The issue wasn't helped by several comments made by a teacher within earshot of DD at age 3. This is when she stopped talking, even to us when out in public. At home or in the car she was a different child and words just ran constantly. She's had Speech Therapy for phonological delays- in hindsight she was probably more aware of her pronunciation than everyone thought...The therapy is helping; her class teacher has noticed an increase in confidence over the summer break which is just brilliant to hear. She has some good friends that she is now talking with so the small steps she makes are just huge ones for us to see.
I'm so glad to hear that she is making progress. Sounds like a perfect storm of nature and nurture. Plus maybe perfectionism thrown into the mix about speaking outside the home got kicked up by the speach therapy itself? These kids can be such a mystery!
It's great that she enjoys some activities with agemates. The scores you have are more than enough to justify a gradeskip. Even with the SM I would encourage you to seriously consider it now. Perhaps try a few practice playdates with older girls (of various ages) to see how they go?
It sounds like you are saying that the older kids are in a whole different build. That's too bad. Some really far out there kids to much better socially when they are with older kids, sometimes it takes being with kids up to 3 years older for the child to really feel at home and come into her own.
I don't know if there are 'gifted weekend events' where you live, but if it's at all possible for your family to attend BIQ in Boston this spring I think you'd learn quite a bit by seeing her in a group of real peers.
Keep an eye on this page for updates on 2011:
http://giftedconferenceplanners.org/Love and More Love,
Grinity
