Any parents of gifted children here ?
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deminc:
Oh I thought most parents can't wait for their kids to graduate and start earning money ? I am counting down to the days when I don't need to work to support my kids :lol:
i feel this is a very linear, achievement-oriented thinking and totally miss the heart of the issue. These children learn for the sake of learning. They want to understand for the sake of understanding. It's not about graduating early and finding employment early. It's certainly not about O levels and certificates.
Adolescence is a tricky age and the needs of the child is very individual at this point. Much wisdom is called for. But kiasulang, going by what you've done for your child so far, I'm sure your child will be just fine.
Ainan Celeste Cawley studied on his own and passed O-Level chemistry at 7 years old. He did not need to attend Secondary school in order to pass the O-Level chemistry exam. In fact, he is still attending primary 3 now, although he is also attending some modules in Singapore Polytechnic. They accepted him after he passed his O-Levels.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Video%2BNews/Singapore/STIVodcast_4159.html?playid=4159&type=Singapore
The point I am trying to make, is not that O-Levels are important. My point is that if a child truly loves a subject, then he can learn a lot on his own without the need to attend higher level schools. I share the same view as EN :
Learning is a life long journey. There is nothing to stop you from learning new things. There is no need to be certified gifted in order to obtain master, PHD or scholarship. Anybody can do it given their own motivation to work for it.
As I wrote earlier, there is not much point skipping levels, especially if the parents are not concerned about O-Levels and certificates. -
sleepy:
Nope. Don't think mine are gifted. They are just bright and smart.
Did you send yours for assessment?
[quote]My intention, if I do send my girl for assessment, is to find out her strengths & develop her in that area, in case there are areas I missed out.
For instance, we dropped her music lessons some years ago because she didn't like to practice. But if the report reveal info such as she may be gifted in music, then I shall try to revive her interest in learning some instruments. Right now, we neither encourage or discourage her to learn music again
Does the assessment report reveal such kind of info?[/quote]Judging from what kiasulang shared, it seems like the tests may not be able to tell if a kid is gifted in a particular artistic area. Perhaps it's better to speak to a certified psychologist about your concerns and the tests that can be employed to help you gain a better understanding of your girls' abilities. That way, you can make better decisions.
If you are interested to encourage your gal's interest in music, try looking out for a teacher that has experience with young kids and interest in teaching them. Mine had a bad experience with a private piano teacher that he didn't want any more piano lessons initially. But the current teacher has a good rapport with him and that makes his learning really enjoyable.
[quote]I read the link, pai seh, don't quite understand
Fluid Reasoning (FR)
Knowledge (KN)
Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
Visual Spatial (VS)
Working Memory (WM)[/quote]Not easy, right? No wonder a psychologist session can cost a bomb :roll: Seriously, my head swells too just scanning through the website. :oops:
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tamarind:
Without taking anything away from Ainan, I note that views from the outside only tell part of the story. He lives in my neighbourhood. Enough said, i do not wish to comment further on him and his family.Ainan Celeste Cawley studied on his own and passed O-Level chemistry at 7 years old. He did not need to attend Secondary school in order to pass the O-Level chemistry exam. In fact, he is still attending primary 3 now, although he is also attending some modules in Singapore Polytechnic. They accepted him after he passed his O-Levels.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Video%2BNews/Singapore/STIVodcast_4159.html?playid=4159&type=Singapore
[quote] My point is that if a child truly loves a subject, then he can learn a lot on his own without the need to attend higher level schools.[/quote]definitely so.
[quote]As I wrote earlier, there is not much point skipping levels, especially if the parents are not concerned about O-Levels and certificates.[/quote]again, without stating that skipping is a must or necessarily desirable, whether or not to skip depends on the child's needs - social, intellectual and emotional. It is not a black-and-white yes-or-no issue. If the need does arise unequivocally, I'm sure the parents' take on O-levels and certificates will be the last thing on the list.
Having said that, there are other paths less travelled besides skipping. But status quo need to be reviewed. It's not a black and white issue. -
sleepy:
Yes working in the university will the best arrangement for the child, or at one of the A-Star reseach institute. But it is very very difficult to be successful doing scientific research. It is easier to be a PD
Say if the child finishes U at a much earlier age, he can spend the remaining time undergoing more indepth studies such as at master or PHD level
or he can explore new area of interests, assuming he is not already doing that concurrently
And ideally can get a scholarship so not so financially draining for parents kiasulang:
I am actually teaching at one of the IHLs(Institutes of higher learning), my students are young adults above 17 years old. The majority of the students are still crazy about computer games, PSP, etc. Boy girl relationships are actually very rare. Most of them still don't know what they want to do with their future. Young adults nowadays are not as matured as you expect them to be.It may seem ok for now when they are children. For adolescents, it is challenging. For a child with a IQ level of 150 at age 4 has a mental age of 6. For a adolescent with the same IQ of 150 at age 12 has a mental age of 18. Is she ready emotionally and socially?
Personally I don't think that a very bright 12 year old kid will have much problem emotionally and socially when in a tertiary institute in Singapore. At that level, they don't have a fixed class. Every student move around lecture theatres, classrooms, labs, etc, according to their own schedule. Students can actually skip lessons if they find that the lecturer boring. But a child who truly loves to learn should be disciplined enough to attend all the lessons.
However, I will be worried if the child goes overseas to a university in UK or the USA, don't know what goes on there. -
deminc:
I also do not think that it is a black-and-white issue. I said \"not much point\", and not \"no point\". I do not completely dismissed the possibility of skipping levels because there may be some kids who are suitable. But the fact is that MOE does not encourage it, and they should have good reasons.
again, without stating that skipping is a must or necessarily desirable, whether or not to skip depends on the child's needs - social, intellectual and emotional. It is not a black-and-white yes-or-no issue. If the need does arise unequivocally, I'm sure the parents' take on O-levels and certificates will be the last thing on the list.
Having said that, there are other paths less travelled besides skipping. But status quo need to be reviewed. It's not a black and white issue.
Personally I think that as parents we should not do everything purely based on \"child's needs\". Do children really know what they need ? A very bright child, may have no concept of money, or what it takes to support a family in the future. They cannot possibly spend their whole life learning, well not unless their parents can support them forever.
I hope that my kids can become professionals, and earn enough to support themselves and live comfortably. I will definitely support their interests, but I will advise them that they can still do what they love to do as a hobby while working. -
EN:
Learning is a life long journey. There is nothing to stop you from learning new things. There is no need to be certified gifted in order to obtain master, PHD or scholarship. Anybody can do it given their own motivation to work for it. [/quote]Yes, true. I studied till 29 yoSleepy wrote [quote]Say if the child finishes U at a much earlier age, he can spend the remaining time undergoing more indepth studies such as at master or PHD level
or he can explore new area of interests, assuming he is not already doing that concurrently
And ideally can get a scholarship so not so financially draining for parents
Then realized my interests shifted after all these years at home , no longer interested in my specialisation. Oops!
In fact, learning how to be a nurturing mom is a new specialisation for me, still learning everyday EN:
What if the assessment states, high ability in the area of music, but your daughter does not show any inclination towards the area, will you still insist that she must continue?[/quote]Aiya, almost impossible to force my girl. That's why when she refused to practice, I stopped her piano lesson promptly.Sleepy [quote] My intention, if I do send my girl for assessment, is to find out her strengths & develop her in that area, in case there are areas I missed out.
If report reflects potential in music, what I can do is influence her to perhaps explore other instruments besides piano. Right now, we neither encourage or discourage her to take any music lessons lor -
tamarind:
Amazing!!!Oh I thought most parents can't wait for their kids to graduate and start earning money ? I am counting down to the days when I don't need to work to support my kids :lol:
Ainan Celeste Cawley studied on his own and passed O-Level chemistry at 7 years old. He did not need to attend Secondary school in order to pass the O-Level chemistry exam. In fact, he is still attending primary 3 now, although he is also attending some modules in Singapore Polytechnic. They accepted him after he passed his O-Levels.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Video%2BNews/Singapore/STIVodcast_4159.html?playid=4159&type=Singapore
Good to see that he is given the opportunity to take higher level studies in the meantime. At least he needn't wait another 9-10 years to tap his potential in chemistry. -
tamarind:
Personally I think that as parents we should not do everything purely based on \"child's needs\". Do children really know what they need ? A very bright child, may have no concept of money, or what it takes to support a family in the future. They cannot possibly spend their whole life learning, well not unless their parents can support them forever.
Needs are not the same as wants. Knowledge is not the same as articulation. Learning does not always hinge on fees. To marry passion with practicality is maturity. What parents hope for their children are often informed by their own experiences.
Social life in overseas universities would be very different from local unis going by your description. But an overseas education/stint is invaluable in my mind. Singapore for a lifetime can be very stultifying. -
sleepy:
Yes, true. I studied till 29 yo
Learning is a life long journey. There is nothing to stop you from learning new things. There is no need to be certified gifted in order to obtain master, PHD or scholarship. Anybody can do it given their own motivation to work for it.EN:
Sleepy wrote [quote]Say if the child finishes U at a much earlier age, he can spend the remaining time undergoing more indepth studies such as at master or PHD level
or he can explore new area of interests, assuming he is not already doing that concurrently
And ideally can get a scholarship so not so financially draining for parents
Then realized my interests shifted after all these years at home , no longer interested in my specialisation. Oops!
In fact, learning how to be a nurturing mom is a new specialisation for me, still learning everyday [/quote]Just to add
Agreed nothing to stop us from pursuing Masters or PHD at 55yo or any age
Learning is definitely a life long journey
What I'm trying to say is completing U earlier or even non academic stuff eg. grade 8 piano say at 10 yo is headstart, isn't it?
I guess most parents are looking at that headstart lor, hence the blooming early childhood enrichments, P1 preparatory class & even GEP preparatory class
However, a headstart is just that, a headstart
Whether successful in life & career eventually depend on a lot of other factors, not just academic qualifications or IQ lor -
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