Any parents of gifted children here ?

[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.

[icemountain]

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.

Hi Tamarind

I agree with you and Homeschooling mum too. I have no intention to enroll my 3 year old in preschool yet and people are already asking if I am a teacher when I say I intend to homeschool.

Really, how difficult is it to teach your own child? First, you must understand your child's temperament, have the time and patience.

Not everyone possesses that so it's better to pay for someone else to teach your child if you know you can't do it. Nothing wrong with that. However, it is not true you need a certification or some sort to be able to educate a child.

Another myth I would like to dispel is the \"socialisation\" aspect. Everyone believes it's better for the child to go to school early so he can learn how to be independent and how to socialise with other kids.

I again believe how independent and sociable the kid is is dependent on many other factors too, ie his temperament, his upbringing etc. If the kid is naturally shy and not being brought out often, then it might be good for him to go to school.

My child does not display stranger anxiety as she meets new people everyday when we go out. She also has friends to play with everyday at the playground. I bring her out on playdates every week. She learnt to feed herself when she turned 1 and now she helps me with housework and I am teaching her how to put away her dry laundry, wash her own cutlery and cup after meals. This way, I teach her independence.

How we parent plays an important part.

[tamarind]

icemountain,

I agree with you that parents can teach their children to be independent at home. There is no need to send kids to school to learn to be independent.

As for social interaction, based on my observation, children who are 3 years old or younger, generally are unable to socialize with other children, because they still cannot communicate very well. Children at this age, even when put together as group, usually play on their own.

I observe that my girl only starts to socialize very well with her classmates in her K1 class. She is naturally shy and will not speak to strangers. It takes her up to 6 months to warm up to her classmates. Like you wrote, it really depends on the child’s temperament. It will be near impossible for a very shy child to be taught to be more sociable. I have visited quite a few pre-schools, including GUG, and I do not see the teacher putting effort in "teaching" the kids to socialize with each other.

My younger boy is not as shy. He can socialize quite well with his classmates since about 4 years old.

I think that it does not make a difference in terms of socialization skills, whether a child starts school at 18 months old, or 5 years old. From 5 years old, it will be good to let the child attend classes so that he or she learns how to behave in a group, since he or she will have to attend primary school soon.

[icemountain]

Hi Tamarind


Thanks for your observations. Bearing unforseen circumstances, I don't think I will put mine in nursery classes but maybe kindergarten when the time comes. However, I may just homeschool her all the way till before she enters primary school if we are having fun homeschooling.

I am toying with the idea of sending her for enrichment classes to let her get used to \"attending classes\" albeit not everyday. A friend of mine does it. Her daughter attends couple of classes a week (non academic) and never went to preschool.

My friend covers the academic portion at home, she told me her daughter had not much problems adjusting when she started primary one.

The only problem she remembered was that her gal cannot get used to raising her hand before speaking in class! :lol:

[homeschooling mum]

Actually my son did face some challenges when he attended kindergarten for a month while we were in penang. Because he was homeschooled all the time, his knowledge and areas of interests are very different from his peers. He was very upset that the other children couldn’t understand him.


The teachers observed him for a week and came up with a solution i.e. put him in a class with children. That solved his difficulty for a while. But i understand that this is not a long term solution especially when he grows older. He totally enjoys forming friendship with much older children and adults.

What do u suggest that I can do for now?

[icemountain]

homeschooling mum:

Actually my son did face some challenges when he attended kindergarten for a month while we were in penang. Because he was homeschooled all the time, his knowledge and areas of interests are very different from his peers. He was very upset that the other children couldn't understand him.


The teachers observed him for a week and came up with a solution i.e. put him in a class with children. That solved his difficulty for a while. But i understand that this is not a long term solution especially when he grows older. He totally enjoys forming friendship with much older children and adults.

What do u suggest that I can do for now?

Hi, I'm not an expert here and I'm sure there are many more experienced parents who would give you great advice.

I'm not quite sure what your real concern is. Your son has been homeschooled and there will definitely be differences between what he is used to and has learnt from his schoolmates. After all, his schoolmates see one another nearly daily and would inevitably share similar interests.

However, he seemed to have assimilated well after a week and this goes to show he has no lack of social skills to make friends.

I know of homeschooling mums who \"school\" in the mornings and leave afternoons free for their kids to play with their neighbours daily. If I were to homeschool, I would do the same so my child does not miss out on daily interactions with her peers.

If he doesn't have neighbours of similar ages, perhaps it might be good for you to go on homeschooling forums and organise playdates for him.

Another option is to send him for enrichment classes so he may form friendships with his peers too.

I think when you homeschool, other than the academic prep you have to put in, you would also have a duty to ensure your child has an active social life.

That being said, I do think the concern of social interaction with peers is way overrated. Social interaction to me means my child should be able to speak to and form friendships with people of all ages and not just with people of the same age.

[corneyAmber]

icemountain:

That being said, I do think the concern of social interaction with peers is way overrated. Social interaction to me means my child should be able to speak to and form friendships with people of all ages and not just with people of the same age.

Is your child an only child? I feel sorry for her. You \"WANT\" and \"WILL\" too many things for her. If I were her, I will grow up resenting everything. Even if not only child, 2-3 is still small sample for homeschooling. [btw, this is not directed personally at you, just generally parents with an only child]

I find parents who homeschool one child very stifling. It's like keeping the child to yourself and only inculcating in the child what you want. And people who claim that their child is gifted/advanced and can only be homeschooled, that actually compound their problem of not fitting into the peer group even more. I find the parents are driving the issue deeper, to make the child appear more special because all the traits seem to fit the \"gifted kid\" profile? It's called self-fulfilling prophesy. It may be subconscious, but pls think harder. Even if you bring to the playground to play with other children, it is still under the close scrutiny of your eyes. When does your child really get to fend for herself in your total absence? NEVER. Homeschooling single child is an egoistic approach for new parents, especially those kids who appear advanced. They think they are only the best for their children! I am sure your child will grow up resenting every bit of it when they realise what they have been stopped from experiencing. Smart children can think, so parents, don't assume you are the clever one. All these stem from very SELFISH desires of the parents. I am sorry I cannot see the benefit.

Social interaction is NOT the only reason to attend school and not over-rated. If your child is only child, who do you think the child can depend on when you are gone? Attending school learns the rules of the school as well. Learns teamwork, organisation, leadership and how to go about aligning with a system and getting things done. All these not important? because your child is going to be astronaut, doctor, scientist, president, or God????

I may sound harsh to the parents but I fear for these children after reading all the articles. I am even more peeved to read how homeschool children appear to be disadvantaged in the education major exam system. Then why do this to your child just to fulfill self ego? I may be my child's best teacher but you know what? I am always happy to give ALL credit to the teachers, I won't even bother to claim any credit. Honestly, there is no need to declare to the world how good a teacher a parent is. It is inherent that as a parent, we appear to be the world to our kids, is that not enough?

Also, if a parent needs to justify the reason for staying home and not work, this homeschool reason is so LAME. Stay at home because you enjoy the child, there is just as much benefit to the parent as well as the child. Don't think it is only for the child. Be honest with yourself.

Since preschool is not compulsory, if people want to homeschool, so be it. But people who homeschool from primary onwards, please think very carefully your main objective, better not be a selfish one and push all the goodness to the child/children. I despise that. If one cannot be honest and use their child as a vehicle for their own desires...what kind of of values can that parent deliver to the children.

There may be a category of parents who think this way too: Since I have already quit my job to be at home, I might as well fully utilise it and do homeschooling.... Pleassssssssssssse.... quitting the job does not mean quitting the brain... Think before you do it as a matter of convenience.

Lastly, if a single child is a 'special need' in terms of disability child, then my heart goes to the parents who need to homeschool. These are genuine reasons I find sometimes it is hard for them not to do it.

Btw, I am saying all these not from \"papertalk\" and not to sound spiteful or destructive cos I have nothing against anyone. Everything I believe, I have personal experience in it and just walking the talk and now talking the walk. I believe in being as constructive as possible, in my comments as well as handling of the children.
Sorry if I have offended anyone in my contribution that is full of dynamite power, but that is not the intent. Hope you can read between the lines.