Hi KJP
We had a bad fit at our Pre-k. We also wished we pulled him out early but we had nowhere else to send him once we realized what was going on. Thankfully a wonderful camp experience helped mend the social issues. DS just turned 6 is now in K at a gifted school and the difference behaviorally and socially is amazing. We cant skip where we are so we had to make this work or seek private. My DS didn't act out but turned inward because the kids didn't get him. Now in the gifted school, he is working on things like handwriting and spelling, stuff we never paid attention to. And the math is more organized than we were presenting it. But has he learned anything really new, no, is he happy, now yes. How long that will last we just don't know, he has already informed us that the science they get is "predictable" meaning he knows everything and wants something he doesn't know. So we are feeding his knowledge as fast as he wants and as much as he wants in his preferred areas and letting school fill in the things he wouldn't necessarily focus on. But we would not leave him there if the social aspect was not fitting so well. He is not strange here, we were just talking the other day about this, how everyone in class has something they liked and are good at, and he can appreciate an interest in math or art, while others appreciate him for science. The change has been wonderful.
So I would investigate your area for gifted schools - even if your kid is a DYS level outlier, the gifted schools with testing cut offs will get him into a room with kids who are more in his ballpark or at least more open to him. The kids in DS's class are a wide range of reading and math skills, yet they all in some way seem to be sponges for knowledge and information. If those options aren't available, well then there are other things to think about.
For the short term, check out the museums and local universities often they will have programs in science or other things which attract bright kids. DS did one at the Y and had a great time with a kid 4 years older. Summer camps too in things like robotics or Legos, although age restrictions can be a pain there.
There is a lot of good advice here and on hoagies for sorting this stuff out. And terrific resources - like the ultimate book list.
Welcome!
DeHe
