Child Genius

[evaperonspoodle]

And so it begins!

I must admit I love this programme mostly to watch the parents Strong contenders for the unhinged parenting award are the PHd in Chemistry mum or the Twins' mum. She clearly thinks the world of her son and her daughter is a not so close second.

It looked to me like they are. The last few series certainly they looked like they were all using the same books, I presume they are given them all at the beginning. This time I noticed Earth and Weather books

And spellings, it seemed like they were given lists. Otherwise I don’t think most of them would have encountered many of the really obscure ones no matter how well read. I’m sure in previous years they were allowed to ask for a sentence or definition or where it comes from, but didn’t see anyone doing that this year

I was told by one of the parents that they are told what topics to learn and given a "syllabus". They get given it at the same time. So it's about memory recall.

Two of the contestants from earlier years that my sons know confirmed to him they did get spelling lists,it really is little more than a memory show.

Interesting piece about IQ as a measure

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2019/mar/04/does-having-a-higher-iq-than-einstein-guarantee-success

They have always been given spelling lists, a few years ago one of the contestants had it stuck up around his bedroom. It isn't a genius test at all, just a memory test.

I think it was either William or Ben who had words taped to the patio doors.

William is clearly perfectly capable of reading and learning by himself, given his performance in the memory tests. I wonder whether his mother clocked that? He would also be made to read and work without help at school.

Of course he is, I think the issue is that he isn't interested in the areas that his mum feels is necessary, hence her highlighting things.

It’s not genius at all is it, if they are being coached by parents and being told what to memorise.

I kept reminding myself how heavily edited it all is but I just kept cringing for William. The sweaty palm test, the fact she sat in a room and did the screening test herself (don’t get me wrong I would actually love to try the test, I used to steal my mum’s old 11+ Practice books, but I have the self awareness to know that looks batshit on tv) and obviously all the talk was just... a bit ick. And basically telling him exactly what to learn right down to not giving him his own specialist subject. WTF. So so clearly living through him. Also I wondered if his big sister was actually not the mum’s daughter but a stepdaughter?

Our boys are at school with two previous contestants,both of whom did very well,one of whom got most of the media attention that year and guess what..yes they are in the top twenty or thirty in the year but thats it,they dont stand out and theyve discovered that there are lots of clever people in the world,they just dont go on a tv programme. Soooo intrigued as to who they are!

Sam was so cute, he reminds me of my autistic/probably ADHD DS - who totally isn’t a genius, but he does love science and is just like that bouncing all over the sofas while he recites facts about the periodic table :o

Whats funny is one of them spent all his time on the programme saying how he wanted to go to a certain school,hes now at a different school( both schools very well known,but one more academic than the other),his parents have calmed down,they were very ott on tv ,but in the last few years have discovered that there are lots of very intelligent boys that are more than capable of being on the show but its the last thing they or their parents would ever consider,the boy does stand out but for his footballing prowess not his academics