advice re 3 year old

[wheniwasoneihadjustbegun]

Just wondering if anyone has any good advice re how (if at all) to deal with my 3.8 year old DS. For a while now it's been quite obvious that he has a real interest in numbers / maths. I posted on here a year or so ago and was advised to continue to play numerical games with him and go at his pace. Now, at 3.9, I am finding that I can't really keep up with the level at which he wants to be "learning". He constantly badgers me for sums. He can do addition and subtraction in his head fairly easily (things like 146 - 25... not just 2+2). He has taught himself tables (he doesn't know that's what he's done, but it is). He frequently, for fun, will count up to 100 in multiples of 2 / 3/ 4 etc. A relative, as a kind of joke, recently asked him to count down from 100 in declining 7s, and with a bit of working it out in his head he was able to do it - no mistakes.

So where do I go from here? I do think that his maths is really very good - I don't quite have a handle on how good, i.e. clever, or properly gifted. But he's certainly keen. In most other aspects he's a fairly average little boy - likes cars and lego and playing outside. His language skills are good but not (I don't think) outstanding - he can write his name and a few other simple words, and can read very basic words (e.g. cat or dad), but that's about it.

He has an incredible appetite for numerical things (often on car journeys he will ask me to test him with sums). I've been half wondering about Kumon maths or something - but would it be a bad idea to let him get too far ahead? We're in Scotland so he doesn't start school until August 2013. Friends who are primary teachers have commented that they think he will be very ahead in P1, and that already his maths is at at P4/5 level. I really don't want to push him, but there's no persuading him away from numbers so my issue is whether I try to channel his enthusiasm in a progressive way, or just focus (as I've mainly been doing) on park trips and playing with friends and leave it to the school to deal with when the time comes?

Your son is clearly way ahead in maths. My 10 year old daughter is working at least 5 years ahead in maths now, but she wasn't as good as your son at that age. She read fluently at 3, but seemed to develop an interest in numbers / patterns a bit later. I also have a 3.7 son. I would say he is bright because he can reliably count objects up to about 20 - he is no where near doing what your son is!!!
I would say that most schools will not be experienced in or able to deal with this unusual talent, so don't expect too much from school. I would not do Kumon maths either - he doesn't need it and I think it may be very repetitious(?) and dull(?). Continue playing maths games as he wants to, but maybe try linking maths to other things - maths in nature, shapes, mechanical lego etc - develop his interest sideways. Read lots. Are you good at maths?

Get him a rasberry pi - if he is logical he will be able to program and then he can write programs to solve sums.

I agree with Lililili. Don't expect too much from school. As i posted before, dd was left to do her own thing a lot of the time at primary or to help others without being challenged herself. For maths i was told to look on the internet or buy workbooks as they were giving her high school work and it was still easy. Same as English. Dd could read and write at 3 (as could I) and the reception class teacher did not like this at all because they want the children to be on the same level. Just encourage by still playing games as you have to remember your dd is still young! Wait till he starts asking questions non-stop. Best wishes.

Thanks for your responses. I will look into developing his interest sideways and linking maths to other things. Interesting to hear views on Kumon - a friend had recommended this but I think more because her child was struggling (slightly - or at least wasn't guaranteed to pass the exam to get into a competitive school). It is also useful to hear that you wouldn't expect too much of school. I'd wondered about this - he'll be going to a small village (state) primary so I am not expecting a huge academic push from them (although overall it is a lovely school and has many other benefits).

Lililili - no, I am not a mathematician myself in any shape or form! Maths and science were by far my weakest subjects at school (I wasn't absolutely dreadful - towards the bottom of the top set - but these weren't skills which came naturally). I didn't do any maths (or science) beyone standard grade (GCSE level). I am actually considering working on my own maths a bit so that I can help DS, and having read your post I have had a look on the internet to refresh my memory about maths in nature etc. DH is far better than I am at maths so should be able to help DS more, and I come from an extended family of scientists, doctors and engineers, all very capable mathematicians so there shouldn't be a shortage of people to help expand his interest (it's just unfortunate that this gene seems to have bypassed me...).

Oh I really dislike Kumon. Death by forced rote learning, no creativity, no real development of problem solving skills. Yes it will teach ever-faster computation skills of 'mental maths' but I think it is more negative than positive for many reasons.

Have you tried internet sites like mathletics? They could keep him amused for a while and he could develop ICT skills which allow him to channel some of his talents without totally covering the early years' curriculae.

He is obviously super bright. Log onto Mathletics.com. Lots of fun online exercises for KS1 and 2 children. Not boring rote but entertaining with lots of funky graphics.

Thanks, have signed us up for mathletics, looks spot on. His ICT skills will need some work (he can use a mouse but hasn't really tried a keyboard yet), but working on that will be useful too. Will definitely steer clear of Kumon then!

I'd highly recommend Khan Academy for both yourself (to refresh your math skills) and your son when he's old enough to use a keyboard and mouse. Especially as it's completely free =)

www.khanacademy.org

It IS aimed at adults, so no cutesy images or anything like, but it allows you to develop at your own pace and has some really useful videos to explain everything. You can earn badges and achievements which may help your son be interested when he's a little older.

Maths Whizz is also very good. For my money, better than Mathletics actually as, IMO, it gives better parental feedback, better explanation/teaching of new concepts and more individualised learning. I also like the fact there is much more animation that in mathletics - my DD has been using it since age 3 or 4 and much prefers it to mathletics.

Thank you, this is really helpful - I'll investigate these, great to have some recommendations.