To think that nearly any child could become a genius with early training?

[crunchymint]

I have been reading about psychologist László Polgár who thought that any child could become a genius in a chosen field with early training. As an experiment, he trained his daughters in chess from age 4. All three went on to become chess prodigies, and the youngest, Judit, is considered the best female player in history.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot Absolutely. And children are copiers. Plenty of books in the house and children seeing you reading, applying yourself to tasks, a general enjoyment of learning... it rubs off.

No. As a piano teacher who has encountered many ridiculously pushy parents who are convinced their child is going to be a musical genius (none of the pushy parents have been correct on this front), some children have an innate ability in certain areas, and will excel with just a little encouragement. Others can do very well through hard work and perseverance, others still will struggle in spite of their efforts and lots of training and encouragement.

Exactly mynameismrbloom I'm a musical person from a musical family so guess what my kids naturally excel at...

I'm sure its already been said but dc who have been drilled at home to read, write etc, count are over taken by the time they reach 8,9 and on wards by peers whose natural abilities start to shine through.

And what about those who learn because they're ready and supported by parents (As I was and my dc have been)? None of us have been hothoused just guided through stages we were going through naturally. It would be interesting to see how they differ to hothoused kids and kids left to school age.

3 different ways of approaching early learning.

Again it comes back to our definition. I don't think most people would say genius meant you were good at everything but if we mean academically brilliant then there certainly will be some people who are good at all subjects. the TV programme about the Doon school (kind of Eton of India) which took 5 English struggling white working class boys which I finished watching yesterday threw up some issues - all the boys there from India were very clever - despite what people say most people at these schools are bright including at Eton and the English grammar schools and many compete for places so it was a bit unfair to put those English boys in that school. Anyway it certainly got me thinking about what makes children do well - family background, genes, level of work (without doubt they had no habits of working full on for hours, some barely turned up for lessons).

Depends on the definition of a genius . IMO lots of children could do exceptionally well with very encouraging ( potentially "pushy" ) parenting.

Crunchy however on starting school 1/12 would have been pretty much 5 and so on. Only 1/12 would have actually been just 4. And that is assuming that all start at '4' and not the term after turning 5.
Also all learning in a week is rather unlikely if not impossible certainly with phonics now they need to learn all 26 letters and however many diagraphs and some tricky works, so unlikely to do that in a week.
Look and say methods however would have seemed to achieve reading some words very quickly.

xenia- those English boys, some of whom were 18 and 19 were unable to scrape a single gcse at c between them.That is a very low bar.They were having extra 1:1 sessions with the teacher and still were failing.Without a doubt genes play a massive part.

I know. Whether they were put in the English Eton or this Indian one it wasn't very fair on them. If they cannot get any GCSEs at C then they are probably better off just not doing exams and finding things they are good at and can make a living at. Eg it's ridiculous someone needs a GCSE to cut hair. Surely I could set up tomorrow doing it so all he needs is some experience learning on th ejob with someone and the same with the catering job the other wanted to do.

Two highly intelligent parents are not a guarantee of highly intelligent children and ditto two low IQ parents can have a very bright child.

However, a child's chances are usually improved by encouragement
in the home or at school. Some may have extraordinary drive and manage by themselves despite circumstance but that's rare. Particular talents may go in families (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven etc) but I wouldn't bet on establishing a breeding programme for genius.

two low IQ parents can have a very bright child.
Maybe, but I've never seen it.If you have, how sure are you of the sire?

DS plays piano. He's won a few awards. He started late - in Yr 6, despite pestering me for years to learn. He overtook loads of kids who had been learning since age 3. It wa sinteresting to hear the judges at one competition, they said they chose DS because he played as though he loved the music. I am not musical and to my ears, some of the other players were more impressive but they must have sounded more mechanical to the judge. I've never once nagged him to practise. He really adores piano. That doesn't make him a genius - he's not technically anywhere near good enough to be one - but I think lots of the children who are technically competent due to parental pressure lack the genius edge of passion which is the bit that can't be taught.

two low IQ parents can have a very bright child.

That depends if the parents' IQ was down to non-heritable environmental factors such as early infection or brain trauma.

Every child has a genetic ability/intelligence. with the best health and environment, they will achieve that and no more.

Most children will not achieve anywhere near their potential, due to lack of early (pre-school) stimulation and inadequate nurturance in schools.

So yes, with the right stimulation a child of 'average' intelligence today can achieve far beyond most of his/her peers.

I'm sure its already been said but dc who have been drilled at home to read, write etc, count are over taken by the time they reach 8,9 and on wards by peers whose natural abilities start to shine through.

Incorrect.

C.Ronaldo wasn't that great as a child playing football - he is now the best in the world and such a natural talent at it too - he just took his time to come into his own. On the other hand you have those that have been training since 5 and could never be half as good as he is.