Want dd to do 7+ but not sure

[frumpyballoon]

Dd is still 4 & currently in reception. Me and dh very academic, went to academic schools and followed into academic careers.
It’s all we know and we fall into those stereotypical parents who plan a similar path to our own for our dd.
However now we are taking a step back. Dd is bright and picks things up quickly but she is easily distracted and seems to float around a lot. She is ahead in her reading/writing not sure about maths as even though she seems fine the school haven’t given us much feedback on it yet, we will be getting her end of year report at end of this term.
We were planning to enter her for the 7+ at more academically selective schools but wonder how you make this decision on if it’s right for your child. Obviously the schools will do this as well but how do we decide if it’s right for our dd to make her sit the tests?

Has anyone had experience of deciding? I am also worried that if it’s too academic do the dc lose out on other activities such as sport and music? Dd is really good at tennis and is progressing well in two instruments so I wouldn’t want her to lose out on these activities simply because we pushed her off to an academic school. Are we just overly anxious parents or is it real that she might have to drop her other activities in favour of academics and also will her easily distracted floaty attitude be a big problem? She still learns and gets the right answers etc but it’s hard work telling if she’s actually learning at the time as she drifts off quickly.

[frumpyballoon]

Yes @HoverParent we did indeed miss the boat for 4+. Hopefully we can catch up now!

[LadyPeacock]

My daughter played the piano from the age of 3 and the other day she found an ideal piano at Gatwick and played for an airport full of, otherwise bored and delayed travellers. The applause echoed so loud! It was beautiful.

You are certain all the other travellers wanted to listen to a child play the piano??

[henrietta1199]

If you not sure that you want your child to join large selective school now, if your child is not in a hot 7+prep house school and you do not have a tutor, your chances to get into such schools are close to zero.

[henrietta1199]

I think you child shall decide at age 16-18 which path to chose: academics, sport, music, art etc. But if by that time the child does not have a good academic background and grades, her choices would be limited.

[frumpyballoon]

@henrietta1199 no she’s not in a hot house she’s in one that prepares for the next selective entrances, however, others have gone onto do well in the 7+ and left current school so it’s not impossible but I will definitely have to help her at home or tutor or whatever it takes.

I am going to do some tutoring over summer and see how she’s gets on. She’s intelligent and lots of dc do well at 11+ stage as well, although I know some of the schools are already stopping the 11+ so who knows what will be going on when dd applies at that stage.
She’s no ‘genius’ though so whether she passes or not is ok because her current school is nice
I simply didn’t want her to be behind in life because I didn’t try and we already missed the 4+ etc so thought better be prepared for this, hence the OP.