Group outings for gifted designated children aged 5-7 in London

[Dadathome1]

Hi All,

My name is Cory and I'm a father of six year old gifted daughter who will be in London from the end of April until the last week of August while my wife is writing a television show in town. I believe we will be staying in the Shoreditch neighbourhood and I was intending to take advantage of the programs at sites like the Tate Gallery, Centre of the Cell and the Natural History Museum (as well as the GIFT courses). I wanted to see if there some interest in group outings for gifted children in the above mentioned age range. Such groups may already exist and I'd welcome any links or contact information if that is the case, but if not let's try to set something up.

Cheers,
Cory Kinney

[SquirmOfEels]

This organisation runs events which might interest you. There are probably similar organisations covering other parts of London.

[strawberrybubblegum]

A summer in London with your 6 year old - you are going to have an AMAZING time! There is so much to do here aimed at exactly that age group.

I can understand you wanting to set up a social circle for your daughter since you will be here for a while. I think your best bet will be through your wife's work: colleagues may have young families, or have friends who do, and be happy to meet up for outings. I wouldn't get too hung up on them being gifted. Most middle class London families enjoy all the cultural enrichment we have available, and I'm sure your daughter will enjoy being with other kids regardless of giftedness.

You could sign your daughter up for some holiday activities and again be very forward with other parents you meet about being interested in meeting up, but people are often already quite busy. Have a look at these

But you can do a lot of fun things just with your daughter. You have rightly spotted that the museums do a lot of activities and workshops for children. As well as the ones you mention, also look at the London Transport Museum, Science museum, British Museum (mummies!), Museum of London, Museum of Childhood. Be aware that the big museums get REALLY busy during weekends and holidays, especially the Natural History Museum. If you are here during term-time and your daughter isn't in school then take full advantage of being able to go during school days.

Some of the museums (eg Science Museum, British Museum) do overnight sleepovers (you bring sleeping bags and sleep in the museum! Lots of activities before sleeping). You have to book well in advance, so you should look at that now.

There are some great cultural activities for children in London:

• LSO, LPO, Royal Albert Hall and Barbican do classical music concerts aimed at children (you'll find more music events for children if you google).
  
• There are some really outstanding childrens theatre companies: look at the Little Lyric Theatre, Unicorn Theatre (London Bridge), Little Angels Puppet Theatre (Islington).
  
• There is often open air theatre in summer, so search for that too (the amazing Regents Park Open Air theatre doesn't do so much for children these days, but there are other smaller ones).
  
• And so many west end shows and musicals to choose from too!
  

There are some fab parks and open spaces. Check out the Diana Memorial playground in Kensington Gardens,Coram Fields, Battersea Park Zoo (also has a huge playground).

Of course, you'll have to visit tourist attractions too.

If your DD likes the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, then go to Hampton Court too. Do the journey there by boat along the Thames one way - the Palace was designed to be approached by boat and is very impressive from the river (train back is quicker).

One you might not think of is the Houses of Parliament: the guided tour at weekends and during the summer is well worth doing, or you can watch a debate from the public gallery.

Worth going out to Greenwich for the fantastic museums there and the Cutty Sark. You might like to go on the cable car too.

London Eye is fun. Southbank and the aquarium, changing of the guards, cabinet war rooms, lots of markets and interesting places close to Shoreditch. I like the London Museum of Water and Steam, although that would be a reasonable journey for you (it's near Kew). In fact, there is a huge amount to see if you are willing to travel an hour or so - which I would recommend doing if you are from far away. Too many great things to mention! Have a wonderful time.

[Basketofchocolate]

This might be useful: www.tomorrowsachievers.co.uk/masterclasses

If you get on the mailing list they'll let you know what's coming up while you're in London. My son has been to a couple and really enjoyed himself.

As said above, there is so much in London to keep little ones busy and fascinated.

I am not sure how much 'overt' stuff there is. You sound like you could be from overseas - just a guess - and having a gifted child is not something shouted about in British culture I think, so you may have to dig around to find specific activities. Many of the museums do offer great stuff though so worth having a chat to them.

If there is an interest in organising a meet up from this topic, that would be good.

[alwayssurprised]

The courses fron you link looks really interesting Basket! My child (Y1) is quite bright but not sure if exceptional - in your DS experience are the courses really intense? Do the courses reasonably cater for the year group indicated or does the child need to be several years ahead to really benefit?

[Basketofchocolate]

I only have his view to go on as you drop them off there so don't really know what goes on :) He enjoyed it. For maths he's a few years ahead but they say that they only cover the curriculum levels for the years the course is aimed for so if they are comfortably working at the year above they will be fine - maybe more or less too. They are really nice if phone and chat through.

In one there was a lot of game playing - more like the depth stuff in the curriculum for more able kids - not pushing above the level, but exploring deeper - so maths games using maths they should know, but the games put them in a different setting- not just column addition or worksheets. The people who run the courses are good at their subject so able to answer curious minds, rather than a primary teacher who has a different specialty to maths, for e.g.

Sorry, that's a bit rambling - am trying to do too many things at once!

[alwayssurprised]

That's really helpful Basket, maybe I will ask if he wants to give one a go!

[MrsWombat]

Take a look at the Royal Institute of Great Britain. They are doing lots of science and maths stuff over the summer.