I was reading an article today on CNN.com which actually had me chuckling a little.
I have been involved in or listened in on quite a few conversations of moms discussing the fact that they believe their child is "gifted".
Most times the "gifted" children are between the ages of 2-4. It is usually all I can do not to laugh when someone says, "sally (2 1/2 spoke in sentences at age 2 and knows all her colors, so I need to find a gifted program for her do you have any recommendations", or "johnny is reading some words, do you think he is gifted?" or "he has been on the waiting list at X preschool because of their "gifted" curriculum".
I always thought, that while I am in no way an expert I have been around many kids throughout my life from coaching to teaching swimming to camp and babysitting and it always seems that some kids will do things early, some later, but by kindergarten-1st grade most seem to be on the same page. So this whole new world and word of "giftedness" in the toddler and preschool age really makes me stop and think, am I doing something wrong?
When I was looking at day cares/preschools for Alek the ones that turned me off were the ones that pushed too much education in terms of sit down class room time. How long do we really expect young children to sit still and listen and hold their attention? It didn't matter to me that my child would be competent on the computer by the age of 3 or doing math and reading full books by age 4. I guess I kept looking back at my childhood, YMCA nursery school, swimming, arts and crafts and circle time. I think am doing pretty good?
I wanted the kids to be kids, have fun, be physical, learn by doing, they have the next 17+ years to sit in a classroom. I figure we should just keep encouraging the things they love, whether it be swinging, running, swimming, catching bugs, reading and coloring or doing puzzles, after all, aren't they learning each time they master a new activity?
I just have a hard time believing a 2-4 yr old can be considered "gifted" (well aside from those rare cases), but then I wondered, well am I missing the boat here, should we be pushing our kids more, are we doing something wrong?
So reading this article today cemented my beliefs that we are doing ok!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/08/27/gifted.kids/index.html
5 comments:
I am with you, Kris! This gifted toddlerhood thing makes me cringe. Kids are being made to be small adults way before it is necessary. As long as my boys are doing what they love, I am happy.
Funny, I read that same article and couldn't agree more! Especially living in the midst of the cut-throat toddler academics of NYC (and staying clear of it!), it was so refreshing to read.
Beth, I can imagine you see alot as a teacher!!
Susan--it must be hard being in the midst of all that competition!! Monkey girl is the cutest hands down!
that is a great article! i love all the points under #2 -- and definitely #3 about play and new experiences... if we ever get the shot at parenting, i hope to remember all this. and i've always thought "why push a 3 year old academically" there is so much more to life.. and the value of problem solving, negotiating with others, and learning to move beyond something you aren't very good at (by learning, doing, and not being so good at it) and what you are good at are invaluable qualities that go so much further in life than book smarts..
thanks for sharing!
Amy
I completely agree about the absurdity of parents searching for "giftedness" in toddlers. In my experience, most kids even out by around 4th grade, and then the truly gifted kids start to separate themselves from the pack. But in the end, giftedness is kind of subjective. One kid may be gifted academically, but another who struggles in the classroom could be a gifted athlete. All talents should be explored and acknowledged, and parents should let their kids be kids!
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