How to tell if a child is gifted?

[smurf]

Hmm, then cannot called him a prodigy leh...since he needed help... :?

[2ppaamm]

smurf:

Hmm, then cannot called him a prodigy leh...since he needed help... :?

Actually, I think he is indeed a prodigy, with access to lots of stimulation and help (hopefully even more love when he fails). But I think he is pretty hot housed as well. If the kid does not hv the IQ, hot house also no use. In his case he has a big IQ and a father with a bigger ambition + hot housing. And there, we have a child prodigy.

I have a 7 year old. And, I cannot imagine for the life of me that he can ever do PSLE, much less 'O' levels. So that's quite a feat. Not only that, I think the father is very brave. I wonder if he's ever thought of the consequence of things like... training the boy to remember pi. What's the point of showing off to the whole world about your memory prowess, and stating where and where you rank? As if that little boy cares. Why would he care? Now who's the one who really cares?

I have another boy who is well into his teens. So I have experienced how difficult it is in the early teenage years for parents. They have that fantastic memory to remember everything wrong you've done to them and turn that small mistake into a huge conspiracy, again and again. 99% of the time, he is simply angel, but that 1% of the time! :!: My son would remind time and again how I have lost his Lego toy when he was 4 and how I ignored him and did not look for it when he cried. I cannot remember a single thing about it, and that because of that, he lost trust in me, how that made him .... thousands of things... and THEREFORE, he is resentful that I didn't care how he felt :? over one lego toy's mask? Wow, those years were tough... 12-14 years old. For the last 2 years, he suddenly became himself again! I'm so glad to have him back now. 2 weeks ago, he managed to find that same mask on eBay and replaced that. Phew!

I just cannot imagine how if I were to hot house him, he would resent me for doing so, and I am not even able to put that into words how scary that might be. That's why I truly admire Ainan's parents' courage for putting him through all these meaningless tasks of proving to the world his intelligence. Sit for 'O' levels and then score a C. I'll be pretty scared to do that. Spend another six months and he'll probably get an 'A', right? Why the hurry? Isn't that setting him up for failure for the sake of make him the first to achieve something? If I were to be Ainan, I'd be happier doing 'O' levels at 7 years and 7 months and scoring an 'A'. But chances are, I would care less. I'd rather learn quietly doing 'A' levels chemistry or 'O' level physics, or sit all the papers at one go, without the paparazzi chasing after me.

I guess different people have different ways of looking at things and we all derive joy and self-actualization through different ways. Some days, I'm quite happy looking out the garden and satisfied that the last few flowers are finally blooming. A little late, but hey, they are here!

[Angelight]

I really lift my hat to you, 2ppaamm! To raise and nurture 5 kids is really no chickenfeet.


Like you, I also believe that the best teacher is still the mummy and daddy. That is why I gave up my career to stay home and nurture my DD and only child despite slogging so hard through part work and part study to get a degree.

Unlike most friends around me, I did not send DD to preschool from 18 months. Instead I bought preschool workbooks and taught her at home. I also read alot to her. I only sent her for phonics enrichment classes when she was 2 cos I can’t teach phonics (never learn before). I pulled her out of the class after she has mastered her phonics and continue to teach and guide her at home. She also has plenty of play time at home when she plays with her doll house and kitchen set and learns to express feelings through play.

Now at 3, she can speak English fluently (with all the correct tenses), some simple Mandarin (cos I only started teaching her Mandarin this year, whereas I’ve been speaking to her in English even when she was still in my womb) and read books from memory. She can also do simple adds and subtracts, join the dots, trace the dotted lines, and she loves colouring and dancing to music.

Next year she will be going to Nursery and I have enrolled her at one of the PCF kindergartens near our home. I’m also planning to sign her up for music piano lessons next year becos she loves music, not becos I want her to. I don’t intend to sign her up for art , ballet or Chinese classes unless she expresses interest.

Maybe I’m not a kiasu parent by most standards, but I certainly want the best for my child too. And though I may not have given my child the most expensive preschool education and enrichment courses, I believe I have given her the best of myself - my time, my efforts and the most productive part of my life. I hope that will help groom her to be the best she would want to be, gifted or not.

[Angelight]

pingsped, you mentioned in one of the posts that you are keen to organise a playgroup. I’m interested to know more, pls PM me?

[tamarind]

sleepy:

tamarind:

Also I don't remember that he revealed the grades of the boy's O level chemistry results. If it was an A, he would have announced to the whole world.

Read somewhere, don't recall where exactly - He got a C

I sat for O levels at 16 years old, scored A1s for not only Chemistry, but also for Physics, A. maths, E. maths, Chinese, Biology. I am quite happy with myself

What is the point of scoring C for one O level subject at 7 years old ? Is anyone going to offer a job to that boy ?

One day, a student of mine, age 19 years old, called me and said \"I have a job for you, do you want to work for me ?\" He has started up an IT business. I am extremely impressed by him, and he is by no means gifted.

[DesertWind]

tamarind:

One day, a student of mine, age 19 years old, called me and said \"I have a job for you, do you want to work for me ?\" He has started up an IT business. I am extremely impressed by him, and he is by no means gifted.

Wah, impressive, your student! For his guts!

[2ppaamm]

tamarind:

One day, a student of mine, age 19 years old, called me and said \"I have a job for you, do you want to work for me ?\" He has started up an IT business. I am extremely impressed by him, and he is by no means gifted.

Does it really matter whether he is gifted? He has what makes the economy works, and he creates jobs and makes lives better for many! That's what I want my children to be!

[2ppaamm]

Angelight:

I really lift my hat to you, 2ppaamm! To raise and nurture 5 kids is really no chickenfeet.


Like you, I also believe that the best teacher is still the mummy and daddy. That is why I gave up my career to stay home and nurture my DD and only child despite slogging so hard through part work and part study to get a degree.

Unlike most friends around me, I did not send DD to preschool from 18 months. Instead I bought preschool workbooks and taught her at home. I also read alot to her. I only sent her for phonics enrichment classes when she was 2 cos I can't teach phonics (never learn before). I pulled her out of the class after she has mastered her phonics and continue to teach and guide her at home. She also has plenty of play time at home when she plays with her doll house and kitchen set and learns to express feelings through play.

Now at 3, she can speak English fluently (with all the correct tenses), some simple Mandarin (cos I only started teaching her Mandarin this year, whereas I've been speaking to her in English even when she was still in my womb) and read books from memory. She can also do simple adds and subtracts, join the dots, trace the dotted lines, and she loves colouring and dancing to music.

Next year she will be going to Nursery and I have enrolled her at one of the PCF kindergartens near our home. I'm also planning to sign her up for music piano lessons next year becos she loves music, not becos I want her to. I don't intend to sign her up for art , ballet or Chinese classes unless she expresses interest.

Maybe I'm not a kiasu parent by most standards, but I certainly want the best for my child too. And though I may not have given my child the most expensive preschool education and enrichment courses, I believe I have given her the best of myself - my time, my efforts and the most productive part of my life. I hope that will help groom her to be the best she would want to be, gifted or not.

Hi Angelight! You are what DH and I call, full marks mother. Your child will grow up loving you and will appreciate everything you do for her. I do believe your effort will be repaid one day.

Yep, let them choose what they want. That's what I do. But I am a bit stricter, I make them sign a contract too. For example, when DS1 asked for a piano at 7.5 years old, I bought him one. But the condition is that he has to finish Grade 8 and he cannot give up. He did, and he went on further to finish 2 diplomas. Along the way, he wanted to give up a few times, and I'd remind him our contract. He'd quietly walk to the piano and finish his hour long practice. :lol:

[smurf]

Hi 2ppaamm,


Upon your advice, I went to signed ds1 for violin, coz he said he is very keen to take up. But after few lesons, he gets very slack, very lazy to practice, sometimes, practice only 2-3 times a week...and when I nag at him, he is angry, how to teach him? Sigh...

[Sun_2010]

smurf:

Hi 2ppaamm,


Upon your advice, I went to signed ds1 for violin, coz he said he is very keen to take up. But after few lesons, he gets very slack, very lazy to practice, sometimes, practice only 2-3 times a week...and when I nag at him, he is angry, how to teach him? Sigh...

Haha smurf , sorry to butt in, well imo , if he can practice 2-3 times diligently and attends the class with interest - its pretty good. I guess ur boy is still in the 5-9 age group.

Frankly - nagging doesnt help - I should know i am a master in it
If anything , it will only kill that interest he has. Let him enjoy at his own pace, with some encouragement from you.

Easier said than done - i still struggle to keep my emotional affordability and my expectations in line