I wanted to homeschool my children, but for safety sake we applied for a private school when my DD was very young. At the interview I asked what they would do about my DD when she knew the work in the class and they said that they would send her to a psychologist who dealt with gifted children and she would get additional work.
My DD did not need additional work - she needed less work and more play time with the work being at a more challenging level. Secondly when she was in preschool (at age 2.5) they had already mentioned ADHD simply because my DD was extremely active and never slept (they would leave her playing with the 5 year olds during the 2-4 year old nap time because she would not nap. I knew if my DD was bored in school and unstimulated that she would not sit still and concentrate and then she would land up being called ADHD - a diagnosis very common where I live.
Now halfway through what would have been her kindergarten year the academic disparity she would have at school would be even bigger than it would have been in January.
More tipping points that have nothing to do with her being gifted:
1. private school would have meant me back at work full time and my 2 year old in a preschool - and all I would have been working for is to pay for that when I can do a better job for both of them at home than they would get at school.
2. The availability of a good homeschool group where DD can play, ability to go on holiday any time of the year now, flexibility which enables DD to do activities that she would not be able to do had she been in school.
