Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Elementary School Math and bedtime at 6 years old???

I used to do that when I was around that age--either math or science books. I still like thinking about number theory sort of stuff if I'm having trouble sleeping...

Exactly what I was thinking! My DS6 says "I just can't turn my brain off to go to sleep!" So we let him have books, math workbooks, a journal and pencil in bed. He seems to actually fall asleep faster with all of those things than if we don't allow him to bring anything to bed. He is such a talker also, so I bought him a voice recorder and he brings that to bed sometimes too. It gives him something to do to wind himself down.

Thanks for the comments . My husband and I found it a little odd, but support him bringing the math book to bed. We regard math as 'work' and don't find it relaxing at all so the thought of bringing a math book to bed is not even remotely on our radar screen. And although my brother is quite bright (probably hg/eg) and did very well in math and sailed through it (much better than me or my sister), he never brought a math book to bed either.

I guess my eg/pg son has a level of comfort and intimacy with math that we never had or ever will!! I was a bit struck with it because he hasn't been doing any math at home either as homework or on his own accord for about 6 months or more and then all of a sudden it seems he's bringing a math book to bed.

I haven't tried the Life of Fred books yet. We've got the Math to Know, Math on Hand, and Math on Call from a yard sale but no idea how these compare. My pg son started to multiply visually about 6 months ago at school on day, but since then he hasn't done any math at home. I've looked at Greg Tang books, but they didn't peak my son's interest, even though he's a very visual learner.