Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy My 6 year old

Hello,
I would like to get an opinion from all of you. My 6 year old seems to be very smart. I buy him bolts and screws and wire and magnets and little motors and he likes to invent things.

At 4 and a half he drew me a picture of the DNA of his hair!!! (A straight line with a squiggly line over it) Another morning he asked me if every thing in our galaxy is on the same dimension?

Today he was telling me the composition of water ie:H2O So I went on the internet and printed up the periodic table and showed him how it works and where the elements for water was and all of a sudden he just lit up!!! He started asking me what if I combine this and that and bla, bla, bla. I thought ?????????? LOL

I would like feedback if you think he should be tested, any comments would be appreciated.

Pam

Have you seen Ruf's levels of giftedness? (Google it if you haven't seen it.) It is a surprisingly accurate guide to estimate how gifted a child is. Kind of interesting, if nothing else.

Is your son eligible for free testing through the local school system? If so, then I would definitely pursue it. No reason not to if it is free.

If no free testing available, then refer to Ruf's guide and figure out how desperate is the need for private testing? I would say if level 3 or higher than you definitely want to test sooner rather than later if you can afford it.

Mary

Hi Pam -

Here's a strange question - how do other people -of all ages react to your son, and to you when you share about your son's doings. If you don't know because you keep it to yourself - get him tested! (This is meant to be funny and 100% serious at the same time - wish I had a word for that!)

The next thing to look at is your expected school path. If it's homeschool, then you may not need it. Otherwise, get it.

My third perspective is your own experience with Giftedness. Is your family overflowing with support, information and acceptance? Was your own relationship to learning a thing of joy? Or do you still have a lot of baggage of your own? (Ditto for spouse, if applicable.)

Here's to enjoying the journey - sounds like you're off to a great start!

Pam, How's it going?

I'm in a similar situation with my 6 year old son, and the advice and links in this thread proved helpful.

As a summarized recount, below are some of the things I noticed about my gifted son throughout the years (may be helpful to others):

At age 1, he memorized the entire alphabet and could count to 10. He began talking in complete sentences by 15 months. He learned all the colors and shapes, including what a trapezoid was, by 18 months. He started adding things a month after he turned 2. At age 2 1/2, he said he wants to go to college. He could tell the time at 32 months. At 34 months, he started reading. A few weeks after starting to read, I taught him the American Sign Language, which he picked up quickly. When Lyle turned 3, he wondered why day turns into night and vice-versa. He then learned about the Earth's rotation and would proudly relay this fact to anyone who'd listen. At age 4, he enjoys putting puzzles together and is now able to complete a 100-piece puzzle of the United States map on his own (recommended age on puzzle box says "For ages 7 and up"). As a 4 year old, he was able to read Grades 2 and 3 level books.

Lyle, at 5, started Kindergarten last August 2005. His teacher gave him a Reading Comprehension test, and he's currently above Grade 6 level in Reading. He's had Literacy Specialists and GATE Specialists come see him.

At 6, he's a talker. I mean a real talker, who can talk to anyone about anything and everything. He preiodically reads the almanac and encyclopedia. He has a great memory retention. He's also a very normal 6-year-old who loves the Power Rangers, basketball, video games, computers, and being around other kids.

To Pam--I have found early identification to be helpful in that if you consider grade-skipping, the earlier grades seem to be easiest transition to skip. The decision is never straightforward and maybe it's just being a worry-wort, but I always agonize about those decisions. My 4 yr old just tested at the ceiling of the test and I am currently debating kindergarten over 1st grade. I know 1st grade would be best with at least a little real learning, but he's my baby (of 4) and I don't want to push too much too quickly. Anyway, since his brothers are all highly or profoundly gifted it was hard for me to see him being so brilliant (he might be remarkable to some, but just one of the boys here). I think early testing helped me see that he needs accommodations, too. I did have to pay to have him tested since he's not in the school district yet, but if you can afford it, it's faster. The district sometimes takes months for the referral process.

To Sugar--Wow! That's amazing and wonderful. What are the specialists proposing to do with him? Is he going to skip? I love the young age, too, because they are still motivated to learn and soak in everything around them. As my boys get older, they are reluctant to do "extra" other than reading novels (though I do have one at a Talent Search Summer Institute doing academics during his precious summer break and loving it!). I wish I could harness the early enthusiasm. My 7 year old is still eager to learn and he sound like yours in that he loves playing with "normal" kids, too. Maybe they'll meet at a gathering sometime.

Hi cym,

Finding this group has been a godsend, as I'm actually reading posts about issues I am also dealing with, parents who have kids like I do. People who have real life experiences and can share about what they've done/are doing for their kids.

I am requesting a meeting with my son's principal and/or other officials there prior to my enrolling him for first grade there. It's a pretty brand new school (here in Vegas, houses/communities are still springing up places albeit at a slower rate), and when I talked to them last, they were really unsure what to do and hesitated to do anything yet since their GATE program doesn't start till 3rd grade. I am exploring options on perhaps skipping a grade, or perhaps taking advanced reading, etc. Will keep posted.

Sugar -
I was just re-reading your post here, an what breaks my heart is how trusting they are at age 6! They (often) really expect that Adults (you and the teachers) will get it right for them! They (often) really think that any differece from the norm is bad. They (often) blame themselves for any badness at all. I wish I could go back in time knowing what I know now. I would do things very differently.

My son (10) points out to me that he wouldn't have some of his strengths if I had protected him better, so who knows? Not me. I don't want to frighten you, but I don't want you to be blindsided the way I was. sorry if the balance is a bit off -
trying her best-
Trinity