Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Seek guidance on Kindergarden Kid

Where I am, the gifted program is pretty much the way to keep your kid away from the troublemakers. My wife is already planning to send our DS6 to private school if he can't get into the gifted program.

So, the most important thing is to figure out the type of kid who is in these programs in your area - you can always talk to their parents and get an idea. Also, see how much time the kids in the program have for swimming/dance/music.

I agree with all of the other posters who have suggested that you find out more about the program and go observe. You seem to have some preconceived notions that may or may not be true.

I've had three kids go through regular kindergarten before moving to gt classrooms. Only one seemed bored and miserable in kindergarten. The gt class wasn't necessarily more work, it was different work at that was more at their level. All three of them found the gt classes to be a relief of sorts, particularly in math (their strength area). Even though they all skipped a year of math going into the program, none of them felt like they had missed anything. I still remember one of my kids looking at me and asking what they would have done in first grade math. When I responded that you spend a lot of time "making ten" and playing simple math games, she thanked me for not making her suffer through such boring math.

I did talk to few of the parents in the program. Feedback very consitent with those on the board. It is really not about being "gifted", but more about the ability to work a little ahead of what is usually done in 1st grade.

I wonder why folks just don't use the term advanced class. Gifted should mean something more than just working a grade or two ahead. All that usually means is the kid's parents doing some work at home with them and nothing more.

I think you're suffering from the same thing I was, which is thinking the term gifted only applies to child prodigies! The gifted range is much larger than that, and having your child in a class that is better suited to her academic abilities is not a bad thing at all. But I do agree that if that is all the class is providing, then they should change the name. It downplays the correct use of the word when it's used so freely.