Hi Eleanor05 -
What about the classroom behavior, and your thoughts on a gradeskip?
I love that you were able to capitalize on Mario while he was interested.
I think the thing is that Intense Gifted kids do what they do Intensely. And of course, video games are designed to be absorbing.
Mario's 'Worlds' are a specific example of the general theme of 'Levels.' Boys who are drive to demonstrate their Mastery tend to get hooked by the idea of 'Leveling Up.' This has become a central metaphor at our house. Most games also involve a 'grand finale' battle at the end of each level with a character who is generically known as the 'Boss' of the level. More good grist for the Metaphor mill.
One thing that attracts my son to these activities is the clear validation he receives when he beats the Boss and Levels up. I try to look at the bigger picture of his live to see if he has other avenues to receive validation.
One would think that school would be very validating for a gifted child - and for optimally gifted kids it very often is, but.....many year that my son was in elementary school it was just the opposite. For my son, this was exacerbated by the nature of his giftedness - he was thinking abstractly very early. And that is just a 'time waster' for many busy, stressed Elementary School teachers. We parents find it wearying too, yes?
So Validation and Accreditation.
Sleep well,
a very sleepy grinity
