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Nm

I am a huge fan of letting the child lead in what he wants to learn. If he wants to do the first grade workbook, I would let him. My 4 & 6 year old are in school, and we still do most of our actual learning at home.

DH and I tried our best to do as you are inclined, and try to 'save' something for school to teach, but our DS showed us the wisdom of your DH's perspective. I don't know how to convince you of this down to your soul - it's a lost cause so enjoy what works for your family...2 ideas:
1) Get an IQ test
2) Go in and observe a kindy classroom once a month. See where the kids who are just now starting kindy are at, and how they develop over the year. This is probably very important as you are designing a homeschool preschool curriculum, it would be good to know what you are aiming for, yes? I know that getting child care for your 2 is probably difficult, and sitting quietly in a kindy classroom is a far cry from what you imagined you'd do in your free moments, but it's so worth it.

Also - consider letting your son start 1st next year, it may be a better fit for him. Consider reading really really interesting books during 'circle time' such as Harry Potter or his favorite Nonfiction subject. I haven't read 'the number Devil' but I see it suggested here quite often.

Let us know how things develop...I love long posts!
Grinity

This is how we feel about our two boys who learns at a rapid rate too, as many other kids at Montessori, so by the time they are in public school, the pace is so slow, it almost feels like learning process comes to a sudden stop.

But one of my friends' perspective was that learning is not just math and reading, it can be a lot of other things, which sometimes you would not notice and can not measure as a parent. But learning is happening at public school, even for our gifted kids.

I'm with your DH; let him run. IME (first and, by impression, second hand) it's easier to get a child accommodated who is a long way ahead than one who is barely ahead, because it makes the teacher less doubtful that it's needed. And if your DS is already adding with carrying and is desperate to do more, and has a full year to go before he even starts K, I agree, he's going to need accommodations when he does start!

That's a pragmatic argument, but I'm also of the opinion that when you have a child who wants to learn something, it's morally right to help them do it.

Great point! In a way, if you are going to want special accommodations for your son's special needs, it makes sense to give him the skills that are recognizable to teachers are 'advanced.'

Example - my son was quite 'normally bright' in reading and math, but very advanced in 'what is the meaning of life' sorts of questions. It was very very difficult for the school folks to see him as having learning needs different from his agemates. I think the school would love to see a 'little robot who even knows his multiplication tables, can tell time, tie his shoes, sit still, read' and feel, yes, this child is advanced and needs something different, because elementary school is all about taking wildly creative and quirky preschoolers and teaching them all the 'little robot' skills.

I don't mean to be critical of any early elementary teachers, as I don't mean 'little robot' in a pejorative way. I wrote it because that is how it will look to many of us gifted parents. I think 'little robot' skills are very very important to daily life...they just don't make my heart sing, see? And it may be true that part of the 'different developmental path' that highly gifted kids are one is that abstract reasoning comes earlier in the sequence than LRS.

I'm thinking most kids need LRS first, and develop abstract reasoning in late middle school, while my son did the exact opposite. Possibly he was flipped because LRS didn't make my heart sing and I wasn't experienced enough as a parent to delight in them, or possibly because that's a normal 'alternate' path for our kids. Anyone want to fund that study? 'cause I'd be fascinated to know.

Smiles,
Grinity

Let him have the 1st grade book =)

I've struggled with the same issue of what I should and should not be doing but finally realized that saving things for the schools to teach is ridiculous and unrealistic. If a child wants to learn, then let them.

I have one addicted to workbooks too and we take a lot of crap for it. People think I push her but she thinks workbooks are playtime!

Our 2.5 yo isn't quite advanced, but he thinks "maze book book" is so much fun!

Jmo, the more they want to do that involves handwriting the better. �I assume it builds up stamina for handwriting because all you can do is practice. � My boy's handwriting is shrinking to fit the first grade workbook (not the good one you got, just a cheap one from a dept store). �At the same time I can't imagine telling him to copy his alphabet chart over and over on the kindergarten paper until he has good handwriting. �(especially not in a couple of years when he starts school). � I can give him a spelling lesson one day, various math lessons another day, copywork another day and his handwriting has gone from tracing to copying to now we're working on him writing without copying. � Ymmv I'm sure everyone's mileage varies. �I sometimes wonder what would happen if he went to a daycare? �I think he would play most of the day but do a worksheet or two most days, like he does now. �It would probably be a different worksheet only.

Maybe I'm not the one who should answer because I don't have THE ANSWER, just some thoughts on the subject.

We have had similiar discussions about Santa and God with our DD (9 tomorrow!). I found with the Santa talks... it went best when I did not pretend to have any answers. I shared with her that I, too, had a hard time understanding it but that it was part of the Christmas magic that made holidays so special. After watching The Polar Express about 600 times (her brother has a train obsessions), she came to her own conclusion that as long as she believes then Santa will come to her and when she stops believing her parents will have to start buying her presents. Works for me!

With the questions pertaining to God.. I sicced her on our priest! Poor man. After their first 30 minute conversation/grilling at a KOC christmas party, he came to me looking a little dazed and offered his email address for her further inquiries. Whenever she has pressing questions, she emails him and I get to stay out of it. YAY! She had a brief curiosity with the Jewish faith a while back and I put her in touch with one of the Jewish doctors I work with and she was able to answer all her questions.

I guess I'm a pass-the-buck kind of parent. I prefer to stay out of the heavy discussions (ones that I really can't contribute much to) as much as possible. I just line up the resources for her, give them a brief apology in advance and let her at them.