What does 'bright' mean?

[HeartofAss]

I'm not English, help me out. I'm confused about what 'bright' means.

I thought it meant clever, but here are a few things I've seen on mumsnet:

• "My DD is very bright but she never would have passed the 11+"
• "He is often described as very bright, but his IQ is actually quite low."
• "My dd is a bright child (not exceptionally so, I think, but definitely intelligent), but she seems to have a lot of trouble getting work finished at school. Her teachers have been telling me she's slow since she was in nursery"
• "I too have a bright child who isn’t achieving at school (besides reading)."
• "All children are bright, he might not be academically bright but there will be other areas where he'll shine"
• "My 8 year old is extremely bright but dyslexic."
• "My ds is very bright (cat scores of 136), but we didn't tutor and he isn't having much success in the 11+ exam"

It seems to mean something a bit like intelligent, but not quite the same thing and definitely not the same thing as doing well at school?

What is it that children do that would be 'bright', if it isn't being quick or clever or good academically or having a high IQ?

Also...sheepdogs are commonly described as "bright", but they aren't that great at maths and spelling!

My son is described as bright because he is intelligent and has the information in his head, can answer orally, good at maths and problem solving. However, he struggles to show this on paper, therefore written work doesn't match his obvious ability. I imagine this will affect him more in terms of academic results as he moves through secondary school.

They’re bright ‘for dogs’ not compared to humans… assumed that would be obvious…

I agree with this. I'd use the term to describe someone who picks up or gets the hang of things quickly, whether or not they were academically inclined.

Unless the teacher is particularly bad at explaining the work (unlikely!), I would not say that child is bright.

It's possible to have a bright but unengaged/unmotivated child... one who understands exactly what they're meant to be doing but is unenthused by the work and so doesn't put the effort in.

Yep, this. It means “my child is apparently not as clever as I thought they were, but I haven’t quite accepted it”.

😂 you’re so right!

Bright means more than averagely intelligent. It only gets confusing because almost no parent wants to admit their child isn't more than averagely intelligent (because culturally we value intelligence and see lack of intelligence as a failing). Almost all the examples that you find confusing are parents trying desperately not have their child labeled as unintelligent despite evidence that suggests otherwise.

It's a good point op.
I don't think I've ever known any parent, either on mn or in real life, who doesn't describe their own child as bright. Seemingly regardless of their abilities. Which is actually lovely isn't it? Your parents have your back.

Depends on the school, but in my primary, we had regularly tests which I always came top in, I was always first with my hand up, I never had trouble grasping any of the topics. It was a small school, so being top of the class wasn’t a massive achievement (I was definitely not top at sixth form or university).

We could all have ranked the rest of the class as well - it was obvious to everyone who was better at each subject. And in DS’s class, I know who “always knows the answer”, and who is on the white reading band when the rest of the top table are on turquoise or purple, because DS tells me.

I remember once overhearing a mum is reception, whose child was absolutely bottom table, say to her son 'oh josh, you have such a wonderful imagination, you're so bright' . And, in her mind, he absolutely was. And. That's lovely.

I like this way of thinking of it. Like all parents find their own child beautiful

Sorry to be a party pooper but I think telling your kid they’re clever when they’re not is setting them up for a fall 😬

How most people understand bright is that someone is switched on, curious, acquires information well, able to converse or debate, someone who is talented across a range of ideas. It suggests above average intelligence, often in a rounded way, but doesn't just mean what someone gets on test scores.

How it's used on some Mumsnet threads /parenting topics is often as a hedge at the start of a post where the main substance of the post is that their child is likely of average or below average intelligence and the rest of the post is about a struggle in some area. This results in confusing posts like "my child is bright, but the teacher has said he's working below expectations in several subjects" or "my child is bright but there is obviously a problem with the teacher because my DC doesn't get the work" . It reads like the parent really wants what is best to support their child, but they don't want to come straight out with "my child is really struggling with something. What can I do to help them."

What a bitchy thread. No bright is not the same thing as doing well in formal tests at school, and yes it’s possible to be bright and have a specific learning disability (eg dyslexia). “Bright” means quick, sharp, engaged, etc.
I know loads of people who I would consider very bright, who didn’t necessarily excel in formal education.

I was using this as evidence to support "bright" meaning "alert, keen, engaged, curious" rather than necessarily "top of the class" - because people call sheepdogs "bright" all the time but it would be nonsensical to describe one as "academic".

Okay so as a teacher I can immediately think of a child who I knew who was ‘bright’ but not academic.

At age 8 she:

• Was observant and noticed what was going on. She would take in what adults were saying around her.
• Had good social skills and was confident talking to adults.
• Was responsible and reliable and quite mature for her age.
• Great sense of humour.
• Showed ‘common sense’.

Reading writing and maths were not her strengths though. I would expect her to grow into a teen who would do her absolute best and get solid Bs and Cs at GCSE through hard work rather than talent.

You may well be right (mine are both top of top set children so I haven't ever thought about it). But I also think it's nice that parents see the best in their children

I think 'bright' does mean clever. Being socially able, 'switched on' and confident isn't the same thing.
However the exam system in this country does mean some bright children may not academically achieve, but they usually excel in some intellectual area.

One that comes to my mind is a boy who has dyslexia and has hard time reading and writing, but when he talks about his interests in history his face lights up. To me he is bright.

I've always associated 'bright' with, say, average intelligence, rather than outstanding intelligence; as in, has the potential to do 'well'.
I've often heard it in the context of "So and so is bright, but..." and then a list of impediments to them achieving their 'potential' (that was how it was used in relation to me and feedback I've had from teachers around my own DC. 🤦🏼‍♀️

I agree. It's much nicer that parents think highly of their own children than that they only see their faults and challenges, though of course if the parents are wise, they won't go on about it too much!

What is it that children do that would be 'bright', if it isn't being quick or clever or good academically or having a high IQ?

Sorry to be a party pooper but I think telling your kid they’re clever when they’re not is setting them up for a fall

There are quite simply different types of intelligence and talents. Some people are well suited by academia but can be truly stupid in other ways.

Dd2 is properly sharp, but school doesn’t suit her. Dd1 is academic but properly dopey at times when it comes to common sense.

I think a lot of people misunderstand the purpose of education and see it as a way to prove you are the best. It is actually about building the skills to be a successful adult. You can be top of every class and not manage that.

But that is exactly the point a lot of those parents are probably making. There are many reasons an intelligent dc underperforms at school in spite of being highly intelligent