'Gifted' children

[Lobe]

My three and a half year old son can write his name and draws remarkably detailed pictures - a body, head with eyes and features, arms with hands and legs with feet. He easily controls a mouse on the computer and can write several letters - h, b, m, a, x.
I know all parents (most, anyway) say their child is gifted, but how do you judge if they are and should you do anything about it? Is Max just a typical three and a half year old or is he 'a prodigy'?

Both my children could read fluently at three and a half, and DD could write very well, sorry, not bragging, she just enjoyed it and more or less taught herself to read. DS is only a year yuonger and just did everything she did!

DD has remained very bright and is predicted 10 a's, with lots of stars, but at her school that is the norm for all the girls.

DS, well, another story, parents evening ws a total nightmare! He's extremely bright they all said, but can't be bothered. he did no revision for his exams and didn't know what his first one was, he still got 80%!

Gently encourage him, read to him a lot and use books without words to get him to describe the action, teach him about flowers, tree, birds etc, children seem to miss out these days o learning the names of flora and faiuna. Tell him about stars etc, just encourage his curiosity to give him a good general knowlege.

Lobe, if you are interested there is a programme on tonight at 6.00 pm, channel 4, called "Gifted".
It is a new series on the year in the life of a gifted child, Julian Bliss. This should give an insight as to when he began to show signs of intelligence beyond the norm for his age I would assume, so may be of help to you.

Have you tried the National Association for Gifted Children?

Tel: 01908 673677

They are based in Milton Keynes and have a lot of literature that may help you.

To be honest, unless it is causing some kind of struggle (ie: extreme boredom) then I wouldn't worry about thinking if your child is gifted or not at that stage of life - they often move in jumps rather than smoothly so it's really not clear cut. Just supply resources and support at the pace your child wants to learn and you can't go too far wrong.

To be brutally honest, this sounds entirely normal.

Just enjoy him - he sounds fun. Leave it to the school (when he gets there) to work out if he is gifted.

And tbh, a gifted child is a mixed blessing.

This thread is 8 years old.

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I wouldn't wish a gifted child on anyone. I have one, and I obviously think he's utterly marvellous because he's my child - but it's no fun. The non-gifted ones are much easier.

So did your child turn out to be gifted, OP?