Gifted or just smart?

[alittlepeaceofheaven]

DS is approaching 6yo and will be starting school next month and I was wondering if I should talk to his teachers or just leave it...

It's only the past year that I've actually noticed how intellegent he is didn't really pay attention to his milestones as a baby.

He is able to read, write (including grammar, punctuation etc) and speak like an adult. He is also fluent in Russian and German, and a little Swedish (and can also read & write in these languages). He is also fluent in sign language.

He has extensive knowledge in science mainly biochemistry and space science. Only last week he explained in great detail how the body reacts in space and what experiments NASA are doing to figure it out. I had to ask him to simplify twice.

At a guess we usef the bbc bitesize to test him out of curiosity and he got good results in KS3 (excelled in english, science and history)

He's always loved arts n crafts but art is his favourite subject behind Space. His pencil work is astounding - to me anyway! And loves drawing portraits of our dog & siblings. DH has loads of tattoos and DS can free hand the design from skin to paper easily.

So it's only those few subjects... so I don't know if he's just talented or if I should have a word and ask the the teachers to keep an eye on him...

I'm looking for honest opinions and anything I can do to help him. At the minute he likes "learn" when he's interested and will just ask me if he can browse for books or "research" on my laptop and then asks if he can have it or earn it which he usually earns and disappears outside to his shed or his room to do whatever...

Sorry I'm rambling!

[alittlepeaceofheaven]

After reading back I forgot to add; he still is a typical 5/6yo boy. Loves exploring, age-related crafts, and sports especially wintersports (exceptionally good at this). He loves playing with his friends and interacts with them very well etc. It's only when his favourite subjects are mentioned or you watch him draw do you realise how smart and talented his is. In the strangest way he's almost humble about it... Is that normal?

Sorry, for drip feeding!

[iseenodust]

It's good to know he has friends. A variety of approaches to parenting gifted children is currently being aired on the C4 series child genius. You could always benchmark against that.

[tenderbuttons]

If he's starting at 6, I'm guessing you're not in the UK. But he does sound gifted. Is there an organisation in your country that works with/on behalf of gifted children? They are probably your best starting point.

[BlackeyedSusan]

I detect a note of insecurity about the abilities of your child. perhaps you should remember that the worth of your child does not lie in their IQ but in their character, kindness caring, respect for others who are different.

children do what children do, let them be who they are and enjoy them for what they can do, celebrating their achievemnts and hard work. you donotneed tomeasure children against one another.

[dalziel1]

Are you asking if he is exceptional or at the upper end of normal?

If yes, then the answer is exceptional.

God knows what gifted actually means once you stop talking about geniuses.

As to that C4 programme, entertaining as it is, I am not sure any of the parents featured have it spot on because they are the extremes too.

[alittlepieceofheaven]

I do not feel insecure about abilities, I'm rather very proud of him. His IQ does not matter to me, as long as he's happy, healthy and progressing well then I'm completely happy.

I feel quite guilty that I seemed to have been oblivious to most of it for quite sometime. At the minute he learns what he wants and at his own pace and I was wondering if I could help/support in someway more than just letting him browse etc... I want to more involved to show him I am interested in what he loves.

Not been in this country long or really researched for organizations because it didn't seem important but now school is coming up... I guess I'm just worrying what he'll be like in a school setting (when he gets bored or has had enough of learning something he becomes very stubborn and just wants to go outside). For example; we taught him to swim and once he knew how he didn't want to go swimming for weeks).

Am I just overacting? Should I just chill out and see how it goes?

I must admit I was watching YT videos and those children seemed to be really intense, unlike my beautiful carefree boy. And those parents seem really involved unlike me. I know I shouldn't compare (DH told me off fot it) but... yeah. I'm rambling again...

[hellymelly]

He is exceptional, certainly, rather than a very clever boy.

[BOFster]

Is that you, OP? You've stopped being green...

[alittlepieceofheaven]

I wondered if it would cause, not problems, but speed bumps when it comes to learning at a difference pace... but then again, I guess won't know yet. Just worrying myself...

He's normal (wha whatever his IQ is :)

[alittlepieceofheaven]

I wondered if it would cause, not problems, but speed bumps when it comes to learning at a difference pace... but then again, I guess won't know yet. Just worrying myself...

He's normal (what is normal anyway? Lol) whatever his IQ is :)

[morethanpotatoprints]

I would H.ed a child like this, no way would a normal school be able to cope with his interests. In science KS1, 2, 3 etc for example, spaceis barely covered at all.
You have far more potential to move away from the NC and age only appropriate resources.
I'm not sure if this is an option for you?

[alittlepieceofheaven]

Yes, it's me. No idea I came up as green . Ha.

[alittlepieceofheaven]

No idea if it's an option or not. Would you suggest talking to the head teacher then?

Thanks everyone for the advice/opinions so far :)

[morethanpotatoprints]

No,I'd definitely not ask a HT what they thought of H.ed as they wouldn't have a clue unless they had done it themselves. They are also part of the system you would be leaving so hardly likely to encourage you to.
OP, it is a great way for children to learn what they want to at their own pace and very suitable for children like your ds, by the sounds of things.
We found it far more suitable for dd who is onlygifted in one small area Plus, if you look throughout history the genuises or genui? were all H.ed and never attended school.
It's not for everyonethough, but thought I'd mention it as another option for you to consider.

[dalziel1]

As a piece of general advice, don't ever approach a teacher/ headteacher before they get to know your child to suggest that they make adjustments for your child's specialness. The only exception is if the child have some sort of officially recognised learning or behavioural disability.

They will not take it well. Mainly their reaction will be to not believe you and to mark you out as a deluded, nuisance parent.


Wait at least six weeks and then let them tell you a tiny % of what you already know. Have low expectations of what school will deliver.

[alittlepieceofheaven]

Thank you for the sound advice. H.ed isn't an option for us unfortunately. But thank you for suggesting it :)

I'll hold off on the HT then, and just see how he gets on at school.

Any suggestions how I can show I'm interested in what he loves? I praise & compliment him often but I don't feel it's enough...

[FriendlyLadybird]

If you're near London, can you take him to the Science Museum and the Royal Observatory at Greenwich? The latter do some wonderful lectures and other activities for children which my DS loved when he was going through his Space phase.
It is highly unlikely that school will cover everything he is interested in or in the sort of depth that he seems capable of taking in -- but I really wouldn't worry about it. It's much better, in my view, to allow them to pursue their own academic interests independently.
For him, I suggest, school will be valuable principally as a means of letting him discover that sometimes he has to do things that he doesn't want to do, or that he finds a bit dull. Doing these things with good grace may be a challenge for him (certainly are for my DS and indeed for all of us) but it's a useful skill to develop.

[alittlepieceofheaven]

We used to live in London and took him to the Space Musuem all the time but now we live in a different country and looking up new places to go.

After reading all posts, I do noe agree that it will best if I let him go to school as normal and when/if something arises deal with it then.

I'm such a worrywart hence my panicky post when school is approaching!