United Educators Inc Package - To buy or not to Buy

[wtchyhlr]

Ladies,

I have decided the collective knowledge of MDC is unrivaled, and am therefore hoping one or more of you have dealt with this company. They gave us a presentation today. Pushed for an answer, but we have a sleep on it policy for all salesmen (a result of me buying a really pricey vacuum from one years ago.... :LOL )

Its a deal where you get story books, a phonics program, games, math program (flash cards, etc), science program , activity books, and encyclopedia set... etc. Geared towards the first 10-12years of your kids life to have them starting school at or ahead of the levels.

I am leaning towards it, its pricey, but not as pricey as buying everything separately would be.

Was curious as to if any of you had experience with it.

I told the guy we'd call him tmorrow.... Which he didn't like, but hey, we have a policy for that very reason - to think about it.

[chalupamom]

You know, I wouldn't buy anything from anyone who didn't respect your need think about it.

Not to mention, I'm willing to bet that you could get the stuff in the package (or stuff very much like it) on your own - if you were so inclined - for significantly less money.

My verdict: pass.

Let us know what you decide.

[Karenwith4]

Honestly? I'd take a pass on this kind of package.

Moominmama wrote a great piece about all the stuff you could buy for your kids instead of one of these packages.

For us these wouldn't have worked. We have a non-fiction, activity book hating, electically interested and yet passionately single-minded type of kid. In the early years, my kids learn better naturally without a lot of rote type learning and by the time they hit school age they are not likely to get a lot of value from something designed to cover such a large age range.

And on another angle, there's no rush to start school ahead. Kids will be where/what/who they will be and an attempt to push them to be different than who they are is imo unhealthy and disrespectful.

The best thing academically speaking you can give your child is time and attention and sharing in the interesting world around them. They'll learn all they need with that, some trips to the library, free play, and the games that you discover together.

Save your money so you can spend your time instead.

Karen

[chfriend]

I'd pass myself. I like the freedom to respond to my kids' interests as they develop. Do you have a link? These moms know their pricing.

[moominmamma]

This sounds very much like the program being sold in Canada under the name "Headstart" by a company called "A-Plus Child Development". As KarenWith4 mentioned, questions about the sales tactics and the value of the program come up frequently enough that I wrote down a version of my standard response. The link is here:

Skeptic's view (The prices I estimated are in Canadian dollars which are worth a little less than US, but you'll get the picture.)

Hope that helps!

Miranda

[annettemarie]

I vote pass. There's nothing there you couldn't accumulate or borrow on your own, as you need it, without getting stuck with a bunch of extras you won't use.

[Lousli]

Joy,
I'll have to agree with the others here. One of the things I've liked least about teaching in public school is that the curriculum is not flexible to different students' needs (despite what they tell us). Teachers often have to supplement for students that are several grades below/above grade level in reading, writing, and math, which all obviously affect other curricular areas as well. It would seem to me that I'd be more inclined to buy things piece by piece as my child gets older, seeing what his or her individual interests, talents, and needs are. You can buy on Ebay, here from other homeschoolers, at teaching supply stores, library book sales, used bookstores, etc., and most likely save a bundle!

As others have mentioned, you have no way at this point of knowing how Dominic will learn best. He may be a more visual learner, he may need to touch things to understand them, etc. Plus, you may have more children in the future that are very different in their learning styles! If you want some recommendations on early childhood or elementary books and teaching tools, I'd be happy to give you some ideas, and I know many others here have great resources as well. HTH!

[wtchyhlr]

We declined to purchase.... Sleeping on it made me smack myself upside the head for even thinking i had an extra $100 a month / feeling guilty for not finding that extra $100 for DS's education.

Besides, the more i thought about the salesman, the more irritated i got. DS got kind of fussy and he told me to feel free to make him a bottle. I promptly whipped out my breast. Dork.

[Karenwith4]

Yay - good for you. And I think that your sleep on it policy is brilliant.
Karen

[Mom4tot]

Originally Posted by wtchyhlr

We declined to purchase.... Sleeping on it made me smack myself upside the head for even thinking i had an extra $100 a month / feeling guilty for not finding that extra $100 for DS's education.

Besides, the more i thought about the salesman, the more irritated i got. DS got kind of fussy and he told me to feel free to make him a bottle. I promptly whipped out my breast. Dork.

:LOL Funny!


You can buy an awful lot for $100.00 a month

Have you checked out the Rainbow Resources catalogue?

[phathui5]

Wow, I don't think I'd pay $100 a month for any prepackaged curriculum.