AboutCarol Bainbridge Expertise I can answer most questions on parenting gifted children, from infants on. Questions can be about parenting, advocacy, and support and I can provide suggestions for toys and books gifted children love. I can even help you determine whether your child is gifted or bright, and I can point you to more information you might need. I can answer some questions about programs for gifted children, but can`t help much with information on colleges. Visitors wanting to know if their children are gifted might want to read the article "Is My Child Gifted?" before asking a question.
Experience I am the parent of a gifted child and have been working with other parents of gifted children for 13 years, helping them find support and providing them with information. I founded a local gifted organization and helped organize a parent day for a national gifted conference. I have been an active member of my state's gifted association since 1999 and created and maintain their Web site. In addition, I have created a website for parents of gifted children who are looking for toys and books for their children: www.giftsforlearning.com.
I am also the Guide About.com Gifted Children Site.
Organizations National Association for Gifted Children. Board member of state gifted association.
Expert: Carol Bainbridge Date: 4/25/2008 Subject: Is homeschooling a good choice for 6yo gifted son?
Question Hi,
My son is 6yo and I'm positive he's gifted, though we haven't had him tested. He was in public school Kindergarten until we pulled him almost 2 months ago after the administration refused to assist us in helping him. He went from being a vivacious, inquisitive, hand full, to a sullen, withdrawn child who stopped asking questions (for me that was the huge red flag we had a problem, before he asked questions from morning until night). He was admittedly dumbing himself down to match the other kids abilities (reading slow because the other kids were, purposefully getting questions wrong or not answering questions the teacher asked and then when I asked him about it he always told me the truth). The administration said they didn't see anything I was telling them, that him teaching himself to read just before his 5th birthday and reading chapter books 6 months later was completely usual and he would even out by 3rd grade (more like give up, if you ask me). They accused me of pushing him and making up things. So, we pulled him and are happily homeschooling.
The problem now is that he's running so far, so fast that I'm not sure I can keep up! He's gained another year in reading and is running through the 1st grade math curriculum so fast that he's going to finish it in the next few weeks. He's currently obsessed with particle physics and is asking me questions that while I feel I have a comfortable understanding for myself, I feel very unqualified to answer for him.
We can't afford private school, I'm afraid of sending him back to public school even though there is a public school here for highly gifted kids. I've considered having him tested, but I'm not sure how useful that information would be since we're homeschooling. I guess my question is, am I doing enough to challenge him if I'm just running to keep up? He's so much happier at home, he constantly tells me that he loves learning at home and I try to let him self-direct as much as possible, but I know he tends toward underachievement and I really want to help him learn to overcome that (I was a gifted child who severely underachieved and still do).
Any help or insight would be great! Thank you!
Kimberly
Answer Hi Kimberly,
I truly understand the frustration you must have felt with the responses you were getting from your son's school administrators. Don't you think it's funny -- in a rather annoying sort of way -- that you are running as fast as you can to keep up with your son but they accused you of pushing! Most parents of gifted kids don't have time to push; they're too busy running.
Your son is undoubtedly highly gifted, but he's 6. Think about how much of the world he has yet to explore! What that means is that you still have plenty to teach him. And while you may not feel comfortable teaching him about particle physics, there is much more for him to learn other than that. Yes, it is important to foster his love of learning things he is interested in -- like particle physics, but you can still encourage him to learn about physics and also help him learn more about other things in the world as well.
What I'm saying is that you are and will most likely be doing enough to challenge your son for years to come. What you might want to start looking into is some special tutoring for later years, not right now. If you live close to a university, you can call the physics department and see if there are any students who might be willing to tutor your son. I don't mean now. I mean this is something to consider for the future. You can even call the high school for students who are taking physics classes. This same process can be used for any subject you no longer feel comfortable teaching your son.
However, as I said, the world is full of wonders and since your son is only 6, he can't know about all of them. Think about it: he's been on earth for only 6 years! There is so much left to explore. Remember too that gifted kids love to delve deep into a subject. That means that even though your son is learning a lot about particle physics or other kinds of physics, he doesn't need to keep learning more, but exploring what he already knows in more depth. I hope that makes sense because not being an expert in physics, I can't give you an example!.
If you live near any museums, check to see what kinds of programs for children they have. Sometimes museums have exceptional programs for kids and they tend to be a little less rigid about age requirements.
There are many, many things you can do with your son at home. You just have to be open to the possibilities. Keep exposing your son to the wonders of the world, and although he seems to enjoy physics right now, help him open the doors to other worlds like art, music, literature, and of course, other sciences.
