5 year old gifted in maths?

[PrettyKitty1986]

The Internet has no definitive answer and I was wondering if anyone has a child who is g&t in maths and what sorts of things they were doing at 5?

My ds was 5 in January and over the last 6 months I've known he has a keen interest in maths...but I was shocked when he recently showed me maths work they do in reception, with sums such as 5+4 because this is so far behind what we do at home!

How do I know if he is g&t or just a bit forward?

[bobthebear]

What does he do at home?

[PrettyKitty1986]

He's always loved his 'sums'. He has his own notebook and is constantly badgering me to write him list after list to do.
There is no number he can't add...an example of a sum would be 234575 + 47378 +5843...he converts it to the list format then adds it in tens/units etc. He is able to subtract numbers of the same size too, uses the 'borrowing' rule competently.

We've recently started doing long division and multiplication with 2 and 3 digit numbers. He has a really good grasp of basic algebra and can solve simple problems. He sets up number pattern 'games' for me which I have to solve...for instance, writes down 7, 13, 21, 28 and I have to circle the mistake.
We can be randomly walking along or in the car and he'll come out with something like 'mammy, did you know that 243 and 132 is 375?' Out of the blue.
His mental maths is astounding, for any addition up to 1000 he'll probably take around 5-10 seconds more than me to figure it out...and I did A Level maths, do my menal maths is pretty quick lol.

In short his mind seems to always be on numbers and number patterns. He's always been this way...from 18 months he'd badger me to write numbers down, put them in order etc...but it's only the last 6 months that the level he can work at seems to have shot up...so not sure if this is just 'forwardness' and other kids will catch up soon or 'giftedness' iyswim? His vocabulary is slightly larger than expected for a 5 year old but other than that he is 'average' in all other areas (reading/writing etc) so I don't think he's gifted in general at all...just possibly maths.

I would add that the above is completely led by him! I also have a three year old who has never shown the same interests in numbers.

[Pearlington]

I'd say absolutely gifted. My daughter is six and advanced in math by about two years but is not doing any of that. She very rapidly adds and subtracts two and three digit numbers in her head, which her peers are not able to do, and is starting to get her head around division and multiplication, which they haven't done at school at all. But nowhere near your son. My DD has been assessed as gifted (it is much more pronounced on the english and science side, she has a reading age of 13 at 6 yo). He sounds wonderful but you will need to get the school to be aware of his ability level so that they cater to him effectively. My DD never makes a mistake in maths and is frustrated by the simplicity of the work. He will be bored stiff.

[Pearlington]

PS the reception teacher for DD also commented that her mind was forever seeing patterns in numbers and she certainly does suddenly blurt out some fairly complicated calculations she's been playing round with in her head, so I recognise that behaviour. She has also managed simple algebra - VERY simple, I might add.

[Guitargirl]

That sounds amazing and I would definitely be speaking with the school if they haven't picked up on it already. It sounds as though he has a real love of numbers which should definitely be encouraged.

[RedHelenB]

What's he like at problem solving?

[mercibucket]

that sounds far beyond reception, altho i am not sure how he and the school will cope with him having learned a different way of adding up etc. maybe get a handout from school so you can use the same methods they use at primary

[anitasmall]

Hi PK,

My daughter is a bit like your child, she is also 5, but already in year 1. I would recommend you Abacus Evolve Textbook 2 or above. Also, try to teach him how to read music, play musical instrument to improve his maths skills (Suzuki method, Kodaly method).