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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

Original poster

Did you ever wish they were just normal?

98 replies

jabberwocky · 13/09/2007 18:30

That sounds awful, I know, but sometimes it's just so hard I now understand why there are support groups for parents of gifted children. Ds1 is brilliant but has all the classic personality quirks of G&T and sometimes I just want to scream. He is so intensely sensitive to things and yet at the same time insensitive to others at times (err, mainly ME). I go from being in awe of his intellect to wanting to...well, being rather upset. His brother is soooo much easier and happier.

Aughhhh!

OP posts:
spinspinsugar · 13/09/2007 22:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
jabberwocky · 13/09/2007 22:55

off to do ds1's promised puppet show (still early here) but I do appreciate all the suggestions. Keep them coming

OP posts:
tori32 · 13/09/2007 22:56

jabber I am genuinely interested in the traits to look for because I think dd may be headed that way. Can you pls give me some clues.

Reallytired · 13/09/2007 22:56

Prehaps you need to take your head out of your own ar$e and realise how easy your lives are.

I work in a special school and I don't know how the parents of the kids at my school cope with them 365 days a year, both day and night.

You lot should be ashamed of yourselves for whinging about a perfecty healthy toddler asking incessant questions.

Desiderata · 13/09/2007 22:59

Personally, I would love a gin & tonic.

niceglasses · 13/09/2007 23:00

Oh yes pls, had one g & t but another would be lush . Ta.

Desiderata · 13/09/2007 23:01

Ice and lemon?

hunkermunker · 13/09/2007 23:02

RT, that's harsh and unkind.

FFS, there are people on this site with all sorts of different issues - do you go and shout at them for not having Important Enough Problems compared to the parents of the children at the school you work at?

niceglasses · 13/09/2007 23:03

Oh please yes. Am on a diet y'know. Someone told me g & t was sort of slimming in comparison to the old wine-e-o.

Ahhhhhhhh. Fab.

emkana · 13/09/2007 23:03

hunker! So you're unbanned now are you?

spinspinsugar · 13/09/2007 23:04

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hunkermunker · 13/09/2007 23:05

I am - there's a thread in chat to have a go at me on specially

tori32 · 13/09/2007 23:05

LOL
Reallytired, think you are right. I wasn't moaning and know many people with disabled children with various disabilities. I am happy that my dd is healthy but also genuionely want to know what is meant to make a child gifted or talented - can juggle at 1? Can walk at 3 mths? what?

spinspinsugar · 13/09/2007 23:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Desiderata · 13/09/2007 23:06

I do agree with hunker about that post.

If a child is extraordinarily gifted, they can show similar traits to SN. In the great scheme of things, after all, it isn't normal to be gifted and talented.

However, I do loathe the expression. It seems to bring out the worst in people, including me.

hunkermunker · 13/09/2007 23:08

It's apples and oranges, IMO.

I think the "gifted and talented" label just gets people's backs up, really.

There are different issues that arise through having a child who is exceptionally bright.

emkana · 13/09/2007 23:08

tori, I was reading an interesting article by a German doctor which basically said that there is a vast range at which speech and other things develop in children. Certain connections are needed in the brain, and in some they happen earlier than in others. This does not, however, mean, that the ones who start later are necessarily less intelligent than the early ones, nor does it necessarily mean that the early ones will turn out to be truly gifted and talented. It might just even itself out over time! So atm I would say go with the flow, let your child be your guidance, see what she is interested in, but don't get too carried away just yet.
Hth

tori32 · 13/09/2007 23:08

Does anyone know what makes a child gifted and talented?

Blueblob · 13/09/2007 23:09

It's probably different from what people consider to be gifted or talented in adults.

VidiVickiVENIQV · 13/09/2007 23:10

Exactly Desi.

Comments like RT's just smack of jealousy ignorance.

niceglasses · 13/09/2007 23:10

Yes, Desi I agree v much re the term, but know I don't know a lot about it. But then the little I do know does not enligten me.

Asking lots of questions? Sensitive? Inquisitive? Artistic? Tantrum throwing? Sounds like any one of my 3. What does mark them out as g&t? Is there a test they do?

Am not out to get anyone, honest, am pretty uncombatitive, but I think you have to think Historically in things like this, giving someone the label of g&t - is it reallly really going to help? Is it going to make them into a genuis? Or is it just going to get pples backs up and sideline others?

Desiderata · 13/09/2007 23:13

Gifted and talented is recent government terminology and I would pay it no mind.

All children/people are talented in certain areas. My ds is prodigious with his vocabulary and reasoning skills.

But he talks with a pronounced, tongue-curling lisp.

He's been potty trained for months, but he won't crap unless he has a nappy on.

He's had a trike for a year, but still can't work out that he needs to push the pedals.

I've seen toddlers who don't talk much, but ride a mean bike.

Swings and roundabouts at this age, imo.

spinspinsugar · 13/09/2007 23:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VidiVickiVENIQV · 13/09/2007 23:15

There are definitely demonstrably gifted toddlers though Desi, that do over and above. (I'm not talking about walking, bike-riding or speech).

There was a child a short while ago on the news who was 3 and doing year 6 maths or something...that is certainly a G & T child.

tori32 · 13/09/2007 23:17

sorry emkana crossed posts. Yes, I agree, I only wanted to know because of her understanding of quite complexed instructions and questioning about events that she has been to/ visits. I.E. I could say to her what did you see yesterday at the zoo, she would say an animal but an unusual one such as lemur or toitoise. If I said what else? she would say another and so on. If I said something like go and find daddy and ask him for tea she will go to Dh saying 'tea'. She can use words like careful, naughty, slippy, and describes things using verbs and can name most of her toys and book contents. i.e. if she wants The cat in the hat read she says cat hat story. If she wants sneeches she says sneeches. She doesn't just point or say that.