Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Wear the T-shirt or Not?

I ordered a Mensa t-shirt years ago but I've never been able to bring myself to wear it. I guess that's my answer, lol.

I know... I wonder the same thing myself. What is with society in that sporty kids get celebrated but clever kids get ostracized? It makes no sense to me.

I think Center for Talent Development is sufficiently vague to most people, but if you came upon someone in the know then it might be slightly awkward. In theory I think he should be able to wear the shirt anywhere anytime because it's just a camp shirt, but in actuality I would be a little hesitant to have my ds wear it out and about.

What I generally do when my kids have a shirt that I don't want them wearing in public is I have them wear it as a sleep shirt, playing it up as "Wow, that will make a great sleep shirt! Very cool!"

Mensa for Kids has reading lists for children in various grades
http://mensaforkids.org/school_template.cfm?showPage=school_readeraward.cfm , discussed in a recent thread http://giftedissues.davidsongifted....2472/How_to_Choose_Summer_Reading_f.html , and a child who completes a list gets a free Mensa t-shirt . Our three kids are working on the lists and may visit the playground in matching Mensa t-shirts .

I feel that way about the Duke TIP car magnet. My car will have a magnet from 3 schools, the gymnastics place, the tennis place, the Kids chess thing...hmmmm I think that is all (yes, I know...but everyone does it where we live...when in Rome) but I just have the feeling that driving around with that Duke TIP magnet is obnoxious. DD11 feels the same way (without me telling her what I thought) even though in general, I am very careful to make sure she knows that she has a right to be proud of her academic accomplishments and that we are proud of her too, and that giftedness is not something to hide. The magnet is on the garage fridge. For some reason I think a t-shirt is less obnoxious than a magnet. I guess the bigger issue is the child's attitude and behavior--if a kid really wanted to wear the shirt I prob. would allow it.

Aw, neat! That's fun I opened the link and am looking at some of the book lists. Your kids will be the Mensa team at the park

I agree most people are not going to know what the Center for Talent Development means. And I don't know why those that do would be uncomfortable. I guess unless they specifically had a kid that wanted to go but wasn't accepted?

I know what CTD is. Most people I know don't though. I live in the Chicago metro and if I saw a kid with a shirt like that I would think it's cool and if I said anything I would probably ask if they enjoyed it because they sound like alot of fun!

DD17 adores her Davidson THINK t-shirt... but she only wears it to fencing club, where a lot of the other kids very bright.

I think everyone should be proud of their accomplishments. Some kids are gifted at sports and their parents put the magnet on the car and some are gifted intellectually.....and should put the magnet on their car. Be proud.

Kathie...DD just went to the same session and ended up with the same very colorful and way too big t-shirt...it was a little easier decision for us because dd took one look at the shirt and said she would never wear it (DD only wears dresses at this point lol)