Posting here for traffic.
DS7 has been repeatedly described as bright. I've not really thought too much of it before but today a new neighbour whose child joined DS's class this week said 'I told the head I lived on your road, I hear you have a very clever boy, I almost got the impression he's too clever for the teachers!'. I didn't know what to say 🫣 But it got me to wondering if I should be taking more notice and perhaps doing something about it?
I think when I was a child he'd have been described as precocious. Not sure that's a term used often anymore. He's mature for his age, articulate, logical, LOVES reading and goes through books faster than we can find them. He's interested in an array of topics and I match/encourage/facilitate his interests with books, games, podcasts, he loves the horrible history and other non-fiction yoto cards, nature and space documentaries, that sort of thing. None of it feels forced or chore-like, we just both enjoy discovering new things and chatting about what we've learned.
He questions everything (which can be absolutely exhausting both for us as parents and sometimes I think his teacher 😅) and has an incredible memory for detail. I feel like I'm living with a mini barrister. But being my eldest child I just thought this was normal for his age.
I guess my question is, should I be doing something with this?! Or are we fine to just continue as we are doing, keep providing him with resources and information for the topics he's interested in etc. He loves a trip to the library as much as skateboarding or climbing trees in the park and that feels right considering he's only 7.
I don't think we're talking 'gifted' (though honestly how would I know unless someone put it in those terms?). I just think he's quite a logical, articulate little boy with a good memory and interested in a lot of different topics. However, I am someone who isn't particularly ambitious and I don't want to inadvertently let him down by coasting along if I should be doing something additional with the information that he's particularly bright?
YABU: you should be doing more (if this, then what should we be doing?)
YANBU: he's 7, let him discover the world at his own pace without making it too serious.