Any parents of gifted children here ?

[ChiefKiasu]

Emelyn:

...He started swimming at 3yo. After swimming for 7 years, he still has weak lungs, ie, he still coughs a lot. Of course, DH said \"maybe if he didn't start swimming then, he will cough even more badly\"...

If he only does recreational swimming (eg. 1 hr every week), it doesn't help his coughing much. My son did swimming nearly every day for 2 years (when he was 5-6 years old). It solved his asthmatic problem once and for all.

[shylyn]

EN:

Hi Shylyn

You might want to post your question on P1 level in the other thread. I'll try to answer it but you will also be able to gain a lot more perspective than this thread.

Ops..rarely visit the other thread as i hv limited time to browse o threads as I usually browse in e office..shhh... :lol: ..dun mind sharing exactly which thread is it..thks.

[shylyn]

chamonix:

It does look impressive on first look. But it contradicts the learning approaches I have in mind. I would prefer a more natural and interactive type of learning for my kids. Furthermore, I think it's more crucial to develop the interest to learn at young age than recognising words. So, we did a lot of walks, nursery rhymes, silly games, digging for worms, or simply sitting at the porch and enjoy breezy afternoons

Hi Chamonix
I guess diff people hv diff approach..I guess i do not hv many ideas to 'teach' my boy..hee..but of cos, after interacting & reading all e posts by e mummies/daddies, definitely added a few more which will come in handy.
I'm trying to bring my boy for more outside walks to the playground, coffee shops, malls etc..rarely we have the chance to go for nature walks..prob is, we do not hv a car & our surroundings is not really nature type..though there are many playgrounds around..

[shylyn]

sleepy:

Need to go for diagnostic test. At your boy's age, most likely will start from 7A the entry level. Parents cannot accompany the child so must make sure he has no separation anxiety otherwise instructor will not accept

My elder girl started Kumon one month before her 3yo birthday. However, I didn't send my younger girl to Kumon. Drilling method doesn't suit her

Hi Sleepy
Then my boy def still cannot attend Kumon as he still has seperation anxiety..despite attending his cc for over a yr, he still will cry initially when there are changes to his class..really wonder why.

I'm actually curious how helpful Kumon is..as I hv read many reviews frm e parents here tt Kumon is the one tt actually help their kid a lot..how does it do so? I mean, what are e children learning in Kumon? I really hv no idea...

[sleepy]

shylyn:

Hi Sleepy
Then my boy def still cannot attend Kumon as he still has seperation anxiety..despite attending his cc for over a yr, he still will cry initially when there are changes to his class..really wonder why.

I'm actually curious how helpful Kumon is..as I hv read many reviews frm e parents here tt Kumon is the one tt actually help their kid a lot..how does it do so? I mean, what are e children learning in Kumon? I really hv no idea...

Not necessary must join Kumon to get that quantum leap . My younger girl's progress is not inferior to her elder sister even though she never attend Kumon. I feel that Kumon may in fact stifle creativity, doing the same worksheets over & over again. Depends on the child's personality too. My younger girl surely cannot tahan its drilling method.

Nevertheless, Kumon has its merits as it allows the child to progress at a faster pace rather than be restricted by age group. Speak to an instructor in Kumon center if you wish to know more, they can explain the syllabus in each level

[kiasulang]

shylyn:

kiasulang:

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\".

I guess we as parents, no matter how much of reassurance, we will still want our kids to excel thus, explains for the high enrollment for enrichment class. So in this case, did ur elder son's sch provide all these enrichment classes?

In his previous school, he attended speech and drama, maths and chinese enrichment classes conducted during school hours. It was not compulsory but I wouldn't want him to be the odd one out by not attending. He had an external CCA-swimming only.

Now in his new school, he has to take a core CCA apart from his competitive swimming because swimming is not considered as core CCA there. He has to take higher chinese now, and the school provides bridging course every wednesday. He also has to attend a computer enrichment progarmmme every wednesday after higher chinese bridging course. Not forgetting his school CCA which requires 3 times a week training for 2+ hours.

[shylyn]

sleepy:

Not necessary must join Kumon to get that quantum leap . My younger girl's progress is not inferior to her elder sister even though she never attend Kumon. I feel that Kumon may in fact stifle creativity, doing the same worksheets over & over again. Depends on the child's personality too. My younger girl surely cannot tahan its drilling method.

Nevertheless, Kumon has its merits as it allows the child to progress at a faster pace rather than be restricted by age group. Speak to an instructor in Kumon center if you wish to know more, they can explain the syllabus in each level

Hi Sleepy
Thks for your insight on Kumon. Pardon me..but I didn't get your daughters' ages. How old was your elder girl when u signed her up for Kumon? Do Kumon only teaches Maths? Or other subjects as well? Sorry..got to ask u..cos my area don't hv nearby Kumon centres..plus I'm afraid of hard sell..heheh :lol:

[sleepy]

shylyn:

Hi Sleepy
Thks for your insight on Kumon. Pardon me..but I didn't get your daughters' ages. How old was your elder girl when u signed her up for Kumon? Do Kumon only teaches Maths? Or other subjects as well? Sorry..got to ask u..cos my area don't hv nearby Kumon centres..plus I'm afraid of hard sell..heheh :lol:

My elder girl started Kumon one month before her 3yo birthday.
Refer to its website for subjects info http://www.kumon.com.sg

[homeschooling mum]

Hi all...seemed like 'gifted' is a really hot topic! I read on and on and it's like never ending but interesting...


I'm totally new to this forum and would like to share my experience on this topic. I am an overseas singaporean with a 5 year old. Because of frequent travelling, my son didn't have the luxury of attending daily school weekly enrichment bcos we don't know when we got to go.

To date, he is totally homeschooled has never attended school before or enrichment classes of any sort. All he had was all day long playing whatever he likes wherever we are and fun reading time with me since he was a baby.

I would like to share that he was able read words since 2 and right now reading & sourcing for information independently. No intentional teaching word for word or flashcards, special reading methods or whatever else available.

Now he independently reads very extensively and uses the internet and books to find out more about things that evoke his interest. I just follow along and guide him. Strangely enough, right now it's french cheeses for the past two weeks...he first read that in a restaurant menu.

So i'm trying to say to mummies out there, don't waste your money sending your child to all sorts of classes. Childhood is too precious is waste by attending classes and school all the time! Home is the best classroom and you are the best teacher your child can ever have.

[tamarind]

homeschooling mum,

I share the same views as you, that mommy is the best teacher for her child.

I think there is a common misconception that the teachers in pre-schools, or those enrichment classes, have "special skills" to teach the kids. Mommies do not have these "special skills", so it is best to send to schools. This is not true. Children below the age of 5 learn best when given one to one attention, by the person who knows them best, and that is mommy.

I think that any mommy who can read English reasonably well, means that she knows phonics, and she can teach phonics. All she has to do is to spend a few days doing some research on the internet or reading up on phonics teaching materials, then she can teach phonics to her child. There is no need to send to phonics enrichment classes or "I can read" classes.

I only send my kids to Berries to learn Chinese, because I am not able to provide a mandarin speaking environment at home.

I have actually brought my kids to quite a few trial classes, including Growing Up Gifted which is one of the most popular pre-school in Singapore, but I have never found any school that has impressed me. I send my kids to the nearest kindergarten in my neighbourhood, not for the purpose of learning academically, but only for the purpose of social interaction, which I think is very important for their age. I feel mommy should be the one to make sure that they are academically well prepared, not those teachers in pre-schools.