Instead of starting threads taking the piss out of G&T children why don't you all just...

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

stop it. It's pathetic.

Thanks.

I had ds telling me what Newton's laws were at 5 and applying them to cars and bicycles. That was freaky!

Ok, if my child was doing that, and let's face it, it would be so incredibly extreme and unusual that that it really has nothing to do with the Gifted and Talented programme, then I would give him free reign with the internet (with safesearch on, obviously!) and books. If he was happy and fine, great. If he was struggling with his social skills though, I would say, well, that's all very well but let's think about what a conversation is, shall we? I'd also try to offer him other things to do that broadened his interests. I would also be open to the possibility that interesting and fun though his mind was, he might well not continue to be 'ahead' to this degree all his life, and not make it the focus of all our lives. I would tell him that it is fun to study things you are interested in, but to succeed he will need to work hard and stick with things and life is best if you get on with people.

Avena .

But why learn them 5 years ago? especially in primary school

If they know some of the stuff, let them take it further. She loved history so delved deeper into the subjects they were studying in her own time.

Who is teaching them or showing them stuff way before the time needed to know it? Many children can learn things but they need an emotional intelligence to understand it. You can give a 5 year old a book 12 year olds and they can read the words, but won't have the life exeperience to understand the words

Just because they can, doesn't mean they should

Gomez, I am not sure in what sense you think you are not 'exceptional'? Because in terms of the general population you obviously are.

Gomez, I am not sure in what sense you think you are not 'exceptional'? Because in terms of the general population you obviously are.

Oh, I do that mabanana. It's the application that fails him. I've been going round in circles. The anarchist in him is a PITA!

Your right Mabanana nowt to do with the G&T programme but all to do with exceptionally gifted children. And those are the ones I was talking about. Not Jocasta with the ready age of 12 at 3.5 but Johnny who is currently blowwing up the kitchen trying to make nuclear weapons from first principles at 6.

Small child now out of wardrobe...sleep beckons.

Night

reading age -doh!

It's the little sod shouting at the back of the class and making the teachers life hell you need to watch out for.

Night gomez.

Gomez, with your background, I'm sure you explained Newtonian physics beautifully, so your child could understand it, and then start to apply it. I think that's fantastic, and definitely not a problem.

I only have O levels but my IQ puts me in the top 2% of the population (allegedly ). I think anyone with a first in Maths is way above me!

Googles fab though.

I knew my many years at uni would come in useful somewhere, it's the social side I'm struggling to teach him. I wish I could help him more with this.

But I don't get the problem here Gomez? Clearly the entire state educational system cannot be set up to revolve around the maybe one child in a million who has preciously reached genius level? Parents have to take responsibility. Also, I just don't see this as a problem.
I love Roald Dahl's Matilda - a real celebration of a clever child!
My son has asked me to explain elements quantum physics. Clearly you would make a better job of it, but I can google with the best of them!

I gae ds a short introducton to this when he asked mabanana. It was very useful. Bill Bryson's Short Histort of nearly everything is also very good. I would just give him the book.

gave. Doh!

phantom, how old is he? Things will improve just with age. Ds is better than he was, and I hope he will continue to improve. I would love his school to set up a proper social skills group though, as he needs structured practise with his peers, not just me banging on and the odd kid round for tea.
My ds's problem is not that he is clever, but that he is almost unteachable, due to his stubborness and distractability and huge difficulties with initiating, planning and seeing things through (he is also dyspraxic). These are his difficulties.

My son appears painfully immature. People generally do not see him as bright, quite the contrary, though his teachers do. Hde also has the total Aspergery trait of not caring what impression he makes on others, so even if he knows the answer or can do something clever, he would never think to show this, as to him, knowing the answers to what interests him is all that is important. Displaying that knowledge is totally irrelevant. WHich makes homework an ordeal and I cannot imagine how he'll deal with exams.

I dunno about that KM. I think work ethic is a separate issue. Kids who are clever or not so clever can have a fierce determination and work ethic regardless of whether they are challenged. I think it is a personality trait. My oldest is not hugely academic but she has great focus and determination, which will serve her as well if not better.

Actually, I think this last point really does demonstrate to me why this topic is often ridiculous and/or superfluous. The question, 'how do I get my child to develop more determination/perseverance/self reliance' or whatever is universal, regardless of intelligence level. A tendency to give up at the first setback or challenge is certainly not limited to those of high intelligence or even IME correlated with it. Yet the ability to forge on despite setbacks is one of the most vital lifeskills and academic skills.