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Yes, my child is gifted. Oh god, what am I going to do now.
  • BellaBefanaBellaBefana
    Posts: 8,244Member
    Oh yes, this is the BEST time to start teaching multiple languages!  The problem would be getting him someone to talk to in those languages!
    Bite me, cupcake!
  • BellaBefanaBellaBefana
    Posts: 8,244Member
    @ChristyJ:  what about more advanced "crayons" like watercolor crayons...Michael's has a great selection of stuff like that, I can get you the specific name of the ones I like if you want, and a big pads of art paper?  Perhaps some "how to" drawing books for cartoons, etc.?
    Bite me, cupcake!
  • ChristyJChristyJ
    Posts: 883Member
    Activity TV.  Best website ever created.  Working on Cartooning and he loves it.  Asks to go there for his smart time almost every day.
    Imperfect and proud of it.
  • boring_nameboring_name
    Posts: 667Member
    My youngest favorite website is Coolmath.com.. they have a younger version 
    http://www.coolmath4kids.com/ since you said your's just finished Kindergarten.

    I understand where you are coming from... 
    Here is my little brag fest...
    My oldest floored me with all he knew so early. He counted to 20 at 18months, at 4 years old he spelled "Paleontologist" with letter blocks at the doctors office (I had to ask DH if he spelled it correctly.. he did.). In Kindergarten we had to petition the school to allow him to check out the 'older kids' books because he was reading at such a high level the 'picture books' were worthless to him. He was BORED silly in 1st grade but got a hold of a math book at my sister's and taught himself binary. His teacher only offered 'busy work' when he was done with class work. 2nd grade he had a fantastic teacher that 'got it' and was super supportive of getting him involved at his ability level....she offered him unlimited access to an accelerated reader program (he had the highest scores in the entire K-6 school!), she made arrangements for him to occasionally visit the 6th grade classroom for math enrichment, and he got to start a math club with the older kids.
    He was offered placement in GATE for 3rd grade (Gifted and Talented Education) and it was fantastic! 
    DS is graduating from University this month with a BA in Linguistics. He's 21. 

    Both of my DD's went through GATE as well and are straight A students in an advanced high school program called Cambridge. Older DD lettered in academics in high school and got quite a few scholarships for university based on her GPA and community service. She entered college with 45 credits earned and sophomore status. She is a biology major (well she will be in Jan when she can declare her major). She's 19.

    Younger DD is not only brilliant but talented as well. She is a full time Cambridge Academy student (all of her classes are advanced level), she plays flute and bassoon, acts, writes poetry and sings. She is 2 years ahead in math so is taking calculus/mechanics at 15. 

    Younger DS has some challenges and might be considered a late bloomer academically but has made huge strides this year and was offered a position in the middle school Cambridge program for next year. Math is his strong suit and I can't help him with it anymore. He is above what I learned (thank goodness for older siblings and DH). He's 11. 

    I often feel like a dummy in this household! 

    Keep up with enrichment, move him ahead academically as long as he is doing well socially. He sounds like a brilliant little man. I think the hardest thing for me to balance was the fact that although brilliant, advanced, articulate and opinionated, they were still just kids and their emotional/social growth is just as important as the educational/intellectual. Good luck with him!! 
    B
  • DaBOMB
    Posts: 273Member

     I say... take your lead from him.  Ask him what he wants to do.  And then do it.  If it's too much you'll be able to tell, cause he won't do it well or show any enthusiasm for it.  Some things are HAVE to's... some things are want to's...  and somethings are not even on the table.  Sports might also be a good choice.  Soccer?  Baseball?  Cub Scouts is a great chance to learn useful things and then put them into practice.  I still have the bird house my son made me in 2nd grade.  So proud because he did it all himself!  Both also give him a chance to grow socially.  Yes, academics are important.  I'm demanding of my kid when it comes to that.  But a well rounded child is just as important.  It helps them grow mentally and physically. 

  • DaBOMB
    Posts: 273Member
    @borning_name  You said it!!!  They're still just kids.  Encourage, be involved, but give them a chance to try lots of stuff so they can find their bliss!  The thing that makes them happy. 
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    well behaved women seldom make history
  • boring_nameboring_name
    Posts: 667Member
    Pastels are messy but fun :D 

    Lots of watercolor colored pencils on the market now too... use like a pencil then paint over with water to 'smudge' and give different texture...

    And I do have to agree with Scouting. I know Boy Scouts gets a bad name sometimes.. but with the right group it can be a positive experience that gives a lot of opportunities. Both of my girls were/are also Girl Scouts. 

    Rule in my house is "B or better, every person in our home is capable of a B or better" I even held myself to it when I went back to school! 
    B
  • DaBOMB
    Posts: 273Member
    Scouts is what you make of it.  You don't like the group, get involved and change the group.  Been there, done that.  Kids are happier and more adults are pitching in. 
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Guys, can I just say that my DS14 skipped a grade and in his case it was the BEST thing for him?

    Now, granted, he has a late birthday (mid September) so he isn't THAT much younger.  But he was so relieved to be with kids that were more mature and he has not suffered adversely at all.  The skip was done around sixth grade.  He now just finished 9th grade and he is the kind of kid who has friends in the grade ahead as well as friends who are still in middle school.  Just depends on the friends.

    One of his good friends is a girl, a daughter of my friend, who just turned 13 last week and he will be 15 in September.  She is gifted, and you would get such a kick out of hearing the two of them talk.  Her mom and I often end up lost trying to follow their conversations (and her mom is a teacher who taught GT English!)... they are out of this world smart and funny and amazing. :)

    Anyway, just saying that skipping a grade isn't always that bad.  

    I was largely overlooked in my huge public school.  One of those "fallen through the cracks" cases and from what I have learned since then, I most likely should have been given some other opportunities, should have been tested, etc.  I used complete sentences before age 2,was reading by age 3.5, and my mother was encouraged more than once when I was young to "have me tested" but she didn't.

     Instead I spent most of my school years bored to tears and hating it, and getting into trouble instead.
    "But a lesson must be lived
    In order to be learned"

    Ani DiFranco, Manhole
  • boring_nameboring_name
    Posts: 667Member
    @Charlotte_Sometimes I am all for skipping a grade if needed to keep them intellectually stimulated... but it's just as important they are emotionally ready and mature enough.

    Sounds like it was a perfect fit for your son :)

    Although my 1st DS was absolutely intelligent enough to skip.. he was the youngest in his class already.. skipping would have put him 2 years younger than all the kids in his grade (he graduated at 17).. I didn't think it was the best choice for him. :) 
    B
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    @boring_name;

    Yeah, I was just trying to make the point that it depends. I guess I received a lot of negativity when we decided to let my son advance a grade and I wanted to share that it was good for him... but I can definitely see how other kids might need to be more emotionally mature as well. :)
    "But a lesson must be lived
    In order to be learned"

    Ani DiFranco, Manhole
  • ChristyJChristyJ
    Posts: 883Member
    Alex is not going to skip, even if the school thinks he is ready, he is very immature, even for his age (although he does sound like an adult a lot of the time).  I just want to give him the chance to use his noggin, apparently I was just like him but no one noticed.  I am smart, always got straight As without trying, but never got challenged or learned how to use my brain.  I did start kindergarten when I was four so I was always the second youngest in class, one other friend was younger than me, but she was very mature.  I always felt like I was one step behind.
    Imperfect and proud of it.
  • ButterflyButterfly
    Posts: 80Member

    My son sounds very similar to yours.  It's unfortunate that G&T programs are being reduced with funding.  We had our son in a social group at school -- he met with the school psychologist and some other kids once a week for lunch, and they worked on social skills and frustration levels.  I've decided that it's okay if DS isn't interested in playing with other kids -- if he keeps to himself and doesn't harrass anyone, that's fine by me. 

    We had huge behavior issues in UPK and spoke to the Principal and the Superintendent before we were able to get him into the classroom of a 'behavior guru'.   Since then, his behavior issues have continued to diminish.  The Principal of your son's school will know which teachers are better at classroom (and student) management than others; have a sit-down, and get him into the best classroom for him next year.

    With bright kids, there are always going to be challenges -- I told his teacher at the beginning of the year, "If you don't challenge him, he will challenge you."  Ask your son's teacher for expansion materials for the curriculum.  I spend some time at home organizing materials (we're workng on 1's, 10's, 100's and 'borrowing' for subtraction right now).  We also have a tutor who comes in 2 days a week for an hour afterschool to work with him.  Fortunately (?) because of the lack of teaching jobs, we were able to get a tutor who is Elementary Certified, Special Education Certified, and a Reading Specialist.  She focuses on DS's interests, and expands upon them.  We pay her $25 an hour -- it's better than sub-pay, and I get an hour break.

    DS's son also recommended non-fiction reading for him -- it's more difficult, because the vocabulary is different from the classroom readers, and we're able to focus on things he enjoys.

    As for the summer months (God help us!), DS goes to the YMCA daycamp -- keeps him engaged and busy all day!  I only bought a Y membership for him, so it's cheaper than a family membership, and we still get the discounted rates for swimming lessons and daycamp.

    It can be exhausting raising a Gifted Child -- we're go-go-go every weekend, and have memberships at a few museums just to keep our little 'sponge' happy.  We go to the airport and identify planes, we go to the Welland Canal and check out the boats.  As DS says, "Mommy, my brain never turns off, even when I'm sleeping".  

    I know, Son.

    I know.

  • ChristyJChristyJ
    Posts: 883Member
    I love when Alex will wake right up from a deep sleep and say..."Mom, I had this great idea..." like he has been awake for hours.  It appears Alex's "gifts" are mainly language oriented, which is a real challenge for me, because if it is not in English, I just don't get it.  I am going to speak to his Gifted Teacher next year and hopefully she will have some resources I can start my searching with.
    Imperfect and proud of it.
  • BellaBefanaBellaBefana
    Posts: 8,244Member
    Y's are great places!  And they're on sliding scales for fees so if you can't afford it, they're there to help.  I just wish that more would put more effort in to non-sports activities as they do sports!
    Bite me, cupcake!
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