To ask how to raise an intellectual child?

[raindances]

I really want to nurture my DS potential, he is 4 and bright/advanced.

I have always done well academically and plan on doing a PHD but I wasn't raised in a way that nurtured this.

How do you raise intelligent, intellectual, well-rounded kids?

Music

All children are different from each other! They have different interests and aptitudes. They have different struggles. Some are very confident and some are shy. I don’t think it’s odd to want to encourage their interests
at all.

@CrackedLookingGlass do you really classify those who go to Oxford and have doctorates as of average intelligence?

Nonsense. The 'internal ripening' theory (that some chlldren aren't "ready" to read until they have a mental age of 6 years) was debunked years ago.

Really? Oh well. Some children give the distinct appearance of not being ready to read then, and it may be more productive to focus elsewhere till they are.

Was it @JackiePlace - by whom? I thought there was quite a lot of well-researched evidence that children who are forced towards literacy before they are ready to read have more problems with it than those who are allowed to come to it gradually.

Not likely that being an intellectual child will help in the twenty first century. Intellectual jobs are competitive and increasingly poorly paid and there is a risk such jobs will be taken over by computers. There are shortages of candidates for practical jobs and finance is where the money is. Much better for mental health to go for a well rounded and resilient child - especially in a world where there are likely to be climate shocks

It's a widely-promoted myth. The aforementioned Glenn Domann, for one, disproved it by teaching brain-damaged children to read. Dr Fraser Mustard and The Hon Margaret McCain explain in their paper "Reversing the Real Brain Drain" that there are critical periods when a young child requires appropriate stimulation for the brain to establish the neural pathways for optimum development in language and literacy (and many other subjects). Furthermore, many of these critical periods are over or waning by the time a child is six years old so reversing poor development is difficult after this age (Early Years Study: Reversing the Real Brain Drain, 1999).

The same way you raise any child.

You listen to them, engage with them, encourage them to follow their interests, support them where it's needed and make sure they have self confidence and support their MH.

You expect good manners from them, you don't lie for them or excuse bad behaviour.

You don't make empty threats etc.

And you accept them for who they are.

My ds is extremely intelligent and can code programmes to an advanced level at just 18 but is NOT academic and has poor social skills but is an amazing swimmer with potential to compete at world level.

None of that is because I parented a certain way.

But he's managed to become round d and grounded because of the way he's been parented.

Focus on their wellbeing and happiness

Step 1. Consider the kid. Not your own disappointments.

Read lots of books and talk to them a lot. Mind you, water rises to its own level and there is only so much that can be done.

What an odd reply. Do you think all children are raised exactly the same?

Read, talk, play games, get out in nature, visit museums.

If you can afford it- theatre, holidays outside of all inclusive resorts, go to sporting events.

Intelligence is more than being book smart. Cultural capital is everything.

I was dragged up on a council estate with not a pot to piss in but I had a great upbringing that has shaped everything from my personality to education and my children are fortunate to have a very different life

What an odd question. You raise them exactly the same as every other child. Your child is no different, or any better or any worse than any other child. What strange thread. Confused

So you think parenting is one-size-fits all and should not be tailored to the individual needs, personality, abilities of the actual individual child? How very odd. And who said anything about a child being 'better or worse' than another?

This.

I think some kids are never destined for that no matter what and this can upset parents who have that expectation of them.

You can increase the chances of them being interested in certain things by making sure they have access to news and books etc and encouraging critical thought / discussion.

But it's not for everyone.

I think it's a case of some people are much more intelligent in different ways, for e.g it's not just in the way you have said,

And other people are not brightest spark in box,

One sarnie short of picnic, not that it's their fault it's just the way it is,

I think you just need to obviously encourage to read vist libarey ,

Ask them questions about different things they see outside or on tv ect,, show an interest in them,

Take children to vist museums places of interest,
Art galleries

Usually children are naturally inquisitive curious about world surroundings

I think 🤔 it's similar with children when it comes to how intelligent they are,

It's not rocket science to realise that's how it is, obviously it's a,case of mix of nature and Nuture, which is beneficial for them in a educationally, stimulating environment,

If a child or Adult is not the brightest spark , that isn't naturally there,
Then it's going to be an uphill struggle really for you and them,
Without the will intellectual

home educate for primary

Not true. Parental support is the biggest predictor of achievement in school, much more than the quality of the school. Of course there's a proportion of children who are well above or below the normal range of ability, but most children are average and can achieve good grades if they are encouraged

All kids love learning. They're sponges and naturally curious about the world.
That's not the same as all kids loving school/ formal education though.

I would avoid pressure. As they get older figure out their learning style - to they prefer to hear, do, read to absorb info.

We have lots of age appropriate fact books, apps like reading eggs and watch a lot of children's documentaries. But importantly we follow their lead of what interests them. Play based, child led learning all the way.

I don't think you can make an unacademic person academic, but you can nurture their interests and passions.

Reading together every day! Reference books they can begin to use independently when a little older are fab too.

But also plenty of down time.

In my experience - with your hands off! You create an environment where information is available (books, films etc) and you talk a lot about everything but let them find their own path

My eldest resisted all attempts to direct her (and many attempts to educate her - poor teachers) - she sought out the things that interested her - we always talked when she wanted to and watched things that excited her but she was always going to do her own thing her way. She put enough pressure on herself without my help (anything less than an A* was a failure resulting in demands to give up and cries of 'I'm rubbish at X,Y,Z'. I worked more around resilience and emotional health!

Aged 7 she announced she was going to be prime minister - at 21 she's studying politics at Uni - she's still hard on herself but getting better at managing her own expectations - don't add to the stress.

I don't think this is nonsense. Two of my children didn't really pick up reading until they were 6, at which point they raced ahead of their peers. They now have reading ages well above their years. I was apparently the same.

It's not guaranteed that providing opportunities will lead to academic success. But if you don't support your child it's more or less guaranteed that they'll do less well than they otherwise would, whatever that level would have been. Saying there's nothing you can do to help your child succeed is obviously not true.

You love them.
you let them know they are loved. Not smothered.
you encourage them to try new things.
you let them identify and find new things to try.
you teach them life isn’t plain sailing and requires perseverance. Not only from what they find hard and encouraging them to continue, but by following the example you lead!

life is about life. Not academia! Enjoy life and achievements (in whatever form!) will follow.

aim for the child to be happy.