Post by elocrates on Sept 16, 2014 10:24:59 GMT -5
No. My kids are quite average overall. As they have grown they have developed areas where they seem to be more advanced than their peers. It all averages out, and it seems representative of the population in general (everybody has different things they excel at, etc.).
Mine definitely are not like the "bright" descriptors except possibly somewhat DD2. DD1 & 3 have a lot of the gifted descriptors but not all of them. They have specific extreme areas if interest for sure.
Mine definitely are not like the "bright" descriptors except possibly somewhat DD2. DD1 & 3 have a lot of the gifted descriptors but not all of them. They have specific extreme areas if interest for sure.
This is why I roll my eyes when everyone on GBCN seems to assume that their kids will test into the gifted schools. Gifted =/= advanced. They have incredibly different learning styles that actually do not mesh very well.
PSB knew her letters, shapes and numbers at 18 months but so did most of her peers. So compared to her peers, no. But compared to what the professionals say she should be doing, maybe?
Who are all these 18 month olds? I feel like I should get a package of baby flashcards at Target today, LOL.
hmmm well then I have to say no, since DD at 18 months most definitely does not know her numbers, shapes and letters!
Post by dottyblue on Sept 16, 2014 10:34:59 GMT -5
This topic always cracks me up. I think my kid is brilliant, but I also know that I have nothing/no-one to compare him to. My almost two year old busted out with "two, free, four, five, six, vesen, eight, TEN!" the other day; clearly he's going to be in advanced math classes. Who needs 1 and 9?
Post by MadamePresident on Sept 16, 2014 10:37:19 GMT -5
I feel like Nods verbal skills are in the very high end of average. She has a big vocabulary. Physical skills, I'd guess she is pretty average, she is a good climber. I think her problem solving skills are pretty good. Socially, she is probably behind, she is very reserved and doen't like to interact with people she doesn't know.
Mine definitely are not like the "bright" descriptors except possibly somewhat DD2. DD1 & 3 have a lot of the gifted descriptors but not all of them. They have specific extreme areas if interest for sure.
This is why I roll my eyes when everyone on GBCN seems to assume that their kids will test into the gifted schools. Gifted =/= advanced. They have incredibly different learning styles that actually do not mesh very well.
I agree. It is not what they know but how they think.
No, in all seriousness, I just think it is very difficult to say whether a child has above (or below) average athletic or intellectual ability as a child. Especially at the age of two.
FWIW, I agree that what a child is doing at 2 or 3 says little about whether they are actually gifted. It may indeed indicate that they are advanced relative to their peers, which is what this thread seems to be asking, but I don't think that necessarily means they will turn out to be gifted.
And, of course, I also agree that most people are average. I mean that is kind of definitional, right? That said, of course there are kids who are gifted (and kids who are legitimate geniuses for that matter). And I wouldn't be surprised to find that the percentage of gifted kids among MMMs is higher than the percentage of gifted kids among the general population when you consider the educational achievement of this board. I suspect a lot of women on here were/are legitimately gifted themselves. It would not be at all surprising to me for quite a few people here to have gifted kids.
The last week or so I have read a couple of posts about two year olds doing and knowing things that seem really advanced for their age. Do you think your kid is advanced for his/her age? When did you start to think that?
It is okay to brag about your kid here. I think it is pretty cool to read about it.
my boys are advanced in their ninja and wrestling skills.
No, in all seriousness, I just think it is very difficult to say whether a child has above (or below) average athletic or intellectual ability as a child. Especially at the age of two.
FWIW, I agree that what a child is doing at 2 or 3 says little about whether they are actually gifted. It may indeed indicate that they are advanced relative to their peers, which is what this thread seems to be asking, but I don't think that necessarily means they will turn out to be gifted.
And, of course, I also agree that most people are average. I mean that is kind of definitional, right? That said, of course there are kids who are gifted (and kids who are legitimate geniuses for that matter). And I wouldn't be surprised to find that the percentage of gifted kids among MMMs is higher than the percentage of gifted kids among the general population when you consider the educational achievement of this board. I suspect a lot of women on here were/are legitimately gifted themselves. It would not be at all surprising to me for quite a few people here to have gifted kids.
This is certainly possible (and given the selection bias at work in who posts here, pretty likely). But for any one poster, it's also possible that their child will struggle with some type of learning disability or even simply lack of motivation. I just find it annoying when certain posters automatically assume their fetuses or infants will go to HYP just because they or their husbands did well in school twenty years ago. It's a little more complicated than that. Perhaps let your child's personality emerge before you start dictating their future.
Well my kids are older so I have a better gage. I'll say I've never really encouraged memorization with my children & they've never seen a flash card in their lives before school. They play with toys their first 3-4yrs & not much else. Not judging, it's just not my thing.
DD1 is gifted artistically (music, fine art, drama) & it's pretty obvious she's way above average and has been since about turning 3. She's also advanced athletically compared to peers. She's low-average at language arts...as a diagnosed dyslexic that is no surprise. At the end of K she was intelligence tested & her range was 0-K (lowest possible) to mid-year 8th grade. She's not average really at all...extreme highs & lows. She's had intense tutoring & now scores 85-99% in everything but it took extreme effort to get there. Memorizing letters, words, etc was very hard...but complicated puzzles & problem solving comes naturally.
DD2 was advanced verbally but that's averaged out. Her personality interferes with academics as an extreme perfectionist. But I'd say she gets math very easily & most things come easy to her. I'd say not advanced, just high average in most areas...including art & athletics.
DD3 was delayed motor skills. She's a seems to get reading & academics easily but she just started K. She's obsessed with designing & building. She's very unique in interests compared to her sisters but I'd guess still average. She is absolutely hilarious though. Her 1 liners can get a room of adults rolling. That can't be taught .
DD4 is 18mo & hasn't even had a shape or letter pointed out to her much less know any. She average from what I can tell except her interest in dogs, cats, breast feeding & men seem above average. Lol. She plays all day she's not eating or sleeping. She's above average in her ability to take a fall & not cry. That kid is tough.
Given this about your DD 1, I think you should def go for the arts school. I think she would excel in an environment like that vs a regular school, it's great she has that opportunity!
My 1st grader 6 year old reads chapter books on her own (Ivy and Bean, Mermaid Tales) and actually has comprehension. I thought this was normal until a few moms from her class were like, no. Lol. I think she is bright but OMG is she flighty and a bit of a ditz.
My 4 year old DS can spell a bunch of words (he knows all his letter sounds) and is starting to sound out/read words. He is pretty good at math and is always adding and subtracting-while building with blocks, doing Legos, etc. he does seem ahead of other kids his age.
It remains to be seen with the baby.
I think my kids are smart but they are not prodigies
Mine definitely are not like the "bright" descriptors except possibly somewhat DD2. DD1 & 3 have a lot of the gifted descriptors but not all of them. They have specific extreme areas if interest for sure.
This is why I roll my eyes when everyone on GBCN seems to assume that their kids will test into the gifted schools. Gifted =/= advanced. They have incredibly different learning styles that actually do not mesh very well.
And along these lines, this is another reason I hate red shirting. I've seen too many people think their kid deserves gifted services because they're advanced. Don't hold your kid back a year for social reasons and then expect them to be treated like they're gifted.
ODS is a super linguist. He uses words like flabbergasted and deciduous. He knew his letters before two,could count, etc. He is average in gross motor and fine motor skills. He kind of is terrible at catching a ball.
YDS says about 50 words at 18 months which I think is standard. He has always been advanced in gross motor. He walked at 9 months.
I do think DD1 is advanced. She's always been very quick to learn new things. She could write her entire name at age 3 and now at 4, she's already able to read and will sound out words she is unfamiliar with despite not being taught to read yet in preschool. She can also do basic addition and subtraction. Verbally, talking to her is like talking to a 6 or 7 year old. She's very mature for her age and has an expansive vocabulary.
Our girls are a week apart in age and I feel exactly the same way about my DD as you do about yours. I am amazed at some of her language at this age. Her motor skills were a little behind though. I always took that to mean that they are stronger in one area and less focused on advancing in the other. Never worried about it.
MY 2y old DS is not advanced. I would just say he's average.
Post by SallySparrow on Sept 16, 2014 11:24:54 GMT -5
She is perfectly "normal". Whatever that is.
Some days she'll do something amazing and I'll think "omg, she's a genius!". Then I'll see her hitting her head against the wall on purpose and think "never mind".
My 1st grader 6 year old reads chapter books on her own (Ivy and Bean, Mermaid Tales) and actually has comprehension. I thought this was normal until a few moms from her class were like, no. Lol. I think she is bright but OMG is she flighty and a bit of a ditz.
That is roughly where my girls are (also 1st grade). They love Mermaid Tales. I should get Ivy and Bean for them. I was reading through the summer reading list for 3rd and 4th grades, and those books seem to be roughly on par with 3rd/4th grade list. So yes I would say certainly very advanced
This is why I roll my eyes when everyone on GBCN seems to assume that their kids will test into the gifted schools. Gifted =/= advanced. They have incredibly different learning styles that actually do not mesh very well.
I agree. It is not what they know but how they think.
I feel like in most cases though, really bright kids because they work hard, do end up testing into those programs.
We don't have a gifted program in my area, so I am not sure if the school will do any sort of gifted testing, however I think that for my identical twin girls, one might possibly be gifted, and the other one is just a very bright child. AE just thinks differently, and comes up with the most elaborate situations/stories/solutions, etc. We do workbooks at home for math though, and AM (who is bright, not gifted), is actually further ahead and does more advanced work than AE. All that is to say that I think that a kid like AM would have an easier time with any test like that, but AE would benefit from a gifted program more. (Disclaimer: I have no idea if AE is actually gifted, I am just basing it on various online lists/articles, etc.)
This is why I roll my eyes when everyone on GBCN seems to assume that their kids will test into the gifted schools. Gifted =/= advanced. They have incredibly different learning styles that actually do not mesh very well.
And along these lines, this is another reason I hate red shirting. I've seen too many people think their kid deserves gifted services because they're advanced. Don't hold your kid back a year for social reasons and then expect them to be treated like they're gifted.
In our district gifted is based on their age not their grade.
My 1st grader 6 year old reads chapter books on her own (Ivy and Bean, Mermaid Tales) and actually has comprehension. I thought this was normal until a few moms from her class were like, no. Lol. I think she is bright but OMG is she flighty and a bit of a ditz.
That is roughly where my girls are (also 1st grade). They love Mermaid Tales. I should get Ivy and Bean for them. I was reading through the summer reading list for 3rd and 4th grades, and those books seem to be roughly on par with 3rd/4th grade list. So yes I would say certainly very advanced
They'd probably like Magic Treehouse and Nancy Clancy too!
I don't love some of the language in Ivy and Bean-they sometimes use the word dumb but my DD knows she shouldn't speak that way.
Other books she's been into are the Step Into Reading level 4's, that are historical in nature. I bought a bunch on Amazon recently. I like that she's actually learning something that comes across as really enjoyable:
The Great Houdini Thomas Jefferson's Feast First Flight (story of the Wright Brothers) Discovery in the Cave Tut's Mummy Pompeii...buried alive. (She really liked this one) Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares Listen Up-Alexander Graham Bell's talking machine George Washington and the General's Dog Ice Mummy (this is her favorite lol) Francis Scott Key Eat My Dust-Henry Ford's first race
I also like the Who Was...series. We have Abe Lincoln, George Washington and Ben Franklin but they have a bunch more (and recent people too).
That is roughly where my girls are (also 1st grade). They love Mermaid Tales. I should get Ivy and Bean for them. I was reading through the summer reading list for 3rd and 4th grades, and those books seem to be roughly on par with 3rd/4th grade list. So yes I would say certainly very advanced
They'd probably like Magic Treehouse and Nancy Clancy too!
I don't love some of the language in Ivy and Bean-they sometimes use the word dumb but my DD knows she shouldn't speak that way.
Other books she's been into are the Step Into Reading level 4's, that are historical in nature. I bought a bunch on Amazon recently. I like that she's actually learning something that comes across as really enjoyable:
The Great Houdini Thomas Jefferson's Feast First Flight (story of the Wright Brothers) Discovery in the Cave Tut's Mummy Pompeii...buried alive. (She really liked this one) Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares Listen Up-Alexander Graham Bell's talking machine George Washington and the General's Dog Ice Mummy (this is her favorite lol) Francis Scott Key Eat My Dust-Henry Ford's first race
I also like the Who Was...series. We have Abe Lincoln, George Washington and Ben Franklin but they have a bunch more (and recent people too).
Post by leonard131 on Sept 16, 2014 12:19:46 GMT -5
Nope. He is pretty average. Behind on some things, maybe slightly ahead on others.
H and I were pretty average kids, H may have been a little more slacking then I was :-) but I think we turned into pretty good functioning adults so I have faith M will too.
Post by aspentosh on Sept 16, 2014 12:23:39 GMT -5
Maybe a little? She always been a really good talker (lots of words early on with more added regularly, putting together strings of words and then sentences earlier than the average kid her age, etc) but I'd say she's average for physical stuff. Jumping, running, spinning, etc were all in the normal range for learning.
I think she is average in most areas, but possibly a tad behind in language and VERY behind in hair growth.
The bolded is DD. She is in preschool now and she has SO MUCH LESS hair than anyone else in the class. Like, lol worthy. Still rocking the mullet at 2.5yo.
I'm with @savestheday - my kid just had this internal urge to learn or something. We never did flash cards or really "worked" on anything. He just always was really interested in reading, which progressed to him pointing to letters and asking us what they were, etc. So obviously we answer him and we foster his curiosity, but it's not like we do homework. Or unschool him. And Montessori is completely responsible for this math business.
FWIW he is very behind is not staring creepily at people while we're out.
The creepy staring thing is hilarious. You need a blog. Lil' Creeper.com or something.
Post by iheartbanjos on Sept 16, 2014 12:28:35 GMT -5
DD1 was a pretty advanced toddler. At 18 months, she could sing all the words to most nursery-rhyme type songs that you could think of, could count in English/Spanish, etc.
At 4, I would say that she is your pretty average 4 year old. Her speech is possibly slightly more advanced than most 4 year olds, but at this age, it isn't as noticeable.
DD2 at 13 months is pretty average. Except for being cute. I put her above average on that.