the conundrum my son poses...

[x_cybergoth_x]

I know I don't post here often, but I know some people who might read this are parents. And really its a parent's perspective I am after. I am sure you all know I think my boy is perfect. But it is obvious since he started preschool that he is very intelligent,  but his intellectual development has overshadowed his personal and social skills.

Comments

[x_cybergoth_x]

Skipping years is incredibly uncommon in the UK and not something I would be suggesting anyway. I think this first year we want to avoid the academic side of schooling and work on his social skills (as just discussed with his speech therapist two hours ago). as such I am currently on the search to find some extra curricular activity for him. I will be checking with the school in the morning if any of the existing ones would work for him, and am currently looking at football sessions for him too. I figure the team work aspect would be good for him and its exposure to children his age more of the time outside of school.

Oddly enough he is getting his own 'children's' tablet for christmas, with learning games and software on which can easily be added to with language modules. So we can foster his interest through it.

Definitely letting him lead the way. I am not interesting in making him feel like he's special, superior, or a genius. I'd like to equip him with the skills he is missing, but encourage his interests gently at the same time. That's the idea anyway. the focus is on him learning through having a good time.

[ani_mama]

I personally found the "children's" tablets on the market not very useful...he will outgrow them very quickly. My baby niece seems to be doing great with the iPad.

Are the kids in the UK as "plugged in" as they are in the US? It seems like everybody in Kidlet's class has either an iPad, Kindle, or Nook tablet, even though we are out in the middle of the boonies. It is not always a good thing, but used in moderation they are very good tools for learning.

I think he will like football. Does your community have arts and craft classes for little ones? He might like those too.

[x_cybergoth_x]

I suspect he will get a year, maybe two out of it. the reason we weren't happy with a more 'adult' piece of kit is his tendency to throw in a fit of frustration. I cannot in all good conscience give him an expensive tablet until he learns to handle one safely. The apps on the one he's bought are aimed at up to 8 or 9 years old so we can give him programs at a level he is happy playing in any case.

Once he learns to handle it, then maybe we will treat the adults to a new pad and he can have the old one. I know some of his peers already have things like the 3DS or children's tablets and have had for some time. We seem to be behind in that regard! He's been zoned in on his books. We give him limited computer/ipad access, always supervised because of his temper, but encourage him to play rather than plug in.

Not so much at his age unfortunately, though we give him plenty of access to arts and crafts at home so he always has that outlet too. His drawings are really quite something these days. Its a shame he's over a year away from being eligible for Beavers. I shall be enrolling him as soon as he's old enough

[ani_mama]

You can never go wrong with books. I guess little girls are easier on electronic gadgets than little boys!

Beavers are great, and I think you guys will love it once your boy is old enough to get in. Kidlet has lost interest in it this year, but we did the Scout program for years.