Originally Posted by Kriston
Does she enjoy the work? Or does she do it strictly to please you, like a trained poodle?

Are you trying to be sure she doesn't fall behind average kids her age, or are you "pushing" to get her ahead, particularly with an eye on "getting into Harvard" or some other longterm goal that she may or may not share when the time comes? Do you take pleasure in showing off what she can do, regardless of how she feels about such performances?

There's nothing wrong with teaching a child. There's nothing wrong with feeding a child's desire to learn. (I'm not even owning those statements as opinion. They're fact!)

Personally, I define hothousing as teaching that has far more to do with a parent's ego than with the child's best interests. It doesn't sound like that's what you're doing. Agreed?

FWIW, 99% of the time, if a parent cares enough to worry about hothousing, it's not hothousing. wink

She does enjoy learning and figuring things out. And we do things based on her interests.

I am proud of what she can do, but I am not one to "brag" about it. I really don't think that many people know what she can do, although they get a glimpse of it because she is constantly asking questions and talks non-stop. I usually turn her questions into teachable moments and go from there.