Academics & Tuitions

Two levels left in abacus after four years, and she wants to stop now

lilac_marigold_2879

Our daughter is 10 and has done abacus since she was 6. Two levels to go before the final certificate. This week she told me, very calmly, that she doesn't enjoy it anymore and would rather use Saturday mornings for drawing. Part of me wants her to finish what she started. Part of me knows the certificate is more for me than for her. Her school maths is fine either way. If your child stopped close to the end, did either of you regret it?

4 comments

  • velvet_wave_2727

    Speaking as a maths teacher: abacus builds speed with arithmetic, and she has most of that by now. The last two levels add more speed, not much new understanding. If she wants to draw, I wouldn't hold her to it for a certificate.

  • quiet_hammock_7155

    I can only speak from one case. Our daughter stopped music exams one grade short at 12. She hasn't regretted it; my partner and I did, for about a month. I would only add that it may be worth asking whether she wants to stop abacus or stop that particular class, since sometimes it is the batch or the teacher.

  • amber_diary_225

    Our son is in his second year of abacus and already asking the same question. May I ask what she said when you asked why? I'm trying to work out whether it's boredom or difficulty at the higher levels.

    • lilac_marigold_2879

      She says it's 'the same thing, faster' every week. Not hard, just dull for her now, and I think that's a fair description. Your son may still be at the stage where it feels new, so it could be quite different for him ❤

  • silver_kettle_5667

    Ours stopped at level 6 of 8 because of exams and never went back. No regrets on his side. Mine are mostly about the fee for the level he never sat 🙂

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