Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Gifted and talented

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

Original poster

Son is bright

80 replies

Rizzoli123 · 28/12/2021 01:41

I have a 6 year old son.

He is in a private school. The school test them every term to see if they are hitting targets in Spag, maths, reading, writing and comphrension.

He is hitting all his targets in fact he is excelling in all aeras. He started year 2 in September and by the end of October he was already hitting his end of year targets. His reading age is 9ys and 7 months. He is 6 in March.

My question is what do I do to support him and further his learning so he dosent get bored in class. Teacher is giving him extension work but he still has to do the year 2 syllabus obviously.

I know he is bright but when at home all he wants do is sit in front of TV. I get he is working hard at school but i want him 4o do a little more and learn at home and as well as school. We have the 11 plus books (teacher recommended) and he has answered some questions.

Also could I get a child mensa test?

OP posts:
Biscuitandacuppa · 28/12/2021 01:46

Well I’m sure you’re really happy that he is doing so well, but he is still a little child. Personally I’d look at spending his time at home with fun activities. Science experiments, gravitrax, growing stuff from seed etc.
You run the risk of turning off learning if you hot house him at home as well as a full day at school.

WorraLiberty · 28/12/2021 01:47

Let him be a 5 year old for goodness sake

I've seen too many kids pushed in this way and in the end they've taken against learning and their peers have caught up with them anyway, so they become average.

You know your own child so you should know how to stimulate his interests. That's all you need to do for now.

Original poster
Rizzoli123 · 28/12/2021 01:52

@WorraLiberty

I know i just don't want him to lose his love of learning

OP posts:
immersivereader · 28/12/2021 01:52

No point in getting him mensa tested.

Here's what I do:

Talk to him, answer his questions, don't dumb down the answers

Read to him, encourage him to read. Ask him to describe things.

Needs to play alone

Get outdoors and discover nature

Have him help you do chores around the house, this is all process forming and knowledge acquisition.

minipie · 28/12/2021 01:56

If he’s in a private school there are probably plenty of bright kids, small class sizes and the teacher will be well able to stretch him.

Have lots of books. Encourage reading, questions, persistence and being willing to have a go and make mistakes. Praise effort.

minipie · 28/12/2021 01:57

Sorry I realise my post might sound like I’m saying there wouldn’t be bright kids in a state school - I don’t mean that at all! It’s late Blush

WasgijGods · 28/12/2021 01:59

Reading age of 9 at nearly 6yo is bright, but not mensa bright. He's an able, but normal, kid. Let him find his love of learning through play, trips out, reading and normal kid stuff.

Original poster
Rizzoli123 · 28/12/2021 02:00

@immersivereader I try and encourage reading but most of the time he dosent want to 🙄. We answer every question honestly.

@minipie there are 14 in the class including him each with varying ability levels. We chose this route as we knew he was bright and thought that he would be better supported.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 28/12/2021 02:02

[quote Rizzoli123]@WorraLiberty

I know i just don't want him to lose his love of learning[/quote]
Then stop treating him like a learning machine

hilariousnamehere · 28/12/2021 02:09

He's six. Let him be six. He's clearly doing very well at school so let his down time be just that - just because he's bright doesn't mean he needs to be learning all the time at high level. Let him play, muck about, experiment with stuff, watch TV if he wants - he's six years old.

AgathaMystery · 28/12/2021 02:13

I agree. My DC has tested ‘above average’ in stuff since nursery & honestly we don’t pay attention to it. Last term the teacher said they had a reading/comprehension age of 16. They are 9. This is nonsense. Could she sit and read a book for a teenager? Sure? Would she understand the emotional nuances & cultural references? Nope. I think (kindly) children just need to be children.

Blue4YOU · 28/12/2021 02:17

As someone who was “bright” and went on to do a PhD please don’t make his life about success at academic things.
I say that because it made me feel like nothing else about me ever mattered (until I got really tired of the judgment and got happy)

sweetbellyhigh · 28/12/2021 02:17

Sounds like he is doing just fine.

And there is a lot more to learning than what is recorded in test scores.

Just let him play, it is the absolute best way to learn.

And TV is ok, he's probably very tired after school.

WorraLiberty · 28/12/2021 02:22

@hilariousnamehere

He's six. Let him be six. He's clearly doing very well at school so let his down time be just that - just because he's bright doesn't mean he needs to be learning all the time at high level. Let him play, muck about, experiment with stuff, watch TV if he wants - he's six years old.
The OP states he's six and then goes on to say he's not six until March

That in itself is telling, in terms of how she's pushing him forward.

hilariousnamehere · 28/12/2021 02:26

@WorraLiberty I totally missed that. In which case OP, let him be five, please Sad

BungleandGeorge · 28/12/2021 02:27

Is he 6 in March? Either that’s a typo or he’s been moved up a year? Turning 6 is year 1

Yourheartwillleadyouhome · 28/12/2021 02:31

Get him to learn an instrument like violin where he has to listen to the pitch carefully and develop all the complex skills - it's a good social instrument too so he can play with a group right from the start

alienbotanist · 28/12/2021 02:32

He started Y2, so either he's a year above where he should be or he'll be 7 in March.

6 or 7, a reading age of 9 is nowhere near mensa levels I'm afraid. (For comparison, I was put up a year, and at 6 had a reading age of 16, and I'm nothing particularly impressive intellectwise.)

Make sure he reads a lot of high quality literature (I don't mean David Walliams or BeastQuest) and read to him (things that are too hard for him to manage himself).

And put the 11+ stuff away. If he's able enough for a grammar, he doesn't need five years to prep for it.

Vapeyvapevape · 28/12/2021 02:32

It’s great that your son is bright, but it’s not all about intelligence, he’s so young so let him have fun, let him chill out, he’s obviously doing well just with what he’s doing in school. You don’t want him to resent you when he gets older.

alienbotanist · 28/12/2021 02:34

And a trombone, flute, or clarinet will be far more melodious to listen to than a violin!

sweetbellyhigh · 28/12/2021 06:12

@alienbotanist

He started Y2, so either he's a year above where he should be or he'll be 7 in March.

6 or 7, a reading age of 9 is nowhere near mensa levels I'm afraid. (For comparison, I was put up a year, and at 6 had a reading age of 16, and I'm nothing particularly impressive intellectwise.)

Make sure he reads a lot of high quality literature (I don't mean David Walliams or BeastQuest) and read to him (things that are too hard for him to manage himself).

And put the 11+ stuff away. If he's able enough for a grammar, he doesn't need five years to prep for it.

That's such a crock of shit. Giftedness is not measured by reading levels.
sweetbellyhigh · 28/12/2021 06:12

@alienbotanist

And a trombone, flute, or clarinet will be far more melodious to listen to than a violin!
Again that is crap. Played well the violin is so beautiful.
Alayalaya · 28/12/2021 06:21

I would try to diversify his education outside of school. Music lessons, possibly something like playing piano which will be an asset in adult life. Gardening, museums, nature, astronomy, cooking. Perhaps dance or theatre. Dice games are a good way to encourage mathematics. Avoid subjects that are already being covered at school, your job is to offer more than that.

sweetbellyhigh · 28/12/2021 06:23

@Alayalaya

I would try to diversify his education outside of school. Music lessons, possibly something like playing piano which will be an asset in adult life. Gardening, museums, nature, astronomy, cooking. Perhaps dance or theatre. Dice games are a good way to encourage mathematics. Avoid subjects that are already being covered at school, your job is to offer more than that.
String presents matrimony's are great in that you have to create the note rather than just press it. Also provides opportunity for ensemble music )as of course do brass, wind and percussion) which is noted for promotion of listening skills and teamwork. It's also a lot of fun.

Piano is a bit lonely.

sweetbellyhigh · 28/12/2021 06:24

Stringed instruments not string presents! 😂

Swipe left for the next trending thread