Is it really true that everyone's good at something?

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It often seems to me that talented people are good at most things, you know who you hear of a successful musical who can also hold his own at football, or footballers who are good at every other sport, academics who are also talented artists, while the rest of us are destined to be "average"

I'm worried for DS1. He's OK at most things, but startlingly bad at others. Age11, his SATs were at or very slightly above target, in a running race of the boys in his class he'll come 5th or 6th, he has no ability with a ball whatsoever and can't draw for toffee. He can't sing or dance. (actually I've just described me too!)

Is he just waiting to shine/find his talent, or should it have appeared by now?

Don't get me wrong, I love him to bits and I'm proud of everything he does, I just wonder...He can be funny and is a good loyal friend.

I think everyone has something they do better at than they do at other things, whether that's achievements or character traits.

I don't think everyone has something they do better than other people (or better than the average person).

I think lots of people don't have a 'talent', but they do have lots of useful characteristics or skills which will be useful in various situations - which may not become apparent until much later in life (depending on what situations they find themselves in). I've had character/skill 'strengths' which didn't become apparent till I was in my late 20s.

I'm good at procrastinating....

I don't think everyone is good at something. I'm ridiculously average in everything I do. Expecting a child to be good at at least one thing puts a lot of pressure on IMO. Just let your ds be who he is and he'll be just fine.

It is true that the talent fairy seems to get bored and drop all her gifts in the smae place.

However, please keep in mind that to be good at somehting, you don't need to eb the best.

Yes. I've been teaching a long time, and everyone has a talent. Sometimes those that are looking for it don't recognise what they are seeing, sometimes it takes a different setting, or a few more years before it shines through.

And talent/academic success as a child doesn't necessarily translate into success as an adult. I always wish I'd known that and spent more time on friendships and enjoying myself - I got brilliant grades and was considered 'talented' but had no social skills and suffered from shyness and lack of confidence, which has always held me back. Out of my school friends some of the most 'average' are now the most successful in their careers. Hope that helps!

I think the problem is that a talent may well be in something you wouldn't ordinarily think of.

I have one girl with what appears to be a talent for a martial art she does. She begged to do martial arts from age 4 so she seemed to just know that was her thing. I wouldn't have thought it would be but just shows you never know.

And another who bizarrely is a fantastic climber (started on climbing Walls at county fairs)- this one plants her feet and hands either side of the hallway at home and, er, visits the ceiling. Needless to say we'll be going to our local climbing centre this holiday as a safer option.

I wish it was compulsory at school to do the sort of tests they did on Hidden Talents programme.

I think everybody does have a talent, but as others have said, being talented at something, doesn't have to mean your the best at something. Let's face it, only one can be the 'best' so to speak, it doesn't mean there aren't a lot of other, very talented people doing well.

Your son's talent will shine through, or maybe his personality traits will lead him to his talent.

One of my daughters, is fairly bright, but not exceptionally so. Is a fairly good dancer, but not exceptionally so. Is a fairly good singer, but not exceptionally so. She is, however, incredibly tenacious ...I have no doubt that her talent (in whatever she decides to do) will shine through, eventually.

I Don't know if everyone has a talent, but I do know that if a middle of the road child finds theirs it is an enormous boast to their confidence.

DD1 sings, My DSIS hated school, but discovered she could touch type and that gave her the confidence to succeed at college and at work.
I know two very good runners and a several competition grade swimmers, who are far less shy as a result.
We were all amazed to discover the quiet boy in our sixth form could draw.

As for me and Dh we stick to being good and very good at anything academic.

And DD2 she doesn't need an outstanding talent, she is more than good enough at everything, especially wrapping people wround her little finger.

No, I think the vast majority of people are average at doing pretty much everything.
However, it's finding the thing that they do a little bit better than they do every thing else which is the key.

I think sometimes you have to be an adult to find that talent too. For me, I discovered that I can adapt a basic pattern and change/design things in a different way but that wasn't until recently.
Life isn't over until you are dead, and until then it is a journey of discovery!

I think it's counterproductive to measure children against one another anyway - just because he has average SATS scores now for example, doesn't mean he won't go on to discover hidden related talents later on which were just developed more slowly or didn't happen to stimulate his mind in the right way in the way that they were covered in school. My DP for example was average/low at maths and science at school but as an adult he can write computer code - something which is completely beyond me (and very logical) but he just wasn't picking up on the right things at school, to be tested on etc. My own English grades were consistently average despite the fact I am an avid reader and have been told often that I am very articulate - I just can't seem to "do" English in the way that a school assesses it.

Also I don't think it's necessarily about what you're good at but what you enjoy. You say he's funny - maybe he'll be a comedian? Or perhaps he'll be more practical but doesn't have the physical development or hasn't had the opportunity to explore that yet. Remember a lot of valuable life skills/talents - planning, managing, organising, listening, caring, among others - aren't directly measured and might not become apparent until a later time.