Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school Not sure what to think...

I am sure reading these posts is part of my issue - it seems like most of the kids are reading by age 3 or 4.

Our current preschool has a private kindergarden (but not elementary school). He is currently in the preschool program but the next class is pre-k. I might be better off going to the neighborhood school where no one knows me. We have our parent teach conferences on Monday so I will be curious to see if his teacher says anything about it. I am sure my husband will think I am out of my mind if I tell him I am thinking about sitting in on the kindergarden class!

Does he really need to be challenged in preschool/pre-k? I do feel that preschool is really about playing and social skills, so in theory I really should not have an issue until he gets to kindergarden - right?

I don't think you can start too soon. I started visiting kindergartens when my son was 3 1/2 and enrolled him when he was 3 3/4. He didn't actually start school until he was 4 1/2, but by enrolling early, we locked in a great tuition rate that we now get to carry through until middle school.

That said, it did seem early and kind of crazy at the time, and even now I had to check myself to make sure I have things straight. In hindsight, I can see why the public school thought I was loony for inquiring about kindergarten for a 3 year old, but it was the absolute right thing to do.

before you get to the actual classroom, do a search on this board (and the web at-large) for "development milestones".

check out the preschool thread on this board too.

can't start looking at schools too early with early bird kids!

You don't have to share that particular moment with DH, he'll get there eventually. Start with DH by asking what his elementary school experiences were like, and when he learned to read. Ask if he got subject accelerated or was offered a skip, or knew anyone who skipped. Ask if there are any family relatives who quit school because it just wasn't relavant. Start asking your relatives the same kinds of questions. I have a sibling and a cousin who taught themselves to read at age 3. My son, who is 'profoundly gifted' by Davidson's standards didn't learn until 1st grade. Part of the reason that your child looks somewhat normal may be that your family is all or mostly gifted to start with.

You aren't looking for kindergarden classes for your child, you are trying to get a feel for what is 'normal.' Teachers aren't evil when they don't meet the needs of highly and profoundly gifted kids, they are just used to doing what works 99% of the time.

As for skipping K - or pre K - there are pros and cons. If your child is happy and not getting the message that adults are really really stupid (else why would they get so excited about the letter K? else why would they be so suprised and excited that he is reading?) then it's fine to let him go. But I would also make sure that you are laying the foundation for 'learning to learn' by having at least 5 mintues a weekday devoted to some learning activity that is actually challenging.

If the K program is a half day, and not 'academic' then lots of kids enjoy it. OTOH, lots of 'advanced' kids are deeply offended by the normal curricula. Personality makes a big difference.

Grinity

No it is not normal. I keep getting reminded of this by our children's librarian. DD is 2.7 and is starting to sound out words and knows some site words....I don't doubt she will be reading by 3. She has known letters and there sounds for awhile now....I got a reality check when my mom who works for a school sent me the end of year skills for K....currently DD has over 3/4 of them mastered....and here she could not start K till she is 5.5 so almost 3 years away....which is extreamly frightening to me. I plan on observing a K class soon, just to get a feel as well. It definitly reading on here, kind of makes you feel it is not as rare because everyone on here child is doing something similar. However, this is the minority

The point of coming on here is that we are all in the same boat. Grown-up support is extremely important on those days when your "little" is making you want to run away from home. Reading at 3 isn't "normal" by average K standards. K starts with letter sounds and the kids are supposed to be into easy sight readers by the end of the year. I'm willing to bet there are other areas that your little is ahead as well. You just won't realize it until you watch K in action.

Although Grinity is right in that it depends on the kid, I think it also depends on the preschool and kindergarten. In our case, I found such a great kindergarten that I couldn't imagine keeping DS4 in his play-based preschool another year. He was doing fine in preschool--his teachers liked him, he didn't have any behavioral issues and he had lots of friends, including one very close best friend--but he LOVES kindergarten. He comes home smiling and energized every day and is thriving academically. Just the other day he told me that kindergarten is harder than preschool, and when I asked if that was a good thing or a bad thing, he said "good thing." However, if I had had to send him to our public school, where he would have been expected to color worksheets and learn the alphabet along with everyone else, I would have kept him in play-based preschool as long as possible.

Everyone is full of such great information. This is such a responsive group!

I do think my son is coming by this naturally. My husband has a PhD from Stanford and school was always very easy for him. According to his mother he started reading at age three with no instruction. Showing up at Stanford for grad school was the first time he ever had to study. The adjustment was actually really hard on him. I do sometimes feel like we live in a bubble world because so many of our close frinds have advanced degrees from top universities.

DS is also starting to do addition and subtraction. I have been questioning if the milestone charts are accurate since he started talking very clearly (single words) at 9 months old. I do get the impression that most of us here question if the milestone charts are accurate at some point!

I do worry that there will be a point where he will no longer want to do the letter of the day.

It's so nice to be some place where other parents get you

Good luck with everything. Your DS has a great start already since you are already looking into things for him.

I hear you. I have my master's and DH has a JD, most of our friends also have advanced degrees and are extreamly bright. And I have often questioned the accuracy of the milestone charts, I still do actually. It is really hard to wrap your head around the fact that what the charts say is accurate and your child is just that far ahead. I still keep thinking that most kids have to be further along then what the milestone charts suggest. DD firmly falls 3 years ahead on most of he milestones on the charts...which definitly is hard to wrap my head around. Hang in there.