___WEDNESDAY___CH 4___UPDATE___"CHILD GENIUS"___UPDATE___CH 4___

[RTKangaMummy]

WEDNESDAY

CHANNEL 4

AN UPDATE ON THE CHILDREN FROM LAST YEAR

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Documentary
Child Genius Wednesday 16 April
9:00pm - 10:00pm
Channel 4
1/2
The subtitle of this series about megabrained children is "young and gifted", but by the end you half-wonder if it should be "young and cursed". We're catching up with kids we met in the last series - chess champ Peter (11), who wears a "genius in training" T-shirt, Adam (eight), who dissects rats in the kitchen, and Mikhail (five), who as Britain's youngest Mensa member has appeared on Oprah and Countdown. We also meet Georgia, who toppled Mikhail as Britain's youngest Mensa member. At two, she was measured with an IQ of 152 - impressive given that, being a toddler, she fell asleep halfway through the test. Her mother notes that "a lot of the pictures we take of Georgia have this white light around her . . ." That's the thing: inevitably, parents become caught up in making their gifted children into mini-celebrities, especially when TV crews get involved. It makes for fascinating TV; whether it's great for the pressure-cooker kids is another matter.

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She was trying to get her daughter into a school by saying she had special educational needs. She had her IQ tested so that she had evidence that her dd was gifted, if she was classed as special needs she would have had a better chance of getting a place.

Will watch this tonight with interest. Who is Dante related to? Or do they tell you?

I found Jane's post very interesting. I was at Oxford - a place where you see the real important of having balance as well as brains. I met some extraordinarily clever people there (and some not so clever and many inbetween). Later success in terms of (mental) health, wealth, and general all round happiness was not predictable from academic achievement. I imagine staying in that environment you can see that year after year.

I've also been watching Chinese school (mentioned earlier). The extraordinarily bright girl on there is amazing. So lovely as well. A real example of 'balance' I think.

You do know it was on a couple of days ago??

4- watch again.

That's how I watched it last week. Can't miss the Apprentice!

I have a theory that GT is nature rather than Nuture

Cos in my family they are all gifted musically but I am not {I was adopted aged 6 weeks}

So although I learnt piano, trumpet and guitar I am deffo not gifted like they all are

Sorry. I had visions of you with a glass of wine waiting for it to start, and waiting, and waiting . I have not watched chinese school, I can only imagine the horrors those children are forced to face.

I didn't get to go to Oxford, or even apply. I am the product of a non-studious, non-encouraging household and a rubbish state school where turning up was rewarded (if you know where I'm coming from). I went to Derby instead. I've always had a feeling I missed out.

Well I've studied at 3 different Universities, Oxford, York and an ex poly that's done rather well for itself.

Academia is academia - there are some things that Oxbridge does well and other' things it does less well, but most universities have the same feel about them. Certainly there are excellent facilities and access to individual attention. I remember really well the tutors who gave extra long tutorials and things like personal 1:1 tours of the university museum. But there are downsides as well. I think I was too young for it at the time. I just wanted to drink , have a good social life and come out with a decent degree. I'd be more focussed now but I think there would be a lot of things I wouldn't like about it now.

The really clever people go to Cambridge

Chinese school is fascinating. They work very long hours, but the teaching staff are very caring. It reminds me a bit of the set up in Japan. The teachers are far more involved in every aspect of a child's life than here.

RT- I think things like music are very much nature. Dance too.

I love academia, far more interesting then working . So much that you can learn. Derby was for drinkers. I should have choosen more carefully but I wanted to escape from home and it's problems. I got out as quickly as I could. I hope ds doesn't feel the same way when he's older . I want to do medicine next.

Medicine needs a lot of work experience to stand any chance of getting a place.

I think Oxford is for drinkers as well tbh

Why not set up a yahoo group? That what SN did in order to discuss sensitive topics that can't be discussed on the main board.

Do you ever wonder if our children would be so bright if our parents had not have ignored us? I think I compensate for not having books as a child, not going to the library with them, not going to the theatre, not having music lessons. I don't have alot of support, ds is at a private school but they don't really know much about what a gifted child is really like. They ave alot of bright, well behaved, polite children but I had always thought ds was a one off, he's not the same. He's got spark and energy. Doesn't it make you wonder what your life would have been like if your parents had done all of the things that you do to help your child for you?

Kerry mum just ignore those who don't understand

honestly they are just silly if they come on GT and then complain about us posting there

DH went to Oxford and he will confirm they do drink there too

havent seen it yet, have it on sky+ to watch later but missed the first one.

my nephew is on g+t register, and it was hard work trying to find suitable reading material for him when he was 7/8 as he reading age was already in the teens.

I don't really know any exceptionally gifted children.

I know one very clever adult who was gifted as a child- who has done very well academically - is definitely top of his field.

He went to a bog standard comp. His parents were interested and enthusiastic about what he did, but they didn't have much money and he did it all himself.

I think if someone is going to achieve as an adult they have to have the ability to get there themselves.

I've done work experience. I trained as a peads nurse for 2 years. I think that's enough. How do you set up a yahoo group?

I don't know if they will see it as enough (seriously- used to have a job trying to get people into med school). The more work experience (in as many different fields as possible) you have the better.

No idea how to set up a yahoo group- I expect there's step by step instructions. 2shoes did it for us.

It's the Graduate Entry Med, I worked in a hospital during my A'Levels aswell (joints). I'll give it a shot and see what happens. Do they have to have a certain percentage of disabled students?

medical school entry and disability

Thankyou, I'm fairly fit to practice, I've spoken to a doctor friend who's told me they have doctors with my problem all the time.

I've stolen the thread !

Back to the gifted children.........

KM- please make a Yahoo group! There are plenty of yahoo groups and internet boards for those in the US but hardly any in the UK.