Gifted kids and academics

amother

OP ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 9:56 pm

First I'm linking a different thread where I explained a bit of my daughter's personality.
https://www.imamother.com/foru.....85426

My 4.5 year old who's in kindergarten is k"h very bright in accedemics. She knows a lot more than her age... Her latest thing is addition, she can do addition numbers up to 10. She can do a full sheet all by yourself including part of writing down the numbers. How common is this and what can I expect as she's getting older?

amother

Geranium ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 10:15 pm

My kids are gifted academically. They struggle socially. When I get to pta the teachers always start raving about their academics and I say "just tell me about the social" Smile

Most kids go to school to learn math, but mine are there to be socialized.

One of my kids is diagnosed with ASD and is pulled out for part of the day. But it's ok that they miss part of the instruction because they pick up everything on their own anyway BH.

giftedmom ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 10:17 pm

As someone who was such a kid and who has such kids (hence my username) my advice is twofold 1. Don’t single her out, don’t obsess over her smarts, treat her like the regular kid she is. 2. Pack her with knowledge as much as she can handle. In a very casual way.

amother

↑ Geranium ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 10:20 pm

giftedmom wrote:

What do you mean by packing knowledge? I've never heard of that.

↑ giftedmom ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 10:24 pm

amother Geranium wrote:

What do you mean by packing knowledge? I've never heard of that.

Filling her up with knowledge. These kids are hungry to learn. Keeping their minds filled with learning and knowledge keeps them calmer and hopefully out of trouble. If you don’t give it to them they will find it elsewhere.

amother

Mocha

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 10:25 pm

I have such a child and received very interesting advice from a colleague: she told me to enroll her young in lessons or activities where her aptitude is just average so that she is used to not being the best always. I have seen gifted adults struggle when the real world hits and they realise that life isn’t a school classroom. I don’t want that for my daughter. If your daughter is 4.5, now would probably be a great time to start since she likely still has the ability to enjoy things that she isn’t the best at. Wishing you lots of nachas!

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 10:31 pm

Thank you giftedmom and mocha, makes a lot of sense what you say.
Regarding what the other poster mentioned about the social struggles, b'h my dd is doing great socially, she adds a positive vibe to her class

B'Syata D'Shmya

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 11:18 pm

giftedmom wrote:

I agree. Branch out. Expose her to concepts and knowledge outside what her teacher is going to teach at school. She will be more well rounded and confident (and less frustrated).
Expose her to knowledge about animals, nature, science, whatever. When she starts reading let her read biographies. That kinda thing. My kids would read the encyclopedia at a young age!

amother

Pear ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 11:47 pm

I have 3 such kids. I do not teach them academics young, I focus on play. They all struggle socially differently, as my dh and I always had. Delaying academics means their first few years are spent learning how to learn in school. In their younger years, I focus on social while they catch onto academics and how to learn in a classroom. Learning in a classroom setting can be hard for such kids, it was for me and my dh too. Once they learn how to succeed in the classroom easily, I add on extra. I found that this time is 3rd grade where social is a little easier with support and they’ve learned how to learn in a classroom.

I made the mistake of teaching my oldest young and the first few years were harder for her because she learns differently And didn’t catch onto how to succeed in classrooms. I then had to spend time going back on this one and I know my dh and I really struggled with these basic life skills.

Our pediatrician always says you can’t have both high IQ and EQ somewhere has to give. I know it’s EQ in my house so the younger years, this is critical.

With my third, I’m already a pro at this thankfully. She’s my most successful integrator.

amother

↑ Pear ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 12:16 am

amother OP wrote:

Can someone recommend specifics what I can buy her?

Of course, having done this a few times. The books where they write letters and shapes and pictures with magic pen or dry erase pen. Some tend to struggle here.

A lot, a lot of books. My oldest two started reading on their own and books give them a lot. My other one is too small still and like I said I don’t teach them early any more.

Puzzles.

ABC and alef bet games.

Play mobile is great for imagination.

Some of these kids have a harder time getting organized or clean. Things that teach them order is great. Baking and cooking with measurements with them is a great tool. Plus practical use of numbers.

Lego. Lego kits and programmable Lego toys especially with wires.

Electrical kits.

Aquarium and science center and taking time for the whys and hows.

↑ giftedmom ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 12:20 am

amother Pear wrote:

Your pediatrician is wrong. I’m not saying nothing gives. But you absolutely can have both high IQ and EQ.

↑ giftedmom

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 12:21 am

amother OP wrote:

Can someone recommend specifics what I can buy her?

My boys I taught to read English at 5, because they learn very little at cheder. My girls I leave it up to the school. Beyond that I follow their interests. Whether that’s science, math etc.

amother

Leaf ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 12:38 am

amother OP wrote:

Adding up to ten at this age is not so unusual.
As to what you can expect - you haven't given enough information here.
It will depend on her personality as she grows, on her school, on her interests, if there are other behavioral/social issues. You should speak to someone whose expertise is in gifted education if you are worried.

amother

Trillium ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 12:43 am

amother OP wrote:

My son is 4.5 he can do addition at least up to 100. Is that so unusual?

amother

Maroon ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 12:43 am

amother OP wrote:

As a mother of smart but normal daughters, what you described in your post here is not gifted or incredibly bright. My daughters could do that too at that age. They BH grow up to struggle less in school.

amother

↑ Maroon ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 12:45 am

amother Trillium wrote:

My son is 4.5 he can do addition at least up to 100. Is that so unusual?

Yes, that is unusual.
Within ten is not. That's just called smart, mathematically inclined, good number sense.

Are you saying your child can figure out 47+38? Yes, that is gifted.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 12:50 am

amother Leaf wrote:

Adding up to ten I meant as in using numbers up to ten, 5+8, 8+9, 10+10