To think that gifted pre schoolers need to learn through play

[ReallyTired]

A bright child who is nursery age needs formal education like a hole in the head. It is desperately important that they learn the social skills they need for life. A well run nursery is good place to foster a range of skills.

If a gifted child is bored with nursery/ reception its often a sign of autism and if anything they need more learning through play rather than less. Possibly an autistic child might need an adult to show them how to play and foster good social skills. There may be bright children who need intensive help with their social skills who aren't autistic.

A really bright child will learn faster through self directed play than sitting in a classroom doing formal actvites.

There is such a thing as a gifted preschooler: they grow into gifted children and then become gifted adults.

My DS is gifted and was gifted at preschool. He has never been overtaken by his class.
What does a gifted preschooler do? He or she soaks up knowledge like an insatiable sponge, exhausts parents and staff with questions, teaches themselves how to do things like read and write. It's not a question of pushing stimulating and structured activities on them; the parent of a gifted preschooler is much more likely to be metaphorically hauling on the reins, begging them to hold on, they'll learn that at school.
I once put him in a crèche at a course I was on. He was 3. I kissed him goodbye and told him I'd collect him at 4.30.
When I went to get him, the staff looked like they couldn't believe their senses. At 4.10, DS had suddenly looked at the clock and announced "Oh good! Ten past 4! Mummy will be picking me up in 20 minutes."

Whevs, OP.
Looked at loads of different per school settings, and dd had taster days too. Dd, now in class one, last week said she hated all of the ones we didn't choose because, as she said, everyone was running round wild and it was total mayhem. Dd attended private preschool attached to a school and had school days, pe lessons, music and French lessons. Dd now5.8, is free reading since january,and is in top groups for Maths, literacy and spelling.
Every child is different. What suits one may not suit all. Sick of people laying down the law about what's right and wrong. Also I think people underestimate preschool kids ability to learn.
That's why uk is going to the dogs...

reallytired I totally agree with you about the support those children need in social situations. Running away from them, just focusing on academic activities is not going to help them learn to function in society.

Sure there are three year olds who have special abilities, but what difference does that actually make? They still need to learn to socialise as well.

But that is a trully gifted child tanith.
They are actually quite rare.

But many many middle class parents and grandparents insist that their child is extraordinary.

All children are extraordinary. It's a pity many are let down by lousy parents and parenting.

And piss poor quality schools.

cockypants whilst you are obviously very proud of your DC's abilities, and that is lovely, the reality is that every single child in that class will become a free reader very shortly.

It's not a race.

And whilst I would not advocate deliberately holding DC back (my own went to a very high achieving prep school), nor would I advocate pursuing academic achievement above social and communincation skills.

IMVHO it is in fact far more important that DC learn these skills earlier than, say, becoming a free reader.

"Every child is different. What suits one may not suit all. Sick of people laying down the law about what's right and wrong. Also I think people underestimate preschool kids ability to learn."

Completely agree. In the formal classroom the teacher dicates what the child learns. The child may well be bored rigid as they understand number bonds already. In a high quality nursery the gifted child might be playing with cuisaire rods and understand multiplication while their class mates are learning to count with the same rods.

A good montesourri style nursery will meet the needs of a child. Infact montesourri teaching works well up to the age of seven. A good montesourri teacher will offer a child a range of activites to stretch them in all areas of the curriculum.

"That's why uk is going to the dogs..."

most of our competitors start formal education far later than us.

No cocky all DC are not extraordinarily clever. What an absurd thing to say.

And early ability is no precursor to academic achievement.

Word. You need to reread my post. I said all children are extraordinary. Not all children are extraordinarily clever.
Apology please...

My son decided for himself what he wanted to get out of nursery, it was at his insistence that they taught him his letters and how to write. It wasn't all about that though, there's plenty of time to play, and plenty of the learning is enjoyable anyway. Colouring in letters, games on the computer, songs etc.

Oh dear oh dear cocky, it seems it's not only the gifted DC who need spend a little more time on their social and communication skills.

Indeed in many countries on the continent and in Scandinavia formal education does not start until 6 or 7. I'm quite horrified at how 4 year olds are straighthjacketed into the formal schooling system here (grew up in the Netherlands where children go to 'Kindergarten' for the first 2 years).

I'm kind of relieved that my ds will be going to special school (one for children without significant learning disabilities) as he will be taught an individual curriculum in a small group setting.

Our competitors do well because they invest more cash in education and have better quality teaching. Our system is underfunded and people have no pride or sense of the importance of the value of decent education. Governments have dumbed down so ensure more people go to uni. End result? Kids who shouldn't be at uni doing stupid courses in patting horses and tourism. Bring back streaming, grammar schools, apprentice ships, colleges for practical courses and proper grades for exams. Pride in our kids. Cash to ensure every child leaves being able to read and write. 1 in 4 don't. We as a nation should be ashamed.

'most of our competitors start formal education far later than us

I think that is absolutely true and one othe problems with the U.K. Is that it starts formal education too early. But I guess 'cockypants* you think it's going to the dogs because it should be even earlier?

Totally agree wordfactory that DC should learn vital social skills before becoming a free reader. With everything packed into her schedule cocky I would be worried she hasn't had an opportunity to develop in that area.

Word, I think your response says more about you than me.

No. I don't think formal education should start earlier. I think 4 Is about right, wthere are obviously going to be kids that should start earlier or later. My original post was not about boasting. It was to point out that my dd happened to respond better to a formal structure. Your DCs may, or may not. You have to choose what works for your kid.

i have an autistic indigo child

i hope to fuckery the pen washes off before trampolining later

Uncharted!

cocky I agree that literacy figure is shocking, but that doesn't mean the children should be pushed into reading too young. Those children who can't read and write are presumably 16. There's plenty of time for them to learn that, after the early years.

Don't knock the UK system too much. The grass can seem much greener on the other side but what you don't see is the guy with the roller and the tin of green paint who sneaks out after dark.

IE Appearances can be deceptive.

I have inside knowledge of the UK education system and the Swedish one, which is often used as an example to show how bad the UK one is. The reality is very different. In terms of academic standards, the UK is leaps and bounds ahead of the Sweden.

Our education system does indeed have many flaws. The provision is patchy at best.

However it won't be improved by insisting DC begin formal learning any earlier.

And indeed there are too many parents who don't value education and do not pass on a love of learning to their DC. But such parents are not those of us who believe that social and communication skills are of vital importance.

As for global competition, I don't think there is anyone more conscious of this than I, nor preparing my DC quite as consciously for it. Our DC are going to need a smorgasboard of skills in order to succeed. And right at the top of that list will be communication and social skills.

Not just gifted children, I think all children at age 4 should have some structure to their nursery learning. For my children this was formal reading, writing and maths as they went to a very traditional prep school. If they go forward without having any concept of sitting still and learning to concentrate reception and year 1 would be chaos. I think being able to read a bit, write your name and number up to ten is a good target to aim for by reception.

I suppose what I'm saying is that one of the greatest assets you can pass on to your DC is an ability to rub along with others. To negotiate for what you want. To listen to others. To join in. To lead.

The best way to practise this is through play. Again and again and again.

Life is very unlikely to be structured as our DC like it best. Our DC need to learn how to adapt.

These are the skills which will prove invaluable to our DC. Not the age at which they began free reading.

higgle I agree.

I'm not advocating no formal learning. I'm advocating balance.

But too many parents are obsessed with pushing ever academically, while paying too little attention to other equally important skills.