To think there’s something special about my child?

I enjoyed reading that and I think she sounds fab OP, but this is Mumsnet where people will want to stomp you down a peg or 2.

I think there is something special about my DS, also. He is adopted. He is unlikely to ever meet age related expectations at school, learn an instrument or possibly ever pass a GCSE. He may always be a bit wild. But despite being born to a drug addict, neglected for his first year and in foster care for a further year, he is now (a good few years on from being placed with us) a normal size for his age. He has friends. He has a steroid inhaler, which means there are no more hospital admissions. He can do cartwheels and draw nice pictures. It's all relative, I guess.

Indeed. The country North of it.

She sounds exceptional, really exceptional

Well done to your son and best of luck to him going forward. These children with cancer, and their families, are absolutely amazing and put everyone else in the shade.

Check out https://potentialplusuk.org

I think teaching herself to knit like that is pretty incredible tbh. I can't imagine any kids able to do that at such a young age. It sounds like there isn't much you need to do tbh as she's choosing her own things and working out how to do them. Everyones dream tbh. I'm very surprised that people are telling you it's perfectly normal and average. It so clearly isn't. And why shouldn't you brag in an anonymous post. Not that you are. She sounds like she will go far!

Same here but different generation and, I suspect from your use of a certain word, not based in England.

It would be sad if a parent didn't recognise their child's strengths and think they were special. You don't need to do anything more, it sounds like she had the motivation and ability to go and learn for herself as she did with the knitting and YouTube. The Internet definitely has it's positives for children. Many talented people in the arts come from very deprived backgrounds, if someone has the talent and motivation they don't needs lots of money to achieve.

My daughter was very similar. She always sought out new skills and knowledge. Knew so much random information at age 8 that her sister decided she knew more than google. She was also hard to parent. In my opinion gifted is actually synonymous with autism in the vast majority of cases. The teenage years were difficult and she was ultimately pulled out of school due to mental health issues. Fortunately we had the money to continue her education online. She has followed a career in what she loves and I’ve no doubt she will excel in life but the downside of her being “gifted” is that she struggles to maintain friendships (she did fine until around 12). Also she finds it hard to be content in life.

Don't be silly, she is clearly not just 'normal'.

Not necessarily. Teaching herself to play two instruments is impressive and is an objective fact. Her rank in the class is an objective fact. Also, some parents downplay their kids: mine were like that. I was always top of my year in most subjects, was dux, won a prize at University for having the top mark in my subject that year. My parents always said that I am average, and I sort of half believed them, although as time went on, it became clearer and clearer that I am not.
OP, is there any way you could improve your financial situation to give your child more opportunities?

OP, I love this!

You have inspired me. Yesterday after a particularly trying few months of escalating behaviour, I wrote a very negative post about my child. I am going to take your lead and keep a closer eye on all of the lovely amazing things my child is capable of!

It sounds to me like you don't need to do anything differently even if you had the means to.

That’s not true that every parent thinks their DC are exceptional. A far proportion can only find fault with their DC.

Point being that everyone thinks their DC are exceptionally special, even when they display poor behaviour.

That's nice

I disagree. It is highly unusual for 8 year olds to teach themselves how to play two instruments. Also, while some 6 year olds will be ready to learn to knit, very few would have the wherewithall to teach themselves to do so competently from a video they looked up themselves. She sounds like she has great fine motor skills as well as being bright and determined.

@FallDayAllDay I think that the best thing you can do for your DD is to continue to support her in her interests. So much info is available online now (like the knitting videos), that you do not need to be the one that teaches her everything yourself. Your love and support is the most important thing for her, and will be for some years.

My kids are at uni. I wish they had more of your girl’s self motivation and drive! I think your daughter sounds special!

🤣🤣🤣 everyone feels like that about their child. Isn't it just PFB carried on for some time?!

i do think that it’s impressive that OP’s child has taught themselves how to knit and how to play instruments - although I’m not sure if she’s learnt how to actually play or just play nice tunes on eg the piano. I’d love to know about the musical instruments. I’ll be very impressed if she’s playing violin well for example.

I don’t think writing chapter books at 8 is particularly unusual though. I used to write them as a child. My daughter writes short stories more than chapter books but my niece writes chapter books and she’s just turned 9. Some kids just love writing and have a huge imagination for stories. I’m shite at writing now sadly, but I loved writing and reading books when I was little.

Yes, she does sound exceptional.

Has she taken an IQ test?

She sounds very much like my daughter. She was very bright, but no more special than some of the other children in her class.

If she continues on this trajectory you could always try for a local grammar or selective school or maybe even see how the land lies with private education and bursaries etc when it comes to secondary school as those types of places and really give them a bigger push and give them a leg up when it comes to university places
But for now, while she is still a young child carry on with normal primary education and just what you are doing as she seems to be thriving
My only question would be regarding that she is strong willed etc - can she be bossy to friends and what are her friendships like, it’s important she a) has good friendships and not be isolated and b) understands as she gets older being a bossy boots will get her nowhere as there is a time and a place to assert yourself

really? I’ve not come across an 8 year old who has that kind of attention and can write chapter books.

OP is continue to praise and guide but avoid becoming pushy. I’m sure you wouldn’t. But it would be tempting to push more. Try to treat her like a child and allow her time to play and just be. It sounds like she is clever and you’re right to be proud.

most parents will feel pride for various reasons.

You are spectacularly missing my point, and it doesn't help you are taking my sentence out of the context of the post.

but to clarify

OP had taken her to fixed activities every day she would never have found her inner creativity and strength.
as my kids and all their friends managed - and are still managing - to do both, I am sure the OP's child would have been just fine.

I was also discussing how to ENCOURAGE and support finding interests and existing interests, using resources around you, library, museum, holidays etc...

Which was the OP's question, if you had bothered reading.

All child psychiatrists will tell you that children need free playtime where they can use their imagination and creativity.
and it's pretty lazy to translate that as not encouraging your children to be active and do sports and activities every day because you can't be bothered 😂

In England, kids finish school at 3pm.

How anyone could not have active children who need to burn some energy every day after school is beyond me, lazy parenting no doubt.