Are any of your children super clever?

[QuickTraybake]

I was a very good reader and mathematician from a young age. DS aged 7, he excels in everything at school. In reception he could count to 100. He is currently the best mathematician in his class and is a fantastic reader. He has recently received his “pen license” whatever that was. He is also great at history and exceptional at sports.
Are any of your kids like this or better?

Two of the most successful (in my view) people I was at school with were completely ordinary academically. Average at best. Hard workers, though.
One of them, after a completely undistinguished time in school, got into construction, married someone also in construction and started their own family business, which has done very well.
The other went into teaching. Is now deputy head of the school I went to. Has helped God knows how many kids, also volunteered in an emergency services role for years and has probably saved quite a few lives. Not particularly wealthy or well known so by successful I suppose I mean they've led a very worthwhile life.
Not everyone can be academic. For those that aren't, I think it's about finding a path to a niche that works for them and suits their personal strengths. I don't think the school system and careers guidance necessarily recognises that, though.

I'd want to know what his CAT4 scores are in addition to his standardized scores in reading and maths. He might be the top of his class, but that doesn't necessarily mean super bright.

I volunteered in my children’s school for a while and remember working with one child on her 9 times table in her first term at school. By the time she was 8 years old teachers from the local secondary were coming to the primary school to give her sessions/work. Her parents then sent her to a private school a year or two ahead of her age. Last I heard she was doing her GCSEs three years early. Her parents were the same and said they found it very difficult at school to be so out of synch with other children.

I work in primary and we have so many parents who are sure their children are Einstein. They aren't and they have set their child to fail. These are the children that have no resilience as their parents have spent their whole lives building them up to be something they aren't rather than celebrating them for who they are.

It's a shame your DS didn't check your OP, he could have told you it's licence not license.

Both my children have a learning disability and can barely talk.

But they are the sweetest natured little boys.

I got told one of mine scored the highest in their year group (300 kids) and a CAT test type assessment. Scored 129. All great but they aren’t arsed really and they’ll be lucky to get even near their high predicted grades. They just aren’t motivated at all and don’t take it seriously. Being clever is by no means a guarantee of success.

My other DC can’t read or write and needs specialist support and always will. As long as they’re happy that’s what makes me smile.

In reception he could count to 100.

My friend is panicking because her son has only just managed to count to 100 - he's in Reception.

There is a huge difference between being able to recite numbers to 100 and actually understanding numbers - knowing the ‘two-ness’ of two.

Yes of course. My point is, practically every kid in my son's Reception class can easily count to 100, so I have no idea why the OP is impressed by her son being able to do it.

DS was like this at 7. Now aged 12, he's still brighter than average but is quite lazy, he's no longer noticeably brighter than the other bright kids in his year, is still good at sport but no longer excelling etc.
I think some children just get there quicker, then others catch them up a bit later IYSWIM.

Yes I think so & in different ways. One was considered gifted and talented at school but now is 23 & doing exceptionally well but in creative arts.
She knows how to make money on social media & has several videos gone viral, quite the success story.
The other is super clever but doesn't have the confidence to put it out there,
I think all children have talent but in our culture certain types of cleverness is valued, but all should be cherished.

At one point 3 separate children came to me in the playground to tell me that my fourth child was the smartest in the class. I was preening away.... Until I realized it was all propaganda. He had told everyone that he was the smartest in the class. Because they were 6 they all believed him. Not much idea where he is reality because they didn't tend to hand out rankings at year 2 parents evening. Anyway he may not be the most intelligent kid out there but he will make a great politician.

His brother is like a sponge for facts. Knows something about everything. But as his teacher says 'does not always know when to stop sharing his knowledge'.......

In reality kids are all quite funny and amazing, but their parents tend to see the best in them. So secretly, even if you don't say it and Even in the face of pretty average attainment, we all think our kids are remarkable. And this is how it should be.

My eldest (almost 17) in particular I would say is very intelligent.
But I am most proud of the fact that he is a lovely and caring person. To me, that's what is most important ❤️

Well when my son was 3, he received an invite to join Mensa and won a Nobel peace prize for ending the conflict between remote villages in deepest darkest Peru.

I remember your son! We were in the audience clapping him wildly! My son was waiting to collect the physics prize!

Ah, little timmy?

I was particularly impressed when he countered quantum entanglement with his theory of the quantum cat and yarn.

Oh my good lord. I bet your school gate is fun. 🤦🏼‍♀️

God, yes but I'd never elucodate the details for everybody. Even anonymously online

Not sure spelling is his forte either but thanks

Aww, op. It's exciting watching this bundle of crying, helpless baby you produced build all these skills and develop confidence in reading and mathematical skills. I found it quite thrilling, just the sheer pace of leaning in those early years. And now you have a four year old who is thriving at school. It's a trip.

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz your daughter has a great attitude and work ethic. IMO that will get her much further in life than someone naturally 'bright' but used to coasting.

My DH is a bit like that. No great shakes in school despite working hard but is a very high earner now because he cracks on, is interested and thorough.

Same with one of my neighbours growing up. Went to the sink school, joined an accountancy firm in a basic position at 16 and worked his way up. Is now the wealthiest person I know.

My dd was, all thru primary and most of secondary. Then had a trauma and 'only' got 5/6s at gcse and pulled herself round and did a good year at college predicted a* then had a breakdown and got all Us. It comes with its own troubles.

There are some 'G & A' kids who are just early developers. There have been studies about those being labelled as such, compared with equally well scoring students but not labelled, and random students, and how they fare later in life. The labelled and non labelled were pretty much on par, and slightly more 'successful' in their careers than the random group. But they found the best predictor of success was work ethic, emotional support and openness in outlook. Other studies that looked at IQ tests. With children achieving scores of 130 or higher, found no correlation with success in later life.
The only thing I recall about my DD in reception was being told she couldn't spell and needed extra (paid for) classes. She's 18 now, still can't spell but that didn't stop her from getting three A stars at A level. Is this indicative of future success? Check back in 15 years.
Gifted and talented is a social construct, and tend to be based on attainment tests of what is valued in society at the time of the tests. It is also hard to predict future gifts - some develop 'talents' later on. This is a fascinating report about the subject

files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ746289.pdf

'G&T' - excuse the typo!