Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion My gifted group is changing

and not for the better.

Remember when I wrote this:

Well it's never quite been as good as the first time (different presenters) but it has still been ok, and probably the best thing I've found for my DS. But now, they are changing it. The set up will be a bit different and there will only be two meetings a term. For my son's age group, nothing much will change in some ways: parents still have to be there and there will only be one session (older children will have now have two); they are going to have the same presenter they have been having - who is nice and tries hard, but is a teacher and I don't think she really GETS gifted kids; but at more than double the price!

Now if the program was AMAZING we could find a way to pay for it, but it isn't. I know it's time for us to move on, but I just wanted to have a whine first. Because all of the things we have tried here - the gifted group, science club, museum programs, etc, they could be FANTASTIC and they just end up being mediocre, and disorganised. And everyone seems happy with that. This just ain't an intellectual city Maybe my expectations are out? Maybe the LOG we are dealing with is higher than I think? Maybe the programs are just bad?

An example (supposed to be for gifted 3-5 year olds) was to make a face with fruit. Another week it was a shape tower. (and some other parents complained that the children we using glue - seriously! )

Or a museum activity we did that was supposed to be about archeology, and my DS is really into that right now. I stretched the truth and only told his (home school) class level rather than his age to get him in. Then the archeology was a Plaster of Paris letter in a paper cup half covered with sand and the children discovered the clues by tipping the out into a box. My son was very disappointed - he knew that wasn't how you did real archeology. That was supposed to go to 12 year olds!?!?! The clue was a letter that when put with the other children's clues spelled out the name of the street.

So it's back to the drawing board. I know with my background and, ahem, perfectionist tendencies I can arrange something better for my children. But it is such a lot of work, because my son gets most enthusiastic when he can be around peers, and at his age, it's DH and I that have to find them, and usually we have to organise whatever it is. I have a baby due in a couple of months and I'm studying.

I just wish it wasn't so hard to find quality experiences that meet his needs.

I don't have any advice, biut wow, I do share your frustration. I often feel like I'm on an endless search for activities and so many of them are really average. Dd is only now old enough to qualify for school age programs and I was looking forward to them being much better than the preschool things she has been doing (plus I've been doing what I can to bump up the age groups she's with) and really, they're no better. She gets disappointed too. So much coloring in or pre-cut slot together bits and pieces!

Oh GeoMama...
Can you find the first presenter and chat a bit to see if he or she would do more on a drop in basis?

Keep looking and I do believe you will find some mixed age groups that have content. Our local Chess club is outstanding and I've seen 5 year olds there. Try nature centers or rock hounds or train enthusiasts or reptile clubs or weather clubs. Anything aimed at adults that allows kids will usually have content and a few kids. Good luck.

Grinity

Thanks for listening.

Yes, Giftodd, I thought things would improve once I could get him into the stuff for school-aged children, but it really hasn't.

The first one had two presenters and they were great, they were parents who had been involved in the group for a while, but it was really well done. I could try to chase them down, they were really helpful. They had older children than I do, and this forum proves how wonderful that can be!

I do like the idea of the adult groups, Grinity. I thought the children's ones would be better because I was hoping there would be other children there and also because DS is interested in everything! The children's activities tend to do something different every week, whereas the adults ones are the same sort of thing each week. But I am starting to think that it still might be better to try to do some of those instead.

I guess it's just keep going... keep going... isn't it?

Is it 'normal' for it to be this difficult to find a good fit?

It's normal if your child is very unusual - the more unusual the child, the more difficult. But do check with your state Gifted Association, and any local(ish) gifted conferences that are held - you only need to meet one other local parent who has done her homework and then all the right answers start falling out of the sky.

But yes, in the beginning you just try and try and try - and you do gain from the experiences. For example now you already know that schoolage children are either 'way more flexible' than your child or 'way less interested or able' to learn what your child is ready to learn. It isn't mostly that the lazy, evil adults won't give them more ---- try it yourself sometime and see!

Smiles,
Grinity

Geomamma, have you tried running a group yourself? This year I did Destination Imagination for the first time-- I felt it was a real win in getting the kids excited about doing big projects and thinking hard. I hand-picked the team for social and intellectual fit with my kid (you get to do that if you're running the show).

This isn't the only program of its kind, but it's an example. We have found that you have to be willing to throw yourself into these projects and get to know the other kids to find a good fit.

HTH,
DeeDee

Yes, I do intend to do that. There is a conference in my local area but any others would involve interstate travel, so would be quite challenging right now.





I have to laugh Grinity and DeeDee, because that was what I was trying to do when I started a local homeschool group. While the group has been successful and my children do enjoy going, it hasn't been an intellectual challenge for my DS. I honestly believed that my son was just lucky to have the exposure, and I really thought there would be other children around who would be interested in the things he is into. When that seemed not to be the case, I thought it was because I didn't aim it at gifted children. I really thought it was just a 'luck of the draw' and hoped the gifted group would be an answer. There is still a part of me that believes that.

I mean is it just me, or do some of those things I listed sound a bit unchallenging for a gifted group of 3-5 year olds?

I am considering doing some more targeted short term activities. I found some online stuff about setting up a short term geology club, for example. Things that might attract gifted children without using the label. Mine is a small place, and I feel I've already outed myself enough at this stage! The trouble, as always, is finding the time and energy!

Targeted short term activities sound like a great way to conserve time and energy...it takes a while
hugs
Grinity

I second whoever said to check out adult interests. I took DS8 to a presentation on the Mars Rover program at our local museum. It was designated for adults but was open to anyone. There were over 200 people and 6 kids. My DS hooked up with another boy that is just as space crazed as he is. The two of them babbled for almost an hour after the presentation.

You just never know where you will find the "hook-up"!

Could you please share what you found about geology? Last summer I had ds photograph all the local wildflowers and make crafts with them. He's always trying to collect rocks, that would be fun to do something with this summer.