Child genius

[AnonymousTomato]

Is anyone watching on channel 4?

[Cagliostro]

Ooh is this a new one? If so then yes I will be watching!

[Iamtheresurrection]

I am!

[seasidesally]

i am,was surprised there was no thread running before this one

[cricketballs]

I've just checked for a thread! Whilst I could understand Fabio's mum wanting him to win something to say that just before the break infront of his sister was awful

[BertrandRussell]

No. It's child abuse. Makes me shudder.

[noradurst]

I've just checked for a thread! Whilst I could understand Fabio's mum wanting him to win something to say that just before the break infront of his sister was awful

what did she say?

[cricketballs]

"You've beat your sister" infront of the poor girl

[Iamtheresurrection]

Oscar's mum is in intensive care and he's still at the competition! That's wrong, he's clearly upset.

[cricketballs]

I saw it from the point of view that it was Oscar's decision

[Hulababy]

Also felt sorry for Olivia.

And now this poor boy, Oscar - surely the right thing would have to held off and seen if he could get to enter next year instead, whilst mum is in ITU. It cant be helping him at all - all the pressure of the competition, stresses of mu being ill and also the wanting to do well 'for her.'

There are so may words on this I don't think I've ever heard before, let alone had to spell! Never seen this programme before.

[seasidesally]

maybe he wanted to be there,his dad dosent seem pushy like some parents there and maybe he felt he would of been better there

if he was made then thats wrong but if he freely choose to then i dont see a problem

[Hulababy]

cricketballs - but sometimes wouldn't it be better for an adult to make the decision for the child

[2rebecca]

I hate the pushy parents who seem to be seeking proxy glory through their kids like Tyler

[Sittinginthesun]

Have they said who the contestants are? I know someone who was applying, so wondering if they did get through.

[Hulababy]

That mother!!! "I don't want her to win." The favouritism for her youngest child is so clear and vocal!

[MrsC2000]

Never watched this before but have got it on now. Really don't like how pushy they are

[Clawdeen]

I was by Tyler's mum saying he'd lose his iPad for a day if he left a blank space in his practice test!

[EmmaJR1]

"I've just checked for a thread! Whilst I could understand Fabio's mum wanting him to win something to say that just before the break infront of his sister was awful"

Yes! She's a demon, awful women! I feel so bad for them!
TBH not many of the parents are any better!!!

[AnonymousTomato]

There's a clear division between self motivated children and pushy parents

[cricketballs]

cricketballs - but sometimes wouldn't it be better for an adult to make the decision for the child and given the background video maybe allowing him to continue was the best thing for him

[Davros]

What excuse did that woman give for favouring the younger brother?

[BreconBeBuggered]

I think her 'logic' was that his big sister was getting too used to winning everything and she wanted her baby boy to shine.

[user7841794168]

It's tantamount to child abuse isn't it? I'm watching the first one now am am shocked but not surprised about Olivia and Fabio's mother. She's horrible.

[2rebecca]

I moan about it every year but still watch it, mainly hoping the self motivated obviously bright kids will triumph over the "mummy's little genius" types.
I can't see that the sort of intelligence tested for in this programme will correlate with success in the world of work and research though. You have spellcheck for complex spellings and calculators for doing rapid basic sums.
I'd rather have knowing the meaning of words and problem solving exercises.

[user7841794168]

Yes, I think that would be more meaningful than the spellings.

I wonder what will happen when the children are 16-18 and are stressed out about their GCSEs and A levels.

Oscar's Dad seems to be much more sensible than the dreadful Fabio and Olivia's Mum, at least if his attitude to his son not doing as well on the spellings as the others.