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

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

Gifted and talented

Advice needed pls... not sure if i'm in the right category but..

34 replies

TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 18:14

DD is 3yrs 8mths, knows her alphabet and can spell a few words, she loves to read and shes knows a few words in a book... i want to know how to take this further with her learning. Is this normal for a child of DD age??

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 19/12/2008 08:45

Hiya,

Shes perked up alot so her steriods must be helping her, shes still struggling abit, but wants to go to school today - so will send her for a couple of hrs this afternoon - i have a funeral to go to and DP is doing the xmas shopping. Shes currently watching Santa Claus the movie

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Acinonyx · 18/12/2008 19:40

How is your dd Muppet, is she getting better?

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 17/12/2008 15:32

TBH it was really scary seeing her like it just now.

Shes laying on sofa watching Winnie the Pooh.

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Acinonyx · 17/12/2008 15:30

Oh poor love. It's horrible when they are sick, isn't it?

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 17/12/2008 14:14

Thanks yes thats exactly it.

Although she won't be doing much like that at the moment. Shes just had a minor asthma attack, being diagnosed with another chest infection and croup

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Acinonyx · 17/12/2008 12:56

I've been very torn over how much to get involved with dd's reading and writing. The writing was a watershed in that I really felt I had to get involved. If she keeps writing in her own peculiar way I'm afraid that when she starts school it will be hard to unlearn the bad habits. She doesn't take instruction well at all but 'believes' books and will copy the little arrows on the tracable letters.

I remember even when I was very young wanting to pursue something seriously and being fed up at being fobbed off with more playful alternatives. Study (in moderation) IS a kind of play to some children.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think you are quite right to want to actively support your dd's enthusiasm. When you have your own dc right there in front of you it is easy to see which learning styles they enjoy most.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 17/12/2008 10:16

Thanks Acinoynx - I don't want to push her but she loves doing her letters etc - work books i've brought are for her to do at her own leisure.

Will let her have alook at starfall.com thanks x

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Acinonyx · 16/12/2008 19:39

I've done as Ketal suggests. Dd (3) is keen on writing but writes her letters all back to front etc. I got a few workbooks with tracable letters/numbers etc and left them in her rack. Some days she gets them out and so she is gradually learning to write her letters properly.

Dd has also enjoyed using this free educational website: starfall.com

I think some children take their interests very seriously (in bursts) and pursue them in a way which naturally looks more like study than play (speaking from experience). It's not something I would push but I wouldn't discorouge it either.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 16/12/2008 19:13

LOL

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pagwatch · 16/12/2008 18:31

"Not trying to pee on your fireworks"

Love that Sycamore..

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 16/12/2008 18:28

Thanks ST. I've just brought her Leapfrog Tag for xmas with some of the books and see if she enjoys that.

I want to keep her happy with childs play iykwim, but see what i can give her or do with her to enable her to carry on with her learning. if that makes sense. but all in a fun and sort of non structured way.

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Sycamoretree · 16/12/2008 16:14

Personally! Typo, honest

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Sycamoretree · 16/12/2008 16:04

Hi Muppets - your DD sounds adorable, and does sound at the top end of what kids can do at that age, but not massively way ahead IYSWIM - I would just echo some other wise words on this thread. Try not to do anything structured but just keep reading and reinforce what she picks up. I've got DD (3.4) the leapfrog alphabet magnetic thing for xmas as she can say her alphabet and a friend has this and she loves it. She recognises a lot of letters and can write SOME and trace her own. She can also recognise some words. However, none of this is down to me, other than we have always read a lot to her at bedtime. I trust that the pre-school she's at is teaching her what's appropriate for her age and in line with the NC.

My parents were both primary teachers and have reinforced to me it's important not to try and schedule or structure any learning before reception as it can put kids off, but also, may not be in line with current teaching methods so they end up having to unlearn or unpick.

Not trying to pee on your fireworks as it's great to be so encouraging and alert to your DD's needs, it's just a gentle "take it easy" word of warning.

Kids have a lifetime of structured learning ahead of them - I personaly feel quite strongly that exploratory, child-led play (and by osmosis, learning) is what being under 5 is all about.

Good luck!

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 16/12/2008 15:08

Okay Pag. DD has done all her xmas cards for school. we are taking them in tomorrow for the xmas party they are having.

So basically its just carry on as we have done, and carry on sounding out the words etc when reading books.
I might get her to see if she'll make a christmas posters we can put around the house

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pagwatch · 16/12/2008 14:18

TMCM

I understand where you are coming from and I am not trying to put you off doing things with her.

I had a very very fast/advanced three year old and i know it is tempting to do the structured stuff because you feel confident it is 'right' IYSWIM.
I am just saying that she is already doing activities with you as part of her play. You don't need to add learning on top.

There is no way to disguise the fact that jolly phonics etc are boring. They are a means to an end. They are they to make structured learning as fun as is possible but it remains structured learning.

It is way more fun if you just grab any time in play when she wants to write or spell and help her then.
My DS would write posters for 'shows' he was putting on (God help me) and would help me do shopping lists - ticking things off in the shop. This time of year was easy because he would do cards and things. It isn't difficult. And she has at least 15 years of sitting at a desk doing formal learning ahead.
Thats all I am saying.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 16/12/2008 13:39

Hi,

I don't force her into reading or writing she does it of her own accord. quite often you will find her sitting at her desk, with a pen/pencil and a piece of paper. or will sit next to me and ask to read a book. or will read books to her toys etc.

I want to keep it fun, but want to keep her learning going. so will look at jolly phonics thanks x

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cornsilk · 16/12/2008 07:25

She sounds 'normal' (hate that term!)IMO good social skills are more important than early reading/writing. They certainly make it easier for the child in reception.

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ketal · 16/12/2008 01:32

P.S. We didn't follow any books, flashcards or schemes - we just spotted the words around and about and played with words! They learn that way just as easily.

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ketal · 16/12/2008 01:30

If your DD wants to do it, then I don't see why not. I think there is a whole world of difference between those children who want to do it, and those whose parents want them to do it!

My DD started looking at letters at 2/3 years old. So we got her the jolly phonics books. We only got the ones that you look at the letters and we put them on the bookshelves and let her bring them to us. When she wanted to do them, we would spot the sounds in the pictures, and then spot the sounds around and do the actions. Nothing more than that really.

From there, she easily took the next step to working out CVC words, and then reading was an easy jump. She is now in Reception, and has fab reading skills - she's reading year 1 books at school, and they're working hard to ensure that she doesn't get bored (so that is not necessarily a problem). For example, other children are learning to read, she's learning to spell and at home, she's just starting to read Enid Blyton books (but needs some help with the old fashioned words).

However, she finds learning to read easy and fun. She has driven this, not us and as I started off saying there is a big difference between a child who wants to do this, and the parents who want their child to do this.
Apparently children usually learn to read anytime between 3 and 7.
HTH

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 20:03

Yeah icwym.

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Hulababy · 15/12/2008 19:37

She will learn through natural play activities. You honestly don't need to have reading schemes and workbooks for her to keep learning.

Normal play activities will include so many learning oppotunities in lots of different areas, both academic and social.

Please just have fun with her. Don't do structured learning stuff with her - it'll be boring for you and her.

Don't foget the first year of school, reception, is primarily learn through play - so it must work!

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 19:35

Pag i want it to be fun, she loves to play, tonight shes been reading stories to her baby, as a night-time story been quite sweet really.

DD loves to learn, i want to keep it fun, but i also want to keep her learning going iykwim.

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pagwatch · 15/12/2008 19:14

TBH

she does not sound out of normal range.
And there is no great advantage to her reading early.

there are other skills she needs to be developing through play so I would just let her play and let her lead it where she will.

Jolly phonics are boring as shit and you will just put her off with formal learning schemes

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 19:03

Lizs she is at preschool, and i've been told shes quite forward for her age, compared to the other children of her age at the school. Shes just got her 3rd book out now - last one before bedtime.

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LIZS · 15/12/2008 18:59

JP isn't a reading scheme as such until more advanced. teh site is Jollylearning. It starts with each individual then combination phonic letter sounds(40+ iirc) and really does need ot be applied correctly otherwise it can be hard it unlearn errors. tbh I think it can be rather laborious for a young child(and parent!) to follow outside a formal setting and the workbooks require a fair degree of pencil control. There are dvd's to reinforce the sounds and songs. Is she at any sort of preschool as many use that scheme anyway. Personally I think you may as well just go to the local library and pick out a variety of books and play stories/role play with toys and puppets to develop her vocabulary.