Okay now have DS stopping during rugby training and looking at the ground, asking if the grass leaves can make engergy if everyone is running on them. Would they still get the breath we breath out and make air we can breath in is the question that he asked.
Hope he goes okay at the game tomorrow and runs. He loves the challenge of rugby and learning something new. He over thinks what the coach is saying though. Do I run as fast as the coachs? (coaches run slow so the children can see what they are doing) or fast?
And blowing at the leaves on a tree on Thursday as he was 'helping' them grow. And I am over space. Am I allowed to think like that? I am over space. Yes the sun is a star and ha ha yes you can see a star during the day (the sun) very very funny. Don't quite know if I would roll around on the ground laughing though. I know how stars are formed. I know the order of the bloody planets and the colours of them. Should I just put my foot down and say read it yourself if you want to know that much? I feel I am doing all the research to answer questions. I know he can read but he won't now he knows it won't change him not being able to get into school. It is also tricky as he has problems with one of his eyes so can only see out of one eye (trying to strenghen it by using patches at moment)
He wanted to know how they go to the toilet in space because it would be hard if they are floating (you do not need to know what else he said would be floating!!!) ENOUGH ALREADY. I am at my wits end. If I hear planets or space or photosynises again I will just be in the loony farm.
I will I know I will. It is 11pm at night and it still going around and around in my head. His impression of a wiggley walking alien was rather funny though. I didn't mind making a spaceship but when he wanted a map of the solar system incase he got lost and then wanted to know the order of the planets and the colours and got annoyed as he kept of forgetting one of them (he was trying to memorise them, I don't know why when he had the 'map', but he said incase it floated away) he was getting upset with himself as he couldn't remember all of them.
I am whining I know, but don't know where else to let off steam. It really is driving me nuts. I feel I need a break. His sister (younger 3 next month) is also driving me crazy htough her obsession is blocks and will build building all over the house with everything she can get her hands on.
The library!! -help him to ask the librarian. Once he can do that and find books your problem should be halved. Let him see you doing your own research into whatever you are into and perhaps allocate an amount of time to help him with things he really wants to find out about -to shift the balance from asking you anything and everything to determining what he really wants to know and can't find out himself.
JMHO and things that have worked for me. Take what you can from it.
For blocks-girl, have you provided a challenge in a space you want her in e.g. can you build a tower to this mark on the wall? or can you build me something that can hold up this odd-shaped rock?
DS used to contain the plastic animals that I told him were getting loose underfoot and needed stables etc.
Good luck. Happy to hear your vents, reminds me of earlier days with my own (both at school now).
You could get him a DVD on the solar system, my son still loves watching it when he's in the mood. I picked it up from the Star Dome in Auckland, Cornwall Park. If you don't live in AK you could ask them to post it. If you do live in AK then go to one of their shows for kids, the shows are great and inspiring (see website below).
http://www.stardome.org.nz/events/cosmic-kids/
Build your own or order a solar system model then label the planets so he remembers them. Buy a book on the solar system etc. All of these things are at the shop inside the Star Dome including galaxy slime (which was a huge hit with my son).
As for your daughter, another idea could be asking her to build a maze with her blocks for her dolls/cars/mice to navigate. Or draw a 2D image of a tower colouring the squares with the same colours as her blocks and ask her to duplicate it in 3D with her blocks. This is actually quite tricky for 3yr olds and will require a lot of VS awareness, planning and problem solving to achieve (she could get frustrated so make it simple to start with, using 10 or less blocks and a row of one colour then a row of the next colour etc. before mixing it up).
Thank you for the suggestions. DS will be in school next year (just turned 4 in feb, children are 14months apart) so not long but has seemed to have gotten more demanding. He did teach himself to read when he was 3 1/2 but hasn't really gone down that road again. I think he thought if he learnt to read then he could start school.
He also has a problem with one of his eyes (only seeing the first 2 letters in an eye test) so we are using patches to help and is under the care of the hospital for it too, so we are on to it. Told him that if we get the eye stronger, he may be able to read books better. So far he hasn't protested. With books I think it does depend on the size of the text?
Do not know if this is the reason he wont read or that he has realised he cannot fast track his way to school, but going to the library and getting him to ask is one way to make him have ownership of his learning and knowledge, though for the above reasons, I still may have to help read the books to him. I do not know if he is having me on or not sometimes though.
That is a good idea with the blocks to extend DD. she is like DS yet quite different. She is more sensitive and can pick up on emotions and 'read' other people
At least things are starting to be picked up with the two of them at Playcentre. DS sat there at the big kids session during sharing time and started talking about photosynesis. One of the supervisors tried not to laugh but didn't hide it very well, caught her off guard. He didn't want to share after that, and he hadn't finished all he knew either. Think he was quite hurt. He was going under the radar there for a while and some supervisors thought he was strange as he would stand there fishing with no rod just arms up and down on the hill by himself... then inside to 'cook' his fish. Both have wild imaginations. But space, he got a ball and put it in the middle then put all the other balls around it. He will play the same game all day, going in space ship, walking on the moon, flying back with the fishing. He has one friend there who I suspect is the same as him. They just play differently to the others.
Will try your suggestions and let you know how I get on.
Glad it brought back memories Linda. He does see me study as I am trying to get a degree though Uni (are you the Linda that Trevor gave me your email address that time?) I was one of the ones that fell though the gaps, misunderstood etc at school and now in my 30's trying to get there.. Now hoping that next year it goes better for DS at school, than it did for me.
Yes Hails, that's me. Gosh life's so busy I'd completely forgotten. Same as posting on here, often fell like I'm saying the same things I have before.
Have you taken your DS to the school? and really importantly, have you met the Principal to explain what's coming i.e. DS reading +eye issues. I did that and asked for help determining what I should be doing with my DS (also reading same as your's). School arranged a teacher to informally assess his level and he started 'school visits' for a morning each week while I helped outside of that classroom (OHS/insurance issues for <5yo at school). School visits helped immensely with behaviour and interests widened and deepened.
okay tried some of the suggestions regarding the building blocks. Asked them to build a something this high (height of A4 paper) DD (3 on tuesday) made it as wide of the paper not as high as she ran out of blocks as DS was doing his own one.
DS made a building with a hole at the top. when asked if he had done the door, he pointed to this hole. I asked if things can get in and out and he pointed to a block standing up right and said that was the ladder they have to climb the ladder and get in that way. I said that was a neat idea but how would htey get out? He went and got a shoelace, cord thing and hung this into the hole. They have to climb out. I told them both they did great.
For her birthday I am getting her a mosaic puzzle, so she can make her own designs and patterns using it. She also likes laying the blocks down to make pattern like pictures but there is limited shapes.
She made one the other day (a spaceship after hearing DS going on about it) and it had perfect symmatry. If there was a piece that didn't have a matching block she was discarding them.
I haven't had a chance to take him to the library yet. Will do that in the next week or so. Due to the weather I haven't been able to get there. No car.
Also a trip to the plantorium is in the pipelines, the Wgtn one with the big kids session at playcentre.
While it took a while (perfectionist grandson who doesnt like to "get it wrong") - with a lot of persistence, role modelling and encouragement, I did manage to teach my grandson (just started school today) to start 'answering' his own ideas - coming up with possibilities, solutions etc for himself.
Ok so the colours in the water fountain arent due to refraction (this was at 6.30am on the way to the airport - I was barely functional enough to drive never mind answer questions that was going to lead to more questions) as he thought could be a reason why - and a dinosaur probably didnt make the 'cave' in fifeshire rock - but thats ok - they are still good ideas.
You know what I LOVE about him thinking these things through himself and offering explanations ..... I get to see some of the world 'through his eyes' - from a mind where things are possible that I couldnt begin to imagine otherwise.
Once he realised that I REALLY enjoy listening to him as much as he enjoys listening to me explain things, he was off and running with it ..... it did take a lot of convincing though.
That is fun to do isn't Tiz. I have done that a few times.
Got a good story as to why the sun couldn't go to sleep. Aparently, if the sun does go to bed, it is so hot that it would set its pillow on fire and its blankets. The suns toys will then be on fire and we would have to send up firemen in a space rocket with a long long hose to put out the fire and save the sun, but it will have no toys left.
Can anyone recommend a good preschool in Christchurch (that is still standing)? That is, one that handle gifted children. My granddaughter is 2.5yrs old, so I thought I'd best start looking as many of them have waiting lists I'm told. Thanks.
Selwyn House preschool runs from 3 and has an excellent programme. Teachers are well versed in signs of giftedness and cater to all kids extension needs in a lovely subtle way. Its a small group so there is plenty of time to spend with each child. The only factors may be that its not 20 hours free, and is term based (ie closes for holidays although holiday programmes are available). Its both boys and girls, unlike the associated girls school. Worth a look.
