Let's Fold! Kumon First Steps Workbooks :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Another great little skill book from Kumon

2006-08-13
I am a homeschool mom who recently discovered the GREAT Kumon books for children. LET'S FOLD is part of the Kumon First Steps series, which also includes 3 other books: Let's Color, Let's Sticker and Paste, and Let's Cut Paper. The books in this series are recommended for ages 2 and up. I want to say I am using these with my 8 yr. old son, along with the regular Kumon books, and he is enjoying it very much. Many children take a while to learn to handle scissors, pencils, glue, and these fun workbooks are a simple and fun way for them to learn these skills!

In LET'S FOLD, there are 39 folding projects. No cutting is involved for the child. Mom or Dad cuts the project off the page for the child to work on. The first 4 folding projects are very simple; folding the square paper in half; a rabbit and panda thus do "peek a boo", a dog has a bone hidden in his mouth, you can make the boy laugh or cry. Projects 5-14 introduce folding the square twice, where the ends meet in the center. This was NOT at first easy for my son, so I am glad there were so many pages of this sort of fold. Projects included: opening the 2 flaps to see the bear and pig change clothes, and many were opening the folded flaps to see the inside of a fruit or vegetable, such as an apple, papaya, cabbage, lemon, melon, green pepper, etc. Projects 15 and 16 introduced folding the 2 bottom corners up to finish the zebra's or bear's face. Projects 17-22 involve the fold where all 4 corners of the square are folded to the center point, making a smaller square. Again, this is NOT always easy for a child to master! These have photos of animals from the rear or as babies, and when the folding is done you see a full view of the animal and in the case of the babies, the grown up animals. Projects 23-32 involve folds that will change the picture (cute drawings) from one thing to another thing as you unfold it: chainging the number of candies, or an elephant into a mouse, or a donkey into a fish. The last 3 have many more folds to create a series of illustrated actions. Projects 33 to 36 are "origami", with the child doing folds in order to make a paper hat, a boquet of flowers in a paper wrapper, a fox's head and a dog's head with ears, etc. The last 3 projects involve accordian or "paper fan" folds, and when folded correctly, one side has tigers, one side has zebras, etc. This is a very well done book for children printed on sturdy paper, and the projects are fun and attractive. Folding isn't something we think children should learn, but it is a good skill, and helps children to learn to concentrate, be careful, and see that paper can make pretty and fun things when folded neatly. I highly recommend it for all children, and I don't think any parent would be disappointed with it. It is something fun and quick you can do together without a lot of supplies; just you and your child, a pair of scissors, and this book. Have fun!

Excellent teaching tool

2008-06-02
My 2-1/2 yr old daughter really enjoys her Kumon workbooks. She calls them "homework", and she has several workbooks: mazes, tracing, coloring - they are all great.

more simple fun for preschoolers

2008-03-01
The ideas are so simple, but my son loves the colorful pictures and the end results. They are a treat for him and he looks forward to his "school work."

Highly recommend

2007-03-31
I have a preschooler with fine motor delays and he HATES to do anything which requires use of his hands. I was told by his teachers that this will lead to issues in school when he is expected to write and participate in art projects. If he can't write, it will affect his academic future.

Therapy provided only so much help, as he was frustrated with the tasks. But then I learned about Kumon's excellent reputation for learning through their local tutoring center - I purchased all of the workbooks.

Because of my childs delays, this book was actually the most difficult for him. He doesn't understand how to fold paper in an orderly way. What helped was the folding lines he could see on the illustrations. He truly tried to fold it correctly so he could "see the boy cry, and then see him happy". It's a simple concept, but it's meant to develop skills while keeping the child interested.

If it's not fun or interesting to a child, they won't want to do it. Folding paper for a young child helps to develop fine motor skills, that will help them in all areas when they begin to write, button, zip etc.

My child is getting a lot of exposure to fine motor tasks with these workbooks, but is still having fun with them.

Not interesting enough for wee folks

2007-03-02
My three year old was just not interested in folding paper. I would recommend the Let's Sticker! or Let's Cut Paper! over this one.

great start

2006-12-12
my boys love the folding book - it's basic (and i mean BASIC) origami. but since they're not yet 2, they have a while before they can get through the book as the designs become progressively more intricate. very entertaining.