I checked them out last year. From my research, it seems that children learn at Kumon thru repetition. They do a skill over and over until they perfect it without mistakes. They do this on worksheets seated at tables - there is a sort of "proctor-tutor" that checks the sheets and then starts them on their next one. It seems to work (I know 3 kids who went there and do well in school), but I then realized that I could do that on my own for free. And that is what I do. I use worksheets from edhelper.com to reinforce what DD learns. She does quite well in school also.