To want to get my child tested by an educational psychologist....

[royaljelly]

Sorry quite long as a bit of backgroung is needed.

My daughter turned 2 at the end of June 2011 and she is really intelligent (may be biased).

The main factors are:

Can count to 20 in English

Can count to 8 in Spanish, (we do not speak spanish and think she has picked this up from Dora),

She recognises if you ask her to count in Spanish or English.

Often counts backwards from 10 correctly, even whilst playing

Will remember statements, such as, 'We will build a den after dinner'. As soon as dinner is done we have to build a den.

Recognises colours such as pink, purple, brown, as well as primary ones and will get the correct crayon even if the wrapping is a different colour.

Recognises shapes and can draw them if asked.

Spots mumbers in the street and calls them out.

Has circled the toys in the Argos catalogue for Xmas.... we thought she was scribbling but she has a definate view on what she wants, (quite a tomboy and has missed out the entire girly range except for a kitchen).

As parents we thought she was rather bright, but thought our own biased views made this the case. This has now been picked up by her childminder and even people at the bus-stop who think she is older than she actually is.

I have been on the Mensa website and they have said that for children under 10, their tests be carried out by an educational psychologist.

They seem to mainly carry out tests on ADHD or troubled kids and partner now thinks that if I go ahead and organise this it may label her.

I think that if we get advice on encouraging and building her intelligence then this will benefit her in the future.

I should add that we do not sit her down and command her to draw shapes or count, but do this as part of family fun time ie: sat on one parents knee as we play Trivial Pursuit with her much older brothers, (she gets to move the counter).

Do I go ahead with the tests or not. I am afraid of becoming complacent with her intelligence and not allowing her to have the best opportunies in the future.

ouryve - lol - I don't think DS2 has ever disliked anyone. They'd probably form a right scary gang!!

LeBOOOf - well, I'm stumped. Kids, eh? I know with DS2 sometimes I feel like I'm better off not knowing. About the time he pulled out the drawers in his dresser at varying lengths to use them as stairsteps to climb to the window, I decided that try as I might, I was simply not always going to be one step ahead of him.

Don't know if you might find this useful OP

My nephew could do all this and more at this age. He'd come out with statements regarding how much a T-rex weighed or who was the first man on the moon, or what the temperture of Pluto is.

He's 6 now, he's bright but he's not a genius.

I don't see any point at all in getting her tested apart from a waste of £400+. No school or nursery would be interested. They'll prefer to form their own opinion about her. Kids develop at different rates as well, she may stay towards the brighter end of the range, she may become more average as she gets older. Far too early to tell imho.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Just read your other post.

Believe me, as a midwife there is nothing that a newborn baby could do that would make me think they're brighter than normal. Not a thing. Midwives are very good at spouting crap such as "look how alert she is, fantastic reflexes, you can tell she's going to be bright", or "thats the prettiest baby I've ever seen in 15 years".

We say it to most people, generally in the hope the parents may believe us and buy us a box of chocolates.

Unless she came out counting to ten in Spanish. In which case I take it all back.

Fuck me. My DD3 is the youngest by 13 years, speaks utter bollocks fluently in both Spanish and English* and recognises the largest muddy puddle for miles around. She must be a fucking genius too. I suspect she'll be wanted by Harvard in a year or so for her incredible findings in water displacement studies.

*when I say fluently...the words she has mastered that is, so fluently for a 2 year old (and it helps that she was born in Spain and lived there until 3 weeks ago)

"Let's get this straight... You think that because I think my child may have an above average I.Q. that I should NOT explore what I can do to encourage her.
"

Not at all. I don't think you need a test done though to be able to encourage her in her learning. As her parent you know her better than anyone else, you know what she is capable of, what she enjoys, can spend time playing educational type games such as Orchard Toys stuff with her. Would you do anything differently if they said she had an IQ of 140 or 120? No, you'd carry on doing stuff with her on an individual basis.

DD was assessed by an ed psyc 5 years ago for ssupected dyslexia, it cost os £450 so is probably quite a bit more now. That sort of money would be better spent on days out with your DD, doing stuff with her, etc.

I think, in all seriousness, most mothers are surprised by how young their children are when they learn to recite the numbers to - well, usually the number of stairs they have. But it is normal of course.

Why does OP say in her profile that she has one child when here she says she has 3?
I don't keep my profile up to date, either. Still, seemed odd.

YABU, really she sounds much like my cousins DD who was 2 in August. She is just a delightful and chatty little 2yo who takes a great interest in the world around her.

FWIW at 3yo I could spell magnet apparently - I'm dyslexic and can't spell the simplest words I also apparently have an IQ of 142, I'm certainly no genius earning megabucks in the city after a top Uni degree.

I have an EP report - it's only of use to get me support in education/work with regards to adaptations made for my understanding of text.

I'm not sure an EP report will do anything other than give suggestions about what activities you could do with her - but I can answer that - PLAY

I am with the others, let your child be a child. They learn things at there own rate and 2 is way to young to be thinking about uni. You don't even know she will want to go to uni!

For what it's worth, people told me I was "unusual" and "gifted" all the time (not true) and now I won't work at all, not even in the subjects I want to take at uni, just in case I get an average grade. Screwed up thinking and v. useless too. Children who have never been normal (read: treated like they should have been, like everyone else) don't just settle down normally when you decide you want them to (and you will once they're crying because they got a low A). I think over here they distinguish between children so much more than anywhere else. The focus is on natural intelligence rather than working hard, so few people can get to the top- the top is where people want to be- and now everything has to be easy, this horrid developing culture- so everyone is "singled out" as clever now. What happens once you find out your neighbour is clever too? Tears! It's bad to be average, but the kids still don't want to work- so the adults accommodate that by telling them they're clever and send the cycle of complacency round again. Whereas on the continent it seems much more normal and acceptable to be average. Also probably has little to do with the fact that average is much higher than here.
Anyway, my point is NOT to test her, don't make a fuss of her, set high standards but don't praise her too much for reaching them (it is explained better in a book, Nurtureshock)...kids very rarely profit from an overload of praise, especially loaded with phrases like "the best". People's opinions change, but "the best" never shifts.
Normal well adjusted kids don't NEED confidence boosters (to put the most positive spin I can on it), they need books to read, music to listen to, games to play instead.

Well, a load of scrattle on a dead thread. Oh and look. I got me in there as per usual. Oh dear

I hope the OP comes back, I am beyond desperate to know what the midwife said.

My DD was like that at 2 (though not a second language as DH and I only speak English). She's 3 now. Everyone comments on her abilities but we're not going out of our way to get her checked out as she's only 3 and so much can change. School will make their observations and assessments. Until then, we're happy to encourage her love of learning by ourselves (eg phonics, adding up etc) so long as she enjoys these things. Playing in the park and with her toys are still her primary activites :)

omg. This wasn't actually a pisstake, the op was for real

LOL at what midwife said. My Gynae who did ECS held DS up and said 'blimey he can hold his head up, look at him nosing round the room', my reply (drugged up!0) was 'at least I know he can see'

Oh and guess what he's average!!

Oh Bloody hell!

I remember when ds1 was two. we were down the park feeding the ducks, when another mum and 2 yr old came along, and stood beside us. The other delightful two yr old was full of it - "Mummy -look - a quack- quack - wants bread!!" ds1 looked stolidly on saying nowt. After 10 mins or so of chatting to the other mum, she ventures "your ds1 is rather quiet?" we gaze at my silent Ds1. "Ah yeah - he likes to take his time" I say... she looks at him a bit askance as he proffers bread to the ducks..

They go to leave "Byee!" we exchange. Ds1 finally tugs the other mother on the sleeve and says "achewally, it's not a quack quack, I think it's a male mallard..." I silently piss myself laughing.

Ds2 at two and a half, on a home visit from nursery prior to starting, when the nursery teacher and the teaching assistant pitch up. I'm talking to the teacher, whilst ds2 is playing dominoes with the teaching assistant. Over the details of sunny, cloud and rain methods of discipline, I can hear ds2 thrashing the TA at dominoes ("and two lots of 12 are 24, and 2 lots of 24 are 48 btw")

I've got two bright kids - and tbh - I haven't had chance to spend too much time with them - I've chatted, explained and explored stuff until my ears have bled - but only when tea is done, or in the car to places - it's been largely opportunistic.

Now - they attend state schools which are good. Ds1 is 14 - in top groups for most things, but in a state of chronic ennui, and is largely bewildered. this is a boy who can set off to school, 5 mins later, knocks on the door, and says sheepishly "Hey Muuum! I forgot to put my shoes on!" he does the least he can get away with, despite my encouragement - he hates putting too much effort in - although he has improved a lot this last year.

ds2 is now 8, and still a sturdy young keeny, in top groups for most things, and doing well, although he can't write for toffee!

What I want to say is - it's great having precocious kids - they keep you on your toes -but when they start school, other kids catch up, and there are so many other variables involved. I can't really see what value seeing an ed psych would have for you tbh - encourage your lo, enjoy her. Any decent school will encourage and help her to develop too. A lot of it when she is older, will depend on her own motivation, and believe me unless they are motivated, there is sod-all you can do x

My eldest did all that and more at 18 months, plus she was clean day and night by 20 months. She's not a genius, just a bright and fantastic kid. 22 now and still amazing, bright and kind, helpful, tolerant and patient, has a degree and a few NVQ's etc but not a genius.
Leave her be, she's just a child.

at bewildered ...it's not a quack quack...excellent!

I take it by the total lack of response from OP that, God help us all, could she have been serious after all? Was having a good old laugh until I realised she hadn't been back for hours and toys/thrown out/pram seems to have happened.

I hope OP comes back and tells us what the midwife said. I want to read the apgar thread too.

LeBOOOf I'm impressed at your daughter's climbing skills. Not as impressive but my DS2 managed to climb on our dining room table when there were no chairs round it and eat several biscuits from the packet that I'd put "out of his reach". He is physically disabled and this was before he could walk. He will do most things for a biscuit

Must be a wind up - my 2 year old can count to 20 count forwards and backwards. Ditto the drawing. Mine explains quite complex drawing. Remembers tunes, repeats them after one or 2 hearings and speaks often in complete sentences.

People tell us we are lucky to have a bright thing - but then I figure people always tell you your children are clever. I always tell people that their children are clever too.

As people say enjoy the time.

This thread is obviously meant as a boast rather than genuinely seeking opinions. The OP wanted us all to say, "Gosh you're right, she's so bright, get her tested right away." Instead, she got, "Actually, that's not that special", and "just let her be 2", so she's not come back.

I do think OP has had an unduly hard time.
Then again, she wasn't willing to consider other opinions as valid, anyway.
I am so bummed that we will never know what MW said.
My MW said that DC1 was the most beautiful creature ever to grace the planet. Which was perfectly obvious, sheesh [hwink].

at everyone's mazing 2 year olds. Am now worried mine is really backward!