Gifted and talented??

[pleaserewind]

my 9 year old ds is according to his school classed as gifted and talented. I thought at first this was just a funny way of saying he was doing extremely well! I now realise this is a real classification!
I have no idea how i should help him develop furthur, what i should be doing. I want to make sure that i give him every oppurtunity to reach his full potential. Does anyone have any advice?
I am also thinking of his future secondary school, would a grammar school be better....help!

[ponygirl]

Any use?

[pleaserewind]

meant to also say that ds is fantastic with computers and i haven't a clue about computers (furthur than mumsnet!) so was wondering if there was anything or anywhere for him to do extra ict and progress more with this ??

[tallulah]

One note of caution. Gifted & Talented applies to the top 10% (I think- don't quote me) of that particular school. So if for example your child is reasonably bright in a school where most of her cohorts are not so able she will be considered G&T, but the school next door has a more able year group & she could be about average in their school IYSWIM.

One of my kids went to High School & was considered G&T. His 2 brothers & sister, who are actually brighter than he is, went to grammar school. If the grammar used the same criteria as the high school, then practically the entire school would be classed as G&T. The difference was the high school was starting from a lower base line.

It is always the top percentage of that particular school, with no reference to any other school.

That said, it's nice when your child is identified as being a bit special The only advice I would give you is to read to him lots & get him reading, and play a lot of board games with him (esp Scrabble). HTH

[happymerryberries]

Also there is a disinction between gifted, which means good all round, and talented, which means unusualy good in a specific subject.

[chipmonkey]

My ds1 is "talented" and we're in Ireland. Some of the universities here run classes for "talented youth" on every 3rd saturday. Not very helpful for you in the UK but perhaps there are similar schemes?

[pabla]

As well as looking at ways for him to keep him stimulated intellectually, I would suggest you also ensure he has a wide circle of friends and keeps up any extra-curricular activities. I obviously don't know your son's personality and he may be outgoing and have lots of friends and interests anyway. However, for some children and adults being very bright does not necessarily equate with being very happy. If he is very advanced in comparison with his class mates he may feel "different" and may get teased. If he concentrates too much on academic subjects, he may not develop a normal teenage social life. If he is a bright kid, the academic stuff will come easily to him, what he may actually need your help and encouragement with is developing/maintaing social skills. (Don't mean to worry you but I grew up with a sibling who is excetionally bright so have some experience with this.)