Class 6 in June, and she's asking for a tuition because 'everyone has one'

pebble_hammock_448510 May 2026

Her marks are fine. Not top of the class, but fine, and she does most of her homework on her own. Now three of her friends have joined a tuition centre near the bus stop for the new year and she wants to go too. I can't tell if she wants the extra teaching or just the hour with her friends after school 😄 My partner thinks it's harmless. I think once we start, we never stop. Did anyone say no to this and regret it? Or say yes and regret it?

3 comments

amber_ladle_1310 May 2026
We'll be the odd voice here, since our son is homeschooled now. But one thing we noticed before we left school was how often tuition filled a social gap that school didn't, especially around ten to twelve. If what she wants is the hour with friends, is there another way to give her that? A club, a weekly activity, even a regular study afternoon at one of the friends' homes. If it's the teaching she wants, she'll be able to tell you after a month whether it's helping.
- cinnamon_pebble_373010 May 2026
  The study afternoon at a friend's home sounds good on paper. In practice, ours turned into two hours of chatting and one page of maths, and the host mother was not pleased. A tuition at least has someone responsible for the hour. I'd find out what the centre does in that time before assuming it's only social.
orchid_gecko_648210 May 2026
Ours started tuition in class 7 for much the same reason. For the first year the friends were the real draw. By class 9 it had become useful for maths. It also never stopped, which is exactly your worry. I'd agree only if you settle in advance on when you'll review it, say after the first unit test.
maple_drum_799510 May 2026
We're a couple of years behind you and already hearing this from our 8 year old about an abacus class. I haven't decided either. What I keep coming back to is the after-school hours. If she's at tuition, she isn't resting, playing or bored, and bored has been surprisingly good for ours.