Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion DS8 took the sorting hat quiz...

Yes, I agree. As a fellow Hufflepuff, I am concerned about his behavior. No justice is served when we punish the innocent. As a Hufflepuff, he is too good a person to behave this way.

I'm not to sure about the "stand and fight" part, because that's what Gryffindors are known for, not Hufflepuffs. A Hufflepuff can be expected to do what's right, and to advocate for what's right, but can't be counted upon to fight for it.

Whether a Gryffindor will stand and fight for the right reasons, or for bad reasons, is entirely individual, and dependent on traits not evaluated as necessary to join Gryffindor.

Do I sound like a Ravenclaw yet?

Whatever you do, do not allow him to--EVER--take Facebook quizzes.

I think, clearly, that OP's DS is taking it seriously, and that it's important to acknowledge this. I think that, after dealing with the throwing things part, putting things in perspective includes both "it's only an online test" and "there are absolutely terrific characters in Hufflepuff and it speaks highly of you to be 'sorted' into that House."

Oh my, I am sure you are not the only one to have a child overreact today. I think that this moment is probably passed, but in the moment, the person reacting that way goes to the bedroom to be away from people since that is not how we treat people.

And later, when he has calmed down, we talk about triggers and if this is what happens when you take a quiz, then maybe you don't get to use facebook, or whatever it was, for a while. Or, maybe a warning this time.

My son got Ravenclaw and was cool with it. He is ten though...might not have liked it three years ago.

Some of us have children whose first response is fight (even innocent bystanders). We are generally working on it but it requires rewiring the brain. The shortcut is to frighten the child into complaince but that doesn't teach long term management skills.

OK - before I answered this, I went and took the stupid quiz. I was sorted into Ravenclaw, and felt "pleased" about that. I know - I shouldn't care at all. But there you have it. AI (artificial intelligence) that I am brainy and wise, or whatever Ravenclaw is supposed to be, and by the way I always assumed I would have been Ravenclaw.

My point is, I'm a more or less grown woman and shouldn't give a darn. But fact is - I felt a moment of pleasure at being confirmed to be who I thought I was. I'll bet dollars to donuts that anybody being honest with themselves would be hard-pressed to deny pleasure at that sort of affirmation and dismay if denied it.

So - I say, your child is having a huge reaction, sure. Over-reaction probably. But it's because he feels his very person is denied. I would let him have the big feelings, and not try to talk him out of them. Instead, I'd just focus on (a) it's a computer test - and you'll see. You have control over your destiny and you'll be whoever you want to be. The computer is no authority here. And (b) when you have big feelings, that's OK. But throwing things is not OK. Let's work on THAT!

Nope. If fighting for what is right is the right thing to do, then a Hufflepuff can be counted on to fight. After all, not fighting when fighting is the right thing to do would not be the right thing to do now, would it? And you yourself wrote that a Hufflepuff can be expected to do what's right, no?

Not sure what you mean here. I didn't say anything about frightening a child into compliance. I said that I understood that a young child might get upset about getting the wrong result, but that I'd work on the throwing things part of the reaction --- taking your anger out on someone else is not okay.