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Telly addicts

Child Genius

348 replies

Whizzz · 08/02/2007 21:12

on now.......this merits a MN thread !

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roisin · 09/02/2007 17:00

I know you don't mean it!
We have some right scallies at work from some difficult backgrounds, and far-from-perfect parenting, but it doesn't stop them being endearing in their own little way ...

... though quite a different way to the children in this programme, it has to be said.

Bink · 09/02/2007 17:17

roisin, did you see frogs' post about Prof Freeman's interest in exactly the longterm effect of this sort of spotlighting? - since I saw that I have been hoping to myself that there was a proper sober subject-selection, with Freeman involved to choose only those who, on balance, would benefit rather than be damaged.

Maybe clerkKent could tell us .. seems very knowledgeable.

fannyannie · 09/02/2007 17:49

ermmm trice - not sure whether the likes of Vladimir Kramnik (World Chess Champion) and Kasparov make their living through playing chess - but there are certainly VERY large numbers of pianists who make their living play the piano - whether it's virtuoso concerto and piano recitals, teaching, accompanying or a mixture of the above - so don't think you can really call it "nice but not useful" in that sense - #

I'm sure there are plenty of professions one could say are "nice but not useful" in the real adult world......

Piffle · 09/02/2007 18:11

I have sooo hesitated posting.
Ds is very much like Dante
Except at age 5 I decided that whatever happened he had to go through life getting on with other people and fitting in.
So off to school he went and I have never indulged his argumentative side,infact quite frnakly it drives me quit mad(sorry "philosophical debate)

Ds did have his IQ tested at age 8 by a friend of his fathers, it was stonkingly high.
But it means sqaut in day to day life, it doesn't remind you to take your lunch money, tidy your room or not get punched in the nose at school.
At the end of the day I presume ds's intelligence will stay with him into adult life where hopefully he will be well adjusted enought to do something with it, rather than hounded by his forced childhood.
FFs giving your very able reading child the Koran at age 6 and then declaring her a spiritual philosopher future Ghandi.
I thought I was a bit pushy setting ds off on the Narnia Chronicles.

That family are localish, lipstick weirdy is def familiar - lets face it hardly forgettable is she?

I think Michael and his mother have a very intense relationship, his troubles will start when he grows, where ever will he find a partner to indulge him in the same way?

I seriously hope Dante's parents get some advice or that child is heading for a wasted life.

FluffyMummy123 · 09/02/2007 18:12

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FluffyMummy123 · 09/02/2007 18:13

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frogs · 09/02/2007 18:13

For Bink, copied and pasted from a scientific review:

"Research, unique in its in-depth approach, was carried out in Britain over 14 years (Freeman, 1991). This was a comparative follow-up study of carefully matched triads of children, initially aged 5-14. The target group of 70 children, identified by their parents as gifted, were compared with a second group of 70 who were unlabelled - but of equal measured ability - and with a third group of 70 randomly selected children. All were interviewed and tested in their homes across the country, as well as their families and teachers in the schools being questioned. The children were also given a wide variety of tests and their environmental circumstances rated. It was found that those who had been labelled 'gifted' (whose parents had joined the National Association for Gifted Children) had significantly (p< 1.0) more behaviour problems than those of equal ability who were not so labelled. However, the possession of an IQ within the top 2% was not found to be related to emotional problems or social relationships, which were instead associated with other difficulties in the child's life. In fact, the brightest appeared to be exceptionally empathetic. The most practical finding was that at all levels of intelligence (70 IQ-170 IQ) the children's school achievements were directly related to accessibility of facilities for learning, as well as to parental involvement and example.

Ten years later, using the same home interview methods, the labelled young people had often remained the least happy (as measured by rating scales), for which their gifts were sometimes blamed. Labelling appeared to have had the effect of putting pressure on children to live up to it in high achievements, notably in the case of those who had been wrongly labelled and could not fulfil their parents' ambitions. As a result of having highly able children, parents can themselves have emotional problems, whether through feeling inadequate or trying to gain social advantage from living vicariously through their child. Whatever problems already exist in the family, these can be intensified when there is an unusual child present (Freeman, 1993). "

Aloha · 09/02/2007 18:17

That is interesting. SUggests to me that it's not so much being bright or even being recognised as bright that's the problem. What's the problem is having nutty parents!

FluffyMummy123 · 09/02/2007 18:17

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NotAnOtter · 09/02/2007 18:20

one of my kids is 'silly -bright' and he is the hardest work

Piffle · 09/02/2007 18:21

he regularly exasperates me Cod
And others.
But no I AM IN CHARGE and I keep his ass in line
He is a lovely kid I think, no attitude. He does suffer from a bit of social isolation and he watched the prog and also identified with Dante - said square peg in round hole scenario...
But like Dr freeman said, as these kids age and choose paths for their lives, they will meet more like minded people and forge friendships when they're older.

That girl Aimee, pressure was unreal...
But the family of 4 FARK - bet they can not wait to be of leaving age...

Mercy · 09/02/2007 18:25

Interesting post, Piffle.

Did you see the Channel 4 documentary about Dr Aubrey de Grey last weekend?

Piffle · 09/02/2007 18:28

No last weekend my mother was here, also exasperating me so much I lost the will to sit in the living room at all when she was in there

FluffyMummy123 · 09/02/2007 18:28

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FluffyMummy123 · 09/02/2007 18:30

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LIZS · 09/02/2007 18:37

only saw part of this (is it repeated on e4 or anywhere?) but that celebration of 11+ pass was odd - like a right of passage ceremony with the older kids welcoming her into some kind of club. Just how many kids pass their 11+ up and down the country and it was so expected. Poor kids being paraded almost like a freak show, no attempt to set them apart there then

FluffyMummy123 · 09/02/2007 18:37

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Caroline1852 · 09/02/2007 18:42

I wonder what they would have done with those tables full of presents if she had failed her 11plus. Now that I would like to have seen.

LIZS · 09/02/2007 18:48

Fine to acknowledge achievement but the fulfilment of the parents' expectations , not so sure. I'm sure I was rewarded when I passed but not on that scale or so ,er , formally. They probably take out an ad in the local paper too.

Mercy · 09/02/2007 18:48

I think a present is a good idea if a child has made an exceptional effort to do/change some aspect of their behaviour or whatevr you choose - but for being 'intelligent', then no.

I didn't get anythilgn for passing the 11+

Whizzz · 09/02/2007 19:01

No one noticed my comment of I thought that Mrs G-C was Lavender

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FluffyMummy123 · 09/02/2007 19:01

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roisin · 09/02/2007 20:29

One of the things I didn't like in this programme: particularly from the nutty family of 4 kids, but from others too, is this idea that gifted children are going to grow up into people who will make amazing contributions to the world, and that therefore they should be treasured differently from other children. (Chi is particularly guilty of this, I think. But we also read similar things from NAGC, which is why we left after a year's membership.)

I don't think gifted children are any more or less special than any other children, and they should be allowed to grow up and do whatever it is that will bring them satisfaction, contentment, and happiness. For some of them that may well be a low-profile 'unspecial' career and life. This weight of expectation I think can be very damaging for the children/young adults concerned.

RosaLuxembourg · 09/02/2007 20:31

I'm relatively new on here. Who or what is Lavender?

hatwoman · 09/02/2007 20:45

roisin - I wrote then deleted a post earlier (it turned into a bit of a rant...) - I'm not sure I agree with one aspect of what you say - I thought the idea of a contribution to society was very absent from the agenda of many of those kids and parents. It seemed to be very focused on the kid and their needs and them achieving their potential. I actually thought (although I didn;t see it all) a lot of it was strikingly selfish.

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