How to tell if a child is gifted?

[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

[smurf]

Hey sun,


He is 5.5 now, going to be 6 soon...he enjoys music and he can remember the songs that he listened to when he was just a baby/ toddler, but he isn't gifted...when I threatened to stop his violin class, he sort of protest, said he wants to continue the class, but doesn't want to practice, his term of practicing is as long as he knows which key to play, then it is called practicing. :stupid:

I think he is super lazy and he is a daydreamer.

[Trapwithin]

2ppaamm:

smurf:

Has anyone read this before? :?


http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/

Yes, we have a huge discussion about Ainan here at KSP before. I think one of his parents also reacted to somethings we said here.

I believe this child is very bright and certainly a prodigy. If he were my child, I would perhaps have done very different things with him. I certainly cannot claim to have as bright a kid, nor am I a better parent. But, these are things I'd do or not do:

1. I'd rather my child not be child prodigy, for there're just that handful of prodigies who truly make it as adults. I wish he'll discover more about himself than quantum theory.

2. I'd rather have him see the world, than having the world recognise him.

2. I'd rather not have him bother to write for publication and peer evaluators but get him to write to touch the hearts and minds of common people, to reach out to them and be relevant to them.

3. If he chooses to follow my footsteps and become an academic, I'd rather he not publish at 10, but at 90.

4. I'd not expose him to the press, and I'd not find joy in telling the world how smart he is. I'd wish him a few true friends whom he can share small successes with, run with the guys and enjoy a good laugh at each other's stupidity and mistakes.

5. I'd not take pain to show case his difference. I'd rather rejoice in him being just the same as the neighbour's boy.

6. I'd not show the world how bitter I am when the rest of the world disagree with the way I should view my son, but take the opportunity to show him what grace and forgiveness is about. This is not a fair world and we should never demand it to be.

7. If I have my choice, I'd want my son's IQ be to around 120, and an EQ of 210 (if there's a measurement of EQ). Add a kind heart and a love for living, joy and not bitterness, the ability to present and have his ideas accepted. A sympathy for the poor and respect for the old. A love for his country, patriotism, filial piety, gratitude, politeness, forgiveness, and most importantly, humility. In other words, VALUES. I want him to value principles more than academic knowledge.

BUT these are just my thoughts. I don't think I have, don't wish to have and don't need to have a kid prodigy. I just wished the world would accept him the way he is and allow him the simplicities of live, a chance to be one of the boys. And, if he so happens to make it to the uni early, we'll rejoice in that too - if that's really what he wants to do. Is that too much to ask for?

Well Said again. You are indeed an excellent mom. :udawoman:

[2ppaamm]

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...

Hi smurf, I agree with Sun that 2-3 times a week is fine. He is only 5.5. Have you tried these:
1. Give him a schedule to practise violin, make sure you follow, and he follows.
2. Offer him an incentive when he does practice, does not matter how long or how often.
3. Give him some targets.
4. Don't nag? The more you do that, the more he'll dread the practice. If you really have to, restrict yourself to ONE minute, and don't ever repeat what you've said before. Tough right? :lol: By nature, I don't really like to nag, but I tell stories to make my point. I try to be creative, but nowadays, my children said it is just a creative way of nagging, so now I have to find other means...:?
5. Offer lots of positive feedback, no matter what the music sounds like.
6. Break out the practice sessions into small chunks of 10 minutes or 5 minutes each and increase that slowly.
7. Don't tell him what is the right way to practice, unless the teacher specifically tell you to watch out for some thing. Having one music teacher is enough. Let him be. He might take a little longer but he'll be independent earlier.

I've used many of the above, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. A gift is a gift, it doesn't go away, so if he misses one or two days a week, I think it is fine. We adjust our expectations accordingly, I guess.

Key thing is, he should not lose interest by being pushed too far. A diamond is a diamond, it is a matter of time it will shine if we keep polishing it.