Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Hothouse Kids: The Dilemma of the Gifted Child

http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Resources_id_14372.aspx
NY Times article, "The Downside of Being a Child Prodigy"

An interesting-looking book on hothousing what the author might call "pseudo-prodigies", and its possible or even probable downside. I was wondering how people liked this book.

According to the parents of Brandenn Bremmer, "[t]heir son was very spiritual, not in a church-going sense, but they believe he decided to leave this world so he could help all those he loves in some supernatural way. They feel his presence, the same one he exuded when he was alive." Yeesh. Certainly a sad story.

http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_adcf0356-c6a0-5ebd-9928-f9b618e25a85.html

The Amazon reviews are not encouraging... sounds like another book that should be entitled "There's some bad parenting out there". Which is a pity; I do think there's a genuine, difficult issue around how to judge when and how to accept difference/challenge/encourage fitting in/permit mediocrity, and I certainly don't feel confident that I always get it right. If there were a book that I really felt would help me make those choices optimally I'd buy it like a shot. Doesn't sound as though this is it, though.

I don't know why I didn't look there first. You're right-- I'm giving this one a miss. It sounds terrible.