Parent to Parent: Kinder cramming

On any given afternoon, millions of American children are busy in tutoring programs, reading, writing, and "rithmeticking."

Sruthi Ilangovan, 5
"I read a book and do flashcards and do my homework."

Sruthi started her tutoring program at the ripe age of 3!

Ilangovan Murugesan, father
"We wanted to start her early this is the age they can grasp as much as they can."

Akila Radhakrishnan, mother
"She does all her class work very fast she is the first to finish."

She is the face of a new wave in what some call "Kinder Cramming."

Cassandra Hugh, Kumon Center Instructor
"Students go to each level at their own pace. We don't force them. We don't push them so they always think it's fun to learn."

And a recent study of 36,000 pre-schoolers in the U.S., Canada and Britain showed that students who entered kindergarten with basic math and reading skills did better in school later on- but is it too much too soon?

Thomas Plante, SCU psychology professor
"It's a cultural phenomenon that in America you can always do things faster better. Ultimately it can turn kids off to learning."

Some psychologists say parents should watch their child's reaction -- do they have fun doing the extra work, or is it a chore?

Thomas Plante, SCU psychology professor
"There are many different paths to a life well lived and it doesn't necessarily mean flash cards and multiple languages at young ages."

And it's on the path to sharpening those young minds. Remember, learning programs are not "one size fits all."

(Copyright 2008 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)