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Highly Able Children

308 replies

saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 07:40

Would like to hear from parents of highly children

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MrsT2007 · 12/03/2017 21:55

Kids of young ages don't change that much that dates affect studies so much.

The research may very well be robust enough to stand today.

storynanny · 12/03/2017 21:58

You are incorrect.
These children " do not usually struggle in these areas"

TheFirstMrsDV · 12/03/2017 21:59

There is no recent research in that article is there? I can only see 1930 - 1993

And it very well may not mrsT

I don't know if its true or not and I am not that bothered TBH but an article that is citing 70 + year old research suggests that the author is not open to debate. They are only interested in research that confirms their beliefs.

saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:03

I'm not saying all gifted children do, but many do

Highly Able Children
Highly Able Children
Highly Able Children
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saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:04

Well I know first hand that they do, I've felt and deal with these struggles

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saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:04

*delt

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hazeyjane · 12/03/2017 22:08

What sort of extra support do they put into his early years setting? In a preschool setting I can see the extra support needed to access the EYFS with delays and disabilities, but confused as to what can be put in place for a gifted child.

saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:08

Some people need to learn about stuff before they comment

Highly Able Children
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whirlygirly · 12/03/2017 22:12

Dealt

And give over, he's 4. Let him be 4. I could read fluently at 18 months and skipped reception year as I could already read at virtually adult age by then.

I'm very average now, I'm afraid. I do ok in a pub quiz and can still write a decent report at work but I'm definitely no genius. Please don't pile the pressure on.

saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:12

My son gets 2 reading classes a week, extra responsiblies, challenges, tasks, small project group. One on one at group time. Emotional one on one talks

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saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:14

No ones making a big deal of it, I'm just trying to prove I'm not lying and what I'm saying is true, but getting constantly told I'm a liar. All I asked for is some advice

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TheFirstMrsDV · 12/03/2017 22:15

Blimey yeah.
What would I know about child development.

saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:17

And I wish I could just let him be 4, trust me I do. But for those who actually know what it's like to bring up a gifted child, will know this is not possible and the parents are working 10 times harder than any parent to get thought these daily struggles

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Foureyesarebetterthantwo · 12/03/2017 22:17

Op in the nicest possible way, get off the gifted kids websites!!!

You know what you need to know, that your child is indeed very bright/gifted/highly able, but he's four and has a long way to develop into himself and his surroundings.

Seeing him completely through this lens won't help beyond a certain point, and now the teachers/assistants are aware of it, you need to be thinking about socialization and behaviour as much as about him being stretched intellectually.

I don't think generalizations are helpful. One of my dd's is gifted, but never had any problems in primary with friends or with needing stretching (she kind of entertained herself, this might be easier if they are gifted in writing than say maths). I saw it as my role to make her blend in as well as possible, whilst helping her be herself. I wouldn't accept bad behaviour because it was the third time she did the alphabet at school and she already knew it before she arrived!

My husband was also extremely gifted as a child. We are normal people with normal lives and the best thing you can do is forget about these labels and encourage your children to enjoy what they are doing, have fun being a child and not box them in with all this stuff.

hazeyjane · 12/03/2017 22:18

I find it really interesting how it works in the EYFS and with free flow play. Does he have a funded 1-1? I suppose (as a pretty ungifted adult!) I assumed that a bright child would be able to have fun and play and read books, problem solve, play with playdoh etc, much as the other children with some PSED thrown in (much as the other children!) as there is no formal learning.

storynanny · 12/03/2017 22:19

Four eyes, what a sensible post.

GoodLuckTime · 12/03/2017 22:21

OP, I've not read the full thread, but my DD does pretty much all of the traits you described in your third or fourth post. She is 3.5

I am aware she is bright, and others comment on it frequently. Her first nursery told us at the end of her first year (when she'd just turned two) that they'd never had a child so advance in their command of language (and it was a pretty high powered nursery full of bright kids).

However, I'm not interested in labelling her, or seeking an assessment. Maybe if she was having behavioural difficulties I'd feel differently.

She is, however, highly sensitive, thoughtful, emotional. She is, already, asking very deep and penetrating questions.

I have an continue to put a lot of thought into how we raise her, and help her to manage her experiences. Resources i have found useful:

Everything by Dr Laura Markham, her website www.ahaparenting.com/ but especially her book, Calm Parents Happy Kids (which goes into a lot more detail). Her insight into what is going on with children, and what drives their 'bad' behaviours as a basis for how to address it is invaluable.

Her website is arranged by age group and I often read ahead, into the next age group, for tips on how to support DD.

You can use their intelligence to develop their emotional skills and help them regulate their behaviour. E.g. I have always explained to DD the reason behind my request / rule / instruction. Even as a young child and baby. It has always helped. Very often, she is willing to do as I asked when she understands the reason.

That said, i still expect her to accept that I am the parent, and therefore in charge, and that she is still required to, say, go to bed when i say, even if she doesn't want to.

Discussing her behaviour and choices away from a conflict can be very effective. E.g. we recently had a week of boundary testing: she refused and argued over every point of life adim (getting dressed, coat on, washing hands, into the bath, out of the bath, going to bed etc etc). After several days of this, I discussed it with her away from a point of conflict. I acknowledged that those things can be annoying and boring to do. I explained why they were necessary, and made clear that she would have to do them whether she argued or not. And that arguing each in turn just meant more time arguing and less playing. Asked her to consider what she preffered. It was transformative and the boundary testing faded away. Much more effective than sanctions or punishments (but probably, also, effective after several days of this when i had stood my ground, so she knew i wasn't joking).

Intelligence is not an excuse for bad behaviour, if you are sure he doesn't have other needs or difficulties which can sometimes accompany high IQ.

High IQ alone does not mean and will not mean highly able or successful. High EQ is needed for that. If he is weaker there, your job is to use his intelligence to help him develop that.

saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:23

He does have free play, but can sometimes get bored and abit hyper, it's not paid one to one, but it's something that he needs and the nursery provide

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Leggit · 12/03/2017 22:23

You said he has self taught reading and reads age 5-7 books. Then you go on to say he has 2 reading classes a week Hmm

Crumbs1 · 12/03/2017 22:25

No, bringing up bright children is a hundred thousand times easier than trying to cope with a child with severe complex needs, easier than caring for a deaf/blind rubella damaged child, easier than a young diabetic child or child with cystic fibrosis.
What planet are you living on. Stop assuming and believing he is stroppy because he is bright. He is stroppy because you are making excuses and allowing him to get away with blue murder because he can recite rote learning.

saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:27

Thanks Goodlucktime, yeah I explain everything to him and I have strict boundaries, bed times etc have never been a problem, heightened emotional and very sensitive are his biggest problems, but I'm working with him on self regulating, which he's doing a great job at

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saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:29

Crumbs 1 I never said anything about bringing up children with disabilities, so don't try to change this around

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saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:30

Leggit, these classes are provided by the nursery to bring him on and challange him, he can read fluently so they are really only so he doesn't get bored

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hazeyjane · 12/03/2017 22:31

And to be fair, most of the 4 year olds I meet get hyper, bored and very stroppy, I think it comes with being 4!

Just don't do what my parents did, which was tell everyone I was a genius, when really I just wanted desperately not to stick out.

saisanne1 · 12/03/2017 22:31

So stop trying to look for thing to try see if you can trip me up. As I said before. NO reason to lie!!!!

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