore Colleges Tony Hanlon said the 2.5 age given was a “typo” and that children entering the college were normally a year older.

“We’re really looking at three and a half years up, we look at the maturity of the student, if we don’t believe the student will benefit, we recommend to the parent they have some more time at home before they come,” he said.

Experts have told parents to wait until children are of school age, and to focus on play instead.

“It is literacy and numeracy skills, there is not a drive to try and make them the top of the class at that stage.”

At Super Kids Tutoring in Double Bay, parents can send their child to the “Early Learners Program” for 3-4-year-olds where kids as young as three will be able to “recognise and write letters and words” and also ”learn basic mathematical number, space and measurement concepts.”

Individual Tutoring, which has branches in Castle Hill and Petersham, offers a Ready, Set Grow program for children aged between three and four years old which “helps children build a solid foundation and understanding of phonics, pre-reading, writing skills and numeracy.”

Australian Tutoring Association chief Mohan Dhall said three years of age was simply too young for tutoring and parents should leave the first formal teaching of maths and literacy up to the teacher.

Playtime is more important than tutoring for toddlers, experts have claimed.

“In my view it is probably a little bit ridiculous that you have formal classes for very young children and it is growing,” he said.

“We have seen a rising number of ATA members along the eastern seaboard, there has been a rise in the number of ‘school readiness programs’.

“It gives kids a very different view of school than what they should expect, which should be very more play based at a young age.”

University of NSW Gonski Institute chief Prof Pasi Sahlberg said there was not any strong evidence to say starting formal schooling earlier had any significant life benefits.

“In early childhood, kids should just have time to play,” he said.

“Play is where they can develop skills like initiating things, being creative, working with others, being able to communicate ideas — these are things they learn best in a playful environment.”

Western Sydney University child psychologist Dr Frances Doyle said parents should try to give them as many opportunities to play.

“Some kids who are trained to do well at a test can perform in it, but we need them to do well at life with lots of different skills like self regulation — which you cannot develop in a tutoring program,” she said.

Originally published as Toddler tutoring won’t give kids a head start, experts warn