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Child Genius (C4)

756 replies

TheFirstOfHerName · 20/07/2014 21:02

Anyone planning to watch this?

I was a little like these children; joined Mensa as a child, but used my ability to coast through school/university rather than to achieve anything noteworthy.

DS2 is also of this ilk. We are not doing any of the things these parents are doing, although when opportunities arise through school then obviously we let him participate.

OP posts:
50KnockingonabiT · 20/07/2014 22:36

I found that uncomfy viewing, bit like a horror movie I couldn't turn off. I just wanted the hug the children and take them to the park.

AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 20/07/2014 22:58

I think Jocelyn's mum is a mnetter! I remember reading a home ed thread where a poster said her DD just learned about sharks for a term!

ReadyToBreak · 20/07/2014 23:02

I feel terribly sad for Jocelyn. I can't help but feel she needs structure now before it's too late. Her parents need to wake up and realise that unfortunately, they're doing her no favours by allowing her to do what she likes, how she likes, when she likes because sadly, the big wide world doesn't work like that.

ThunderbumsMum · 20/07/2014 23:13

readytobreak I agree with you re structure but I think Jocelyn was noticeably happier and better adjusted than many of the children on that show.

ReadyToBreak · 20/07/2014 23:21

Definitely agree that she appears to be a much happier and better adjusted child, however, I think she will struggle as a teen/young adult.

My parents were like many of the parents in the show, indeed, me and my brother were both members of MENSA. I lost out on a "normal" childhood and I hate that but I do thank them for the structure and discipline they gave me. It's enabled me to (appear to) fit in and have a "normal" adult life.

Not that any of it matters now as generally as adults it makes no difference.

pommedeterre · 20/07/2014 23:26

I think that was a harsh way for jocelyn to be introduced to the idea of not measuring up to peers.

I wonder with things like this (as I do when parents boast about early potty training or talking etc) what the families think will happen because of it? What does it prove? What function does it serve. It means nothing, the kid may end up the next prime minister, or an accountant or a teacher or a job seeker.

I don't get it.

KatoPotato · 20/07/2014 23:28

Curtis was mainlining haribo!

TinklyLittleLaugh · 20/07/2014 23:41

Tudor is actually a fairly common Christian name in Wales; I went to school with a couple of Tudors. It's really not that out there.

Picturesinthefirelight · 20/07/2014 23:47

OMG. I'm stunned

I've just discovered why my very bright dd who is a high flyer academically at her new secondary school never considered herself to be very clever at junior school.

Her best friend from juniors is one of the children!!!

We only met up a few weeks ago. Can't believe she didn't say anything!

Lalalax3 · 20/07/2014 23:48

I found Curtis' mum incredibly creepy, viewing her son as a brand and dressing him in those strange clothes. Also, why hasn't anybody in his family picked up on his glaringly obvious SLCN?

As an SEN specialist I found lots of these children very interesting, professionally, lots of BESDs and SLCNs on show.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 21/07/2014 00:00

MrsGembles, surely, as a professional you messy realise you are only seeing an edited snapshot of a child in a stressful situation; hardly the basis for a diagnosis. The children's additional needs may be being fully addressed; you have no way of knowing that.

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2014 00:04

Doesn't the show deliberately not mention any SEN? I seem to remember last year people were saying it as clear Hugo had ASD but the show never mentioned it and so they assumed he wasn't diagnosed and going unsupported, but that wasn't necessarily the case?

Bloomy22 · 21/07/2014 00:20

Hi Merlincat, we must be neighbours! I have a child at Aliyah's prep school and I just wanted to make clear that it isn't an SEN school or a school for children with behavioural problems. - There are a diverse mix of kids and it is predominately mainstream. Of course due to the size of the school it's attractive to parents of children who might struggle to fit in elsewhere but your description was inaccurate...

And it is also a lot cheaper than the famous one you mentioned!!

deepest · 21/07/2014 02:14

The whole Jocelyn thing doesn't add up to me. If her parents HE because they want her to play creatively, passionately and follow her interests - then why would they subject her to this ridiculous, rigid, pointless exercise?...even if she wasn't drilled for months before - it was a waste of a day of her childhood.

ThunderbumsMum · 21/07/2014 02:20

I don't think they did subject her to it - they said she applied and wanted to do it so they supported her.

FoxSticks · 21/07/2014 08:35

Poor Tudor, his dad was the only person in the audience who didn't clap after he completed the memory round.

ThunderbumsMum · 21/07/2014 08:41

His Dad is a massive cunt

GretchenWiener · 21/07/2014 08:45

i wonder how many home edders had happy times at school themselves

GretchenWiener · 21/07/2014 08:46

ALiah's mum
no baggage at ALL - theforgivenessproject.com/visitor/dr-shoshana-garfield/

as for the ' unconditional love' she gives her kid.... Hmm

tenderbuttons · 21/07/2014 09:39

I agree about the AS/SEN issue. As far as I remember it was true about Hugh - he was diagnosed AS, but it was never mentioned in the programme, only in the surrounding press interviews. Which makes the programme even more of a finger-pointing exercise than it is already.

Plus, that first round of testing would massively have favoured any child with AS - maths + memory. Gifted children with any creativity, whose key strength is English or NVR would be out at the first hurdle. But maybe that's part of the plan...

Lalalax3 · 21/07/2014 10:05

Of course Tinkly but there were some enormous markers there. I see children with SEN every day and there would be enough with many of those children for me to deem them assessment-worthy.

noddyholder · 21/07/2014 10:17

We really need to stop watching this reality shite and then they will stop making it. It is like hoisting overweight people out of roofs while cameras look on WTF have we come to? Anyone with a truly exceptional child with half a brain wouldn't entertain this shit. People who are happy for people to gawp at their lives on TV are all essentially the same Switch it off!

ThunderbumsMum · 21/07/2014 10:37

I think the idea is that most very bright children will be good at everything

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2014 10:41

The girl who won last year was majorly into English, reading and words. She still managed to get through the maths!

wintertimeisfun · 21/07/2014 12:22

the most (sadly) memorable thing for me was little Tudor's terribly sad face, almost scared. He was a beautiful little boy but at a guess, his father rules his home with an iron rod. I bet the kids are scared shitless of him. Such a lovely little boy who appears to be so unhappy, really upsetting to watch. His father looks like a right bastard imop