Child genius -which bright spark decided to put it on on a Tuesday???

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Anyone watching?

thought! had!

Do you think he as socially awkward ? I didn't at all.

Was

Ds , who himself is borderline, thought Thomas was on the spectrum and lacked empathy. It was said in a factual rather than boasting way.

Lacked empathy? I must've been watching a different child. A child lacking in empathy I'm pretty sure wouldn't have asked if Sasha was ok and laughed about not putting his mum through this all again.

Perhaps would have bounded around shouting 'what did you get what did you get' either unaware of, or uncaring about, the fact that the others were clearly quite dejected and wanted him to stop, though?

He's twelve and competing in a televised competition which he has a good chance of winning, so long as he gets through to the next round. Of course he wanted to know what everyone else got, and is excited that he is winning.

That's not autistic behaviour

I quite agree noble.

I would also bet that all along EVERYONE had been competitive but they'd edited those bits

I think I found the scenes where Thomas was at home - not in competition quite interesting. He seemed very hyper, very restless, and a bit 'on his own' even when he was seen with his step-siblings. Obviously if you are unusually bright this makes social relationships harder, even when you're NT.

He reminded me very much of a relative of my partner's, who was a very bright, cheerful, chatty, egotistical boy - and then became a gloomy solitary misunderstood adolescent. And who, it now seems, has high-functioning autism.

But yes, clips that have been carefully edited, can tell all sorts of different stories.

I suppose a lot of these contests have a bit of dangerous edge to them, and can do as much harm as good in the long run.

I loathed THomas
He needed lots of lessons in humility

Do you know any twelve year olds Mary? They're not usually known for their humility

i do! Rather well!

I have a child who is outstanding at something. Hopes to be a pro. I say to him ' whatever you do, don't be a cock'

Pity Thomas mum didnt say that!

I think the other thing we should remember is that these are children, twelve year olds are still young children, they don't come in the box with perfect manners, emotions and empathy , they have years of learning still ahead of them. Mind you, I thought Thomas was a perfectly normal ,bouncy twelve year old just with an incredible brain.

I never said he was autistic! His behaviour was not pleasant and not what I'd like to see in any child of mine, that's all. Also, amid all the 'he's only 12', let's remember that 12 was at the upper end of the age range on the show. He's not a baby.

I thought his mum was lovely

I honestly think I was watching a different programme!

I liked Thomas, thought he was pretty grounded, and was impressed by his levels of effort. I also liked his mum who I thought was a bit bewildered about what to do with him, and who was obviously slowly realising that he is really extraordinary.

I really cant believe the way people are talking about children. Very out of the ordinary children who have to work out where they fit in this world. Of course they are going to get over excited, it was exciting for them! I've seen very many adults act with much less grace.
Please remember they are just kids.

Bertrand - You should have seen the parents they didn't feature. We went to watch the filming of the second part on the first day. I spoke to a few of the parents. Two of the ones I spoke to during the course of the afternoon didn't feature at all in the programme. Let's just say my judgey pants could not have been hoiked any higher!

Absolutely OYBK!

noble I didn't say he was autistic because he was excited in the competition
.

After watching him in the whole series, he has some traits and could be classified as high-functining autism, but like dame said not all children fit in that box etc.

We were invited to audition. So so pleased we didn't. Mate emailed me and copied in production person in error. He said "no bloody way you'll end up looking like freak mum".

coughs

That was last year tho. Where was this year's filmed? The building looked amazing

Funny, I thought to classify someone with high functioning autistim you needed a professional assessment by a child psychologist, not an armchair diagnosis from someone who'd seen snippets of them on TV.