Child Genius.. anyone watching

[Totallyfloaty35]

Its quite interesting, can't believe 5yrs have passed since previous show.

Joan is sure the boys are innately very bright (which they obviously are) and adamant that IQ can't be 'added to' by hard work - which is probably right - but from what we saw this time and in previous years, the tests she uses do rely a fair bit on knowledge and vocabulary ('what is a lotus') rather than reasoning powers. You might be Einstein but never have seen a straw, for example.

I liked Peter when he was small, brave bright cocky spirit that he seemed to be, but feel he has somehow grown dispirited. I'd like a happy future for Peter.

Aimee is obviously highly intelligent and driven, but looks like an awkward wee soul to parent!

I was not paying attention multitasking.

Was Peter the boy who was playing guitar at one point? With the curly hair?

Seemed like too much of a formal arrangement to be paying Kiaron (sp?) rent, he is their son FFS and he is living there anyway.

She uses an out of date test that relies heavily on learned knowledge.

Apples- this is always the problem with IQ tests. In essence, IQ tests how good the person is at taking IQ tests. The same could be said for the question asked to William about feathers on a bird- if he has never seen a bird, how would he know?

Sorry- IQ tests test how good the person is at taking IQ tests

Did anyone hear what Freeman said William's IQ was? I missed that bit.

I suspect the whole thing is a slightly dubious publicity vehicle for Joan Freeman herself. It all just seems a bit glib and exploitative.

I agree Dante was delightful though. I'm pleased because he was my favourite the first time - there was always something appealingly self-aware about him, even at his most aggravating, and he obviously has a good sense of humour.

Who is she?

William was 140 something apparently.

144-puts him at 98.9 percentile.

I was so disappointed not to see more of Dante and Michael. Fair enough filming at that age must be disruptive but I really wanted to know what their plans are for their futures. What will they study at university, for example? Does Michael still learn Mandarin and Old English, does Dante go to Oxford for philosophy sessions?
It's so frustrating!

I think IQ tests are crap controversial, just like learned tests. How can you really measure someone's intelligence in a snapshot as these tests try to do.

OK I couldn't do them and DD can but once you read the explanation you go 'Oh I get in now' suppose that defeats the whole object. So there must be some weight in it all.

I'm sure there is another episode.

A couple of the mums here.

Watching on 4+1. Shame that there isn't more on the original participants.

Don't remember Adam but do remember Georgia. She was an add on to the last series. She was 4 so I assume hasn't been featured as the trailer for this programme mentioned updating now they are teenagers, which obviously Georgia isn't.

I'd be interested to see how the same children did when tested by a different psychologist. Not that I don't think they're all very bright. Clearly they are. But distinguishing between those two brothers as she did. And so precisely. Hmm. I'd like to know more about the tests I think.

I agree bathbuns. I wanted more update on the old names, not loads of new ones.
Or did I miss it? I fell asleep halfway through.

I think they implied that the children themselves had opted out of more filming - and I can see why really, it must have been tough enough socially at 10 or 11, let alone 15.

TheFallenMadonna - she was one of the first people to study gifted children specifically, she's written a few books, the first one in the 70s I think. One more recent one is quite an interesting follow-up of gifted children as adults over 30 years or so - interesting because there was such a range in terms of achievement and satisfaction, and quite a large number of drop-outs. She's been mining almost exactly the same seam for a long time though, and her written style is pretty plodding as I remember.

A couple of the mums post here.

I have found her website.

Yes, I don't like the way we have these filmed scenes of children being told their IQ or (as in the previous one) children watching their parents' reactions to the news. I am not a statistician, but I would imagine that a one-off test difference of around 140 and around 150 is not statistically very significant anyway (i.e. they might well swop round if tested again another day).

Is there going to be another programme next week. Who are the other mums, can you give me their nicknames?

But it was billed as a follow-on programme.

Lol! Am also on 1,000,000 drop

Hmm. I'd like to know more about the tests I think.

She used the Stanford Binet sblm, last normed in the 70's in the first series.

Some psychologists use this as a supplemental test to get a more accurate picture as it has a much higher ceiling than more modern tests.

The newer tests give much lower numbers. My ds took the sblm after a newer test to give a more accurate picture.

I do think it's a shame that Child Genius and that other one with Robert Winston Child of our Time, seem to be crammed into like one hour every year. I know it's checking back on them every so often, but I need to know more!!!

I LOVED Dante, and still do. Michael, intensely annoying, no way I could be in his company without sticking pencils up his nose. Aimee, still horrible to her mother I see. Peter, bless his little heart. I remember 5 years ago (was it really?), it ended with him being taken out his school and having no friends, and nothing's changed. Poor soul. Dad seems fairly gormless.

William seems cute but it will be interesting to see what happens to his relationship with his mum and dad in years to come. Poor mum was almost crying at the thought of having to put him through private school for the next 14 years. Glad my children are so blimmin' average I tells ya!

What were Adam and Georgia's special talents? Don't remember them at all. Wasn't there a little boy who was being taught maths in his kitchen and his mum had to go back to nightschool so she could help him? Was that Adam?