Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy ok to not challenge son for two years?

Yeah, what they said! Seriously, we went through this with DS7 to an extent. He was afraid to do things that he was afraid would be too hard. It was based in large part to the fact that up to that point he hadn't had to work for anything. When he was presented with a challenge, he balked. Fast forward a year and he's gotten over it, but I wonder if it had gone on for a longer period if it would have been so easily corrected.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.
Good point, if things are easy, you miss out on learning to handle difficult problems. I hadn't thought about that. �It's not that I'm so smart , it's just that I stay with problems longer .� Albert Einstein
Good ideas too about developing other interests in music, sports, Lego Mindstorms, etc.. The internet is irresistible to my DS (and me) but I think for the good of our family we need to break that habit.
As for the G&T program in the public school, my DD went through it in grade school. It was a not too good pull out program, but it did get better in the 6th grade with dedicated classes for G&T math and English.
Thanks again.

Good post. I wonder the same thing. Will our kids really lose their potential if they are stagnant for years. That is my fear. It is just so sad to me a kid in school for years not learning. I just have no other choice by me. CTY is my only option for some help. I just hope it is enough.

Yep isn't that the truth. We had to leave a "gifted" program because it was not gifted. It was not advanced just a label. We had to do a skip to get some accelerated material.

Today I saw my DS�s math test, with the usual 100% grade. My DS, who's reserved and hardly complains about anything, told me �they expect you to study for the test, but there�s no need to, it is so simple. The only time I make a mistake is when my brain falls asleep, because it is so boring�.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Anyone else hearing alarm bells besides me?

I totally agree! That is my biggest fear. DS's grade skip did not bother me as much as fearing he is continuing to lack the challenges he needs.

OP - your son's lack of complaining & that math test statement would be a worry. Just because they don't come out & say they're unhappy, are we supposed to leave well enough alone or are comments like that in their head & they just don't share them.

I do not think it's ok not to challenge them for 2 yrs but DS is pretty much in that boat & I have not found a solution for it yet. Afterschooling is ok but sometimes feels like extra work to DS. It would be nice if challenges are instead of easy work, not in addition to regular school.

I have tried to make the after school challenges more like fun. Chess, lego robotics, nature classes. I think this helps.

I also think showing by example helps. I got some problem solving Math books and did them with my son. I showed how it was fun for me and tried to be ambitious about it.