developing the early learner workbooks--worth getting?

[Penelope]

I was thinking about getting these for my pre-Ker to "do school" with us. Are they worth doing? Or just busy work? Best for 3, 4 or 5 years old?

Anything you'd recommend instead? We like Kumon okay for pre-writing activities and fine motor practice, but DEL looks a little different, like it involves a bit more. I'm a little turned off by the claim that it increases IQ. :confused: I am wondering what in the world is in the books that could possibly do that. ;)

[Tiffani]

When my 3rd ds was around 4/5 I bought the ones from SL. He did them for a few weeks, but then we flushed them and went back to just reading good books. He loved writing on his write-on/wipe-off board more than doing workbooks.

I don't know about the ones you've mentioned.

[one l michele]

At first I thought they were expensive for what we got. Now that ds (4) is finishing up book 3, I think it was just my timing with the first two books (I should have started him with them a few months earlier). DEL is always the first he picks to do each day. He's learning valuable skills and showing me things he already knows that I was unaware of. He also has been enjoying the Get Ready for the Code series.

[mims]

I think they are great kids. It really helps you see how your children learn and if they have struggle areas. The one I remember best is the listening to instructions. You practice giving one step instructions (color the bird red) and increase up to five steps (cross out the truck, underline the dog, color the bird red, etc.) They cover five areas I think such as auditory (the instructions), fine motor, visual, and some other areas.
They really do increase in difficulty so a lot of kids are on to a lot of other things before they finish all four. I frequently hear of people only finishing the first two. So I would suggest buying the first two and really seeing how it goes.

[Jennay]

I am using them with DS age 5. I like them...they cover many valuable skills. Some pages are very easy for my DS, some are more challenging. He enjoys these workbooks a lot. We are about halfway done with Book 2 and I plan on having him complete Books 3 and 4 for K.

[CMama]

I wouldn't categorize the DEL series as busy work at all... that's why I like them. My ds4 will be finishing the first book this week and start the second book next week. I love Timberdoodle's review on the DEL series (http://www.timberdoodle.com/Developing_the_Early_Learner_p/218-218.htm)... I believe that says it all.

BTW... we are using Cursive First by Elizabeth Fitzgerald for cursive penmanship and she highly recommends the DEL series of books for readiness workbooks and ReadyWriter (http://www.providenceproject.com/intro/view_rw.htm) for pencil-control activities. We're using both and I highly recommend them as well!

[Calming Tea]

they are worth it. My dd really improved many skills and I definitely got a good grasp of her strengths and weaknesses. They were well worth it. I used it with my dd when she was just-turned-four and it was a perfect fit, but I slowed her down, because they do increase pretty drastically in difficulty from beginning to end.

Timberdoodle used to have them for a very good price.

ETA: My DD ABSOLUTELY LOVED them, and she was not and is not really "into" school or workbooks.

[one l michele]

That is interesting, because I thought the first two were "okay", but I "really" like the last two. The first two weren't busy work, they just didn't "wow" me like the last two.