Any parents of gifted children here ?

[shylyn]

Hi EN

I started when I was preggie by reading to my bb every night. My hubby also participated by reading & touching my belly while reading. I’ll also listen to classical music whenever I can & try to relax whenever I could. Also, eating a lot of fish helps as well.
After my bb was born, I’ll talk to him whenever I could…basically just narrating whatever I see or do with him. I also bring him to the library to borrow books & read to him when he was a few mths old. In fact, while watching a video taken of him at 4mths old, he was really concentrating when I was reading to him. Apparently, it was not normal for a bb to concentrate at books. Guess he enjoys reading at such a young age & it is still his fave activity till now.
I also exposed him to many experiences like visiting the zoo, malls, playgrounds etc…letting him feel & touch the different textures while telling him the difference. Oh yes…he also enjoyed watching “Baby Signing Times’ when he was younger…I also let him watch “Brainy Baby” & some Chinese educational prog as well. I tried to minimize his exposure to TV programmes but of cos, cant be helped when U hv older folks in the house. However, just try to narrate to him (no baby talk) what he was watching all these while. Also, I played Classical & foreign CDs to him while he was playing.
He attended Shichida when he was 1 yr old…actually wanted to start him earlier but my hubby felt that he would not be able to concentrate & understand so we only started at 1 yr old. I also did a routine consisting of flash cards, reading books, playing with stickers etc I didn’t realize what I have been doing helps until one day when I causally asked him which word is “at”,”is”,”I” etc & he pointed to me all correctly. Soon, he recognized all his alphabets, colours, numbers etc
Now at 33mths, he is able to speak fluently like an adult so I tried to speak more in Mandarin to him as he seldom use Mandarin to communicate w me. I still continue my reading session with him but now, I added some supplementary worksheets (from Shichida & mostly bought from sprees, bookshops) to ensure he understand instructions and follow accordingly cos he will still prefer to scribble rather than do accordingly. Also trying to let him improve on his fine motor skills but letting him do lotsa cutting, writing, drawing, painting etc.
I hope these help whoever reading. I’m really glad that we are able to share our ideas/experiences to nurture our kiddos into a better person. More details in my blog but I’m not comfortable sharing it in the forum thus, pls pm me if u r keen to read more.

[tamarind]

shylyn,

Thank you for sharing I am sure your experience is helpful to many parents.

angel64:

Wat our kid watch over TV have to be controlled tightly. the media is another influence that kids can easily get hooked to. Not all cartoon on TV are good for kids, I would say majority are not really suitable.

Yes you are right that a lot of cartoons on TV are not good for kids. They are either too violent, or meaningless. The only one I like is Dora, the girl is cute and they teach some Spanish

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

Tamarind, Angel64, Shylyn, thanks for sharing. Here is a snap shot what ds has since baby. I’m quite backwards & a bit lax until I realize school syllabus are totally different than what is being taught now.


DS was placed in a full day NTUC Childcare at age 1.5 as I’m a working mum. He then attended PCF kindergarten when he was in nursery. Been formally reading to him & visit library weekly when he was in nursery. Tried teaching phonics. Just simple words like ending with at, it, in & I then add alphabets in front. He learns fast, so I started on ladybird series which he reads but he really hates. I get him to watch phonic vcd which he refused. So to encourage him reading, I allow him to pick books from the library. He only select non-fictions on animals which is too difficult for him to read, so I read it to him.

To prepare for P1, when he was in K1/K2 I bought some math & english books from popular for kindergarten kids. Can’t remember the name but one is orange & the other is green. We did the book daily for less than half an hour. The work is easy to understand so don’t take so much time.

I’m guilty about tv. I don’t restrict him as long as he is not watching show meant for adults. Among the rubbish that he picks up from watching tv is art work, science experiment & he loves to watch documentary (about anything).

P1, I realize I did not spend enough time coaching him on his school work, so I buy several math & english books for him to work on. My regrets is that I should have exposed him to more than 1 language at home.

P2, going through his school work daily. He will start some music lesson soon. To help him, I’m learning too. DH is taking up music lesson on other instrument as well. So as a family, we learn & motivate each other. I sort of promise him to learn chess. So far I can’t squeeze anymore time. But it will be in my this year list of things to do.

We do visit zoo, bird parks, science centre, coral farms, botanic gardens. Dont think he learns anything but merely enjoy running around & be let loose.

With regards to his why, why & why, hee, it has finally stop. But it has been replaced with "I noticed that…". Sometimes he asks, sometimes he tells me what he noticed & why it is like that. For parents who is hit by that irritating why, just try to explain in lay man term. Some answer don’t need to be in detail. Dont always have to rush. Can find the answer from internet together. Or can also post back the question to the child "what do you think". If ds makes an observation & commented on it, I just compliment him as an encouragement for being observant.

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

Continuation :


Accidental learning. I read to my elder dd daily & while I’m preggy with my son. If reading aloud is good for the baby in the womb, I guess a lot of baby will benefits if their mother works in a job that involves verbal communication like teachers/lawyers etc. When ds was still a baby, I placed him beside me while I’m reading to my dd. Haiz. If leave him in the baby cot alone he will definitely wail. When I was teaching my dd (she was in nursery) ds should be around 1.5 years old. He’s a scaredy cat & will play quietly in the same room while I teach my dd. I think he picks up learning by listening.

I tried to introduce him to great English book. So far only a few authors that he likes. I tried him on Charlotte Web, I got told off after reading 2 pages. He said "Dont you know we’ve got to wake up early tomorrow?" Time is only 9.20 pm & he usually sleeps at 10 plus. It’s a subtle hint that he don’t like it. So, I stop & did not attempt to make him read it again.

[kiasulang]

I remembered before my elder son entered his preschool, I had him enrolled in MPM math, Kumon math, Mental math, I Can Read, Morris Allen, Arts, etc…


However, when he entered his preschool, the principal asked me to stop them.

[Imp75]

wow Kiasulang


You enrolled your toddler in so many courses, do you think the course works, ie your toddler is ahead of his peers due to these enrichment?

[shylyn]

tamarind:

shylyn,

Thank you for sharing I am sure your experience is helpful to many

Yes you are right that a lot of cartoons on TV are not good for kids. They are either too violent, or meaningless. The only one I like is Dora, the girl is cute and they teach some Spanish

Taramind
same sentiments here..i also disallowed the tv to be on when my boy is around..he currently only watches Dora prog..& he has been watching until I'm rather tired of it..hhheheh..i let him watch the Chinese version so he can practise his Chinese. Hmm..hoping to get him the Diego cartoon instead cos Dora is still for girls..

[shylyn]

EN:

DS was placed in a full day NTUC Childcare at age 1.5 as I'm a working mum. He then attended PCF kindergarten when he was in nursery. .

In your opinion, is e time spent in PCF helpful to your son entering P1? Cos there are some comments abt being in PCF environment is better for govn pri schs.

EN:

My regrets is that I should have exposed him to more than 1 language at home. .

Care to share why the regret? It is still not too late to inculate the love of 2nd language..just try to make it fun & engaging for them. I know it is easier said than done..I'm also trying to get my boy to speak more often in Mandarin. He currently shows a flaire for Spanish.

EN:

With regards to his why, why & why, hee, it has finally stop. But it has been replaced with \"I noticed that....\". Sometimes he asks, sometimes he tells me what he noticed & why it is like that. For parents who is hit by that irritating why, just try to explain in lay man term. Some answer don't need to be in detail. Dont always have to rush. Can find the answer from internet together. Or can also post back the question to the child \"what do you think\". If ds makes an observation & commented on it, I just compliment him as an encouragement for being observant.

This is a gd way to encourage them to observe and think ..my boy has yet to go into the phrase of Why Why? but sooner for later..he's currently asking abt What & Where though...but I'll add in some explainations to comments he made though he did not ask Why. Wondering there are more & better ways to encourage our kids to think and analysize as these are impt for working life.

[shylyn]

kiasulang:

I remembered before my elder son entered his preschool, I had him enrolled in MPM math, Kumon math, Mental math, I Can Read, Morris Allen, Arts, etc...


However, when he entered his preschool, the principal asked me to stop them.

wow kiasulang
Indeed a lot! How old was your son then? I'm considering to sign my boy for Abacus, Martial arts, swimming & Music class but worried that it will be too much for him. I guess most imptly is whether he enjoys attending the class..but that will only tell with time.

How have the various courses benefit your boy?

[kiasulang]

shylyn:

kiasulang:

I remembered before my elder son entered his preschool, I had him enrolled in MPM math, Kumon math, Mental math, I Can Read, Morris Allen, Arts, etc...


However, when he entered his preschool, the principal asked me to stop them.

wow kiasulang
Indeed a lot! How old was your son then? I'm considering to sign my boy for Abacus, Martial arts, swimming & Music class but worried that it will be too much for him. I guess most imptly is whether he enjoys attending the class..but that will only tell with time.

How have the various courses benefit your boy?

That was before he turned 4, being a first time parent, I was clueless. My concern was to give him a headstart when he is ready for primary school. He was coping fine. He was advance in those classes that lasted from 2 weeks to 3 months. After that, he did not have a single enrichment class, apart from those conducted in school.

When I was in my elder son's GEP parents' briefing. The same advice surface from the supervisor: \"Parents! Please have faith in your child. Stop giving them tuition or enrichment class outside the school\".