My son is very gifted but not in the G&T group. What shall I do?

[ChristineFrog]

My son is 7 and is very gifted in all areas. He can read fluently and often reads long, complicated works to himself (Enid Blyton, etc), can do addition and subtraction to 100 and understands complex scientific principles such as how the earth rotates around the Sun and how a food chain works.

However, I have recently discovered that there is a Gifted and Talented 'club' at his school who meet on Wednesday. He is not part of it and I am angry that his talents have been overlooked and that he is not having the fulfilled and rich education which his gifts demand.

I am going to make an appointment to see the headteacher on Monday morning to ask why he is not included and ask that they re-assess his obviously above average needs.

What else can I do to make sure that the school starts providing for him and his complex needs?

teasle, please leave me and my thread alone. I wonder what MNHQ would say if they knew of your behaviour?

Havoc, this may be what is happening to DS - how did you deal with this situation? I feel that DS is often passed over because of his gifts for the inclusion of other children. For instance, he is never picked for the football team and DH and I believe that this is because of his unique understanding of the game.

Professionals are massively over-rated. The teachers must sometimes turn away from the delights of your child to turn their attention to other children - they may be playing up, mainlining something or struggling with their lego. Your close attention would be much more focussed

I only suggest Spanish as it is a very widely spoken language ( I assume he is starting languages now) , and i want to maximise your potential sales. Chinese has many dialects and is tricky - but if he could manage it...

I have a unique understanding of the rules of cricket. NOW i know why I have never been picked to play for England.

Pagwatch, that vision is one which makes me very happy. I imagine him bringing peace and happiness to many when he grows up - perhaps he will be a doctor, perhaps a physicist, perhaps a famous singer. Who knows? All I do know is that this is a crucial time in his life and if he is ignored now, maybe somebody somewhere will have a lesser quality of life due to him being passed over by the school.

I think we will begin with Spanish. Maybe Chinese will follow, he does so love Spring Rolls.

Hey don't worry about it now, G&T register is history. Shame really, now wondering what else they will dream up for mnetters to take this piss out off.

Maybe he's never picked for the football team because he is the tinsiest bit smug as mummy thinks he's so much better than the rest of the boys...so they all hate him

If he loves Spring Rolls surely you should be concentrating on gymnastics?

But I thought we were having fun?

Labyrinthine: he is a very calm, serene boy and does not possess an ounce of self awareness - he is very modest and has some lovely friends. Actually, his old nanny once described him as rather Ghandi-like in his demeanour.

MadOldCrone: Spring Rolls are a popular Chinese Food! He does, however, do a dancing class which he loves.

Send him to a school that is in special measures... he will be welcomed with open arms because his genius will get their OFSTED results up and he will look exceptionally G&T next to all those thick kids. Bound to get in the special classes then...

Shiny? Or reality?

Oh Christine. Let us hold hands across the internet. I am feeling quite emotional now - much as I used to when the New Seekers used to sing that well known Ballad "i'd like to teach the world to sing"

(But I am not suggesting he drink coke of course.)

I will get my DD to join in. She does interperative dance.
I will clean her chakra and be back in a mo...

Chinese is far to easy. I think Cantonese or Mandarin would be much more suitable.

I do think you should encourage him to start playing polo too.

You know the job that the person had who brought me the greatest happiness this week?

A bin man!!

not been so glad to see anyone for a long time. (was before Christmas they last made it round)

I was so pleased I even picked up all the rubbish they left on the street that leaked from their malfunctioning lorry.

Wish I was in a 'G&T' group.

Come and join the bar one evening

Christine I think I see the problem.

Being modest will get him nowhere. He must be more forward in class - encourage him to shout out answers as soon as possible (none of this holding a hand up and waiting to be picked). He must be more forceful with his friends and show his leadership skills when playing games. And make sure he knows to point out immmediately and quite plainly if one of his teachers or friends makes an error of any sort.

He will soon stand out from the dimwits

Sod Chinese - what about Klingon? It's not even a HUMAN language.

Ah, Pagwatch. . .

I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to hold it in my arms and keep it company.

A truly beautiful song which expresses all the values I would like DS to learn. Is your DD very gifted too? However, I had always thought of the Chakra as an emotional entity - is it not so?

Fruitshootsandheaves - would you recomment Mandarin or Cantonese? I would love him to begin embracing multiculturalism now and I have found this thread rather helpful inbetween some people's rude and thoughtless interjections.

Will you just stop with the pushy parenting

I am an average child who wants to do average things, (like flicking my friends ears and running away) and you just keep harping on about me being G&T, well i'm not, and if you go to the head i am leaving home

Stop embarrassing me Mother!

I think Mandarin as it covers a wide area, although he should probably learn both simultaneously with Klingon to cover everything.

Ok, BoF??

Who is BoF - I am definitely not her, my name is Christine and I have a genuine enquiry. Goodness, I never realised this was such a warped website.

Definitely Mandarin, then. I think we will begin at half term and perhaps he will be able to do a GCSE. I have often wondered about getting him to do early qualifications - that will definitely show the school, anyway!

MadOldCrone - I believe that this is important, as well - he must show others how brilliant he is, otherwise his gifts will go unnoticed. I disagree with is choice of friends anyway, since they enjoy things which must bore DS infinitely.

It's not Klingon that covers everything.

That's clingfilm fs&l.

HTH