Potential plus

[Tholeonagain]

5 year old Ds has been put on the g & t list for maths, he was also the first reader in his class & is generally bright, though not genius level. He is v keen on games like chess & monopoly which his friends (& younger sister!) haven't got into yet. Would anybody recommend joining the above organisation? It seems quite expensive. He is being pretty well catered for at school at the moment, I think, but of course it is early days.

[var123]

Its good if you need advice, but you don't (for now!).

Its good if you want to attend get-togethers, but they are an additional expense.

Its better for primary school age children, than pre-schoolers or pre-teens and teenagers.

So, I'd say wait until you need it and then join. Meanwhile find out if there is a local chess club?

[iseenodust]

The best thing we have done for DS is encourage sports. If he doesn't play football yet get him started even if just in the back garden - it is the currency of the playground. Sport also tempers perfectionism. DS's football coach has a mantra that 'attitude outranks ability' - oh yes! We have not bothered with Potential Plus or any other organisation.

[var123]

Completely agree with the football advice. i have two boys (age 12 & 10) and it has paid dividends for us.

[Tholeonagain]

ah thanks, we tried football but he hated it! I thought it was because he wasn't very good at it - which actually I thought would be quite good for him - but I didn't want to make him do it. We will try another sport.

[var123]

If its relevant, neither of my two liked football when they were 5 either. I didn't force it (partly because I am not a fan either), but both my boys came to it in their own way and in their own time. I noticed the same with the other boys at school - interest usually starts to kick in somewhere between 7 & 9. Playing now would only give him a headstart.

I've never heard football called "the currency of the playground" before but its such a good description of what football is in the second half of primary school and the first couple of years of secondary.

Being able to do really difficult maths, play chess, read complex books, have a strong interest in the world etc. etc mean absolutely nothing in social terms, but being a member of the football team, have read Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Percy Jackson and being able to speak minecraft are the keys to popularity IME.

[Tholeonagain]

Thanks again, I don't want him to be the geeky kid everyone picks on! But also comfortable on his own skin, so knowing that if he is into chess rather than football that is ok.. Am quite amazed by him, I never stood out that way at school!

[Snapespotions]

I wouldn't bother tbh. We have membership through dd's school - or at least we did, no idea if it's still valid. I never really used it in any case!

[sunnyfrostyday]

I agree - better spending your time and money on other activities.

Football is great for building friendships with peers, but general multi sports clubs are great for infants. Do they run on at your school?

I think a sport and an instrument are invaluable tbh. Tennis is another good one, piano, music groups at your local music school, etc. Fun, good for social development, learning to stick at something and how to compete etc.

[simpson]

I am thinking of joining PPUK only because DD's behaviour is a "challenge" to say the least

Agree with others re football as DS (yr5) only got into footie at 7 and is very good at it (& chess!)

[var123]

I am not sure the advice is worthwhile.They have a good range of information sheets that you get for free as a member and you can have a phone consultation.

I joined hoping they would tell me something I don't know, or give me some new insight.

The info sheets concisely describe various issues such as giftedness, twice exceptionality, dealing with the school etc. All of it is the exact same advice people give each other on this forum.

The phone consultation takes a couple of months to arrange. Maybe I did not use it well because I came away with nothing, except maybe, a re-emphasis of Carol Dweck.

I was hoping to get something that would lead me top getting the school to help - cajole, cite the law, align interests, anything! - but I didn't get any of that. Maybe the answer is that there isn't an answer and that's what i learned??

After a year, i cancelled the membership because it wasn't value for money, especially as my kids would not have wanted to go for a weekend with other bright kids of all ages (and both sexes) who they don't know!

[ouryve]

I joined for a year but didn't renew membership. I joined hoping for more insight into twice exceptionality, but just ended up reading a load of woo and bad science.