Does anyone else have a PG preschooler?

[RoboJesus]

Are you worried about them starting school? Considering a tutor? Private? Homeschool? The whole thing seems overwhelming if I'm honest. It feels like this country isn't set up to handle PG tots. The school mine has been offered does have a (i think from what they've said) HG child in reception who they've had to readjust for which is a bit of a relief though.

My DB is sadly an adult example of the challenges the very gifted can face when only their academic potential is developed. He's extremely brilliant but worse than useless at any type of social skills, just profoundly awkward. (And no special needs either.) He lives an isolated life, doesn't interact with anyone unless he has to. I don't want to scare you, but please don't focus on your DC's intellectual abilities to the exclusion of their social and emotional development. It has really harmed my DB. Early 30s now and I don't think he will change.

I think that you have already been asked - how did you come to the conclusion that he is 'PG' - genuine question

Well finding this website about profoundly gifted children as a result of this thread has given me a laugh this eve. "My son also teaches the professor about his areas of expertise, and the professor soaks it all in like an interested student...I get to witness this beautiful intellectual dance, and the effect it has on my child is incomparable." Would love to know if this actually ever happened.

sengifted.org/directors-corner-raising-a-profoundly-gifted-child/

pingu it is rather American Pyscho isn't it. I understand that some children are highly intelligent etc I just don't understand why parents would encourage them to see themselves as super special, super intelligent etc. There is more to life than being clever.

Why stop at year 5?

Why not year 7?

Find a school with a good G&T programme and one that can cater for social skills.

Out of interest, if your DC was assessed as having a literacy age of 14+ does that mean that they are able to read, understand both the content and subtext and then analyse a work of Shakespeare?

You would seriously consider putting your 4 year old straight into Year 5? I am assuming this is your first child?

Also, is there not a less wanky term that people can use than 'profoundly gifted'? I hate the word 'gifted' anyway.

is there not a less wanky term that people can use than 'profoundly gifted'?

Well some of us use 'PG', then refuse to answer anyone who can't work out what it means, those people we consider beneath us.

If this is real thread (which I doubt tbh) then I'd suggest getting tutors, not necessarily to focus on academic stuff, but to further your child's interest in music/maths/art/languages/reading or whatever it is they are gifted in. I don't see what the point is in pushing advanced schooling very early - even Stephen hawking did his phd at an average time like everybody else.

You can't be serious

Well ... those who are saying, they need to go into reception for the social aspects - just how well is an extremely advanced child going to be able to relate socially to children of their own age who are just getting started on reading and maths? There is a double bind with the most extremely gifted, where it is very hard to find any appropriate "peer group" - and with your "peer group" is where you usually learn social skills that will then transfer more widely.

If you imagine the 1 in 10 gifted child, there will be at least one in most classes. The 1 in 100, a few in every school. 1 in 1000, will stick out a bit. If you get a child who is academically 1 in 10,000 or 1 in 100,000 - their teachers will generally not have had any experience of a child like that. So yes there needs to be a lot of flexibility in how you approach educating such a child.

I suspect I may have been at the 1 in 10,000 level, and had the added disadvantage of a speech delay from severe glue ear, and being tall enough that if only advancing me had been "allowed" where I grew up, I would have fitted in easily in primary. As it was I didn't master social skills until I found my peer group at university, and only in my 20s did I realise I was a "people person". I have been extremely glad that my own pretty bright / gifted to some level children have had a much more positive school experience than I did. Though it hasn't been plain sailing.

To the OP - if you are being realistic about your child, then look at schools, talk to the teachers, listen to your gut reactions. Then put them in school but be prepared to move them / change how you educate them if it doesn't work out. Some extremely gifted children are fabulous socially and school is really good for them. Others can pick up what they "shouldn't" be able to do and start to underachieve. (my sister was a bit that way).

You may be able to get your child into an independent school on a scholarship / bursary support at some stage, but again you would still need to look very carefully at the school and what they will offer. That's probably something to think about at 6 or 7 at the earliest.

Good luck.

Why not just cut the whole lot out now ang just apply for Cambridge for entry in 2019?

Not sure about the Shakespeare part but he was reading lord of the rings with DH every night and discussing it, learning the elvish languages etc. He wasn’t and still isn’t into fiction very much, when he was 4/5 he preferred to read the dictionary, books on space or science.
His current reading book is prisoners of geography, a book about geopolitics.

But we’ve never pushed him
Academically, just provided the resources he wanted and School have always provided work to stretch him slightly. We prefer to work on his social skills such as not blurting out every true thing that comes into your head, and practical skills such as making a slice of toast or crossing the road with out having your head in a book.

There’s only so far intellect will take you, most senior execs need to know how to lead people and be popular.

I feel very sad for children whose parents focus so heavily on the academic side of development. There are so many other facets to childhood.

Op thinks she is above us that’s why she won’t even explain what oh means never mind how they came to that conclusion .

I am a cminder and am well aware of the difference in the ages. The year 5 kids have to learn to adapt to play with and talk to the younger ones . They are no equal friendship at all even with the most confident receptioni age children

They certainly didn't get it from you, if you'd put that age child in a Year 5 class.

This reeks of a troll. The evasive responses and the ridiculous original post.

How do you know they are so gifted, OP?

As it was I didn't master social skills until I found my peer group at university, and only in my 20s did I realise I was a "people person".

That happens to a lot of people to be fair, may of whom will not be especially gifted. I don't think being gifted at school necessary gets you very far in life however well you fit in - it's the issue of being praised for being clever over being praised for effort (which isn't good). Once you've got a degree, even a Masters/PhD/PostDoc you realise that being gifted hasn't actually set you apart from others who are pretty clever and worked hard. (maybe I'm bitter )

Did the op ever come back to explain what the wonderchild was doing?

Straight to secondary? This can’t be serious!

I'd try for university.

I don't understand the animosity here. If you've had no experience of PG tots thats fine but this isn't the post for you.

But Robo you're hardly engaging proactively and positively with the thread are you? Do you not see that your post about secondary was bound to make other posters feel this was a troll thread or that you were ignorant of what posters were saying about social skills?

If you've had no experience of PG tots thats fine but this isn't the post for you.

Good bump there

What area is your child gifted in?

Is this question too simple for you, or do you need it dumbed down some more?