I am new to this but was referred here and told you guys are awesome with info!
I have a 3.5 yo young man, turning 4 in December, who is quite simply, amazing! He is number 4 of 5 for me, and the questions he is asking me at the moment are making me google answers for him!
He was talking fluently at age 2, and when I say fluently, I mean you could hold a conversation with him. The plunket nurse at his 2yo check told me she had never, in her 30 years of nursing, seen a 2 yo boy who could talk like him!
His maths skills are amazing considering his age, addition and subtraction are nothing to him. this morning on the way to daycare, he was explaining to me the difference between evergreen and deciduous - and yes he could even pronounce it! - trees. Yesterday morning, he was asking about power pylons and how the power gets in the wires to get to our tv. And last night he explained to his 2 yo brother (who is deaf nonetheless!) and 10 yo sister where bubbles went when they evaporated!
Am I being an overawed parent here, or is there something "different" about my little man? I've spoken to daycare, and whilst they concur with the amazing questions he asks, they refuse to do any extension with him in the "ready for school" group for maths, etc, as they are concerned he won't develop correct social skills.
I would appreciate any information/suggestions/etc from anyone.
Welcome to the forum. Research suggests that parents who think their child is gifted are usually right. I forget the details but IIRC it's something like 85% of the time - someone may correct me on that. And although sometimes it's awfully hard to know what is 'normal' development for a child - I'm guessing a plunket nurse with 30 years experience has a fair idea of 'normal' verbal skills in a 2yo. Sounds like he might be gifted.
What are his siblings like? Siblings are supposed to be close in iq but of course giftedness manifests itself in different ways.
Have a browse around this forum you'll pick up lots of information. Also take a look at www.hoagiesgifted.org - this is another great starting place.
As for daycare - is your son happy there?
One issue you'll want to consider is testing. Parents of gifted children have different views on whether to test. For us, we tested when we realised something was very 'different' after our elder child started school and they were counting and identifying letters whereas he could add, subtract, do simple multiplication and division, and read. Testing answered a lot of questions for us.
It sounds as if you know how to meet his needs at home, with the conversations you've been having, and helping him find answers. (Perhaps he can tell me how the power gets to our tv - I still don't get that!). You might also want to consider contacting a local group of the NZAGC - you may find "like minds" and activities for your son, and, support and information for you.
I love how you describe your son as "quite simply, amazing!" For me, this forum is one of the few places where we can express things like that without people getting offended.... :-)
This reminds me of an argument my then 2 and then 3 year old had about whether or not fruit trees were deciduous or a different thing altogether, my 2 year old won out with that they were deciduous because they lost their leaves, my 3 year old thought they were flowering trees and didn't fit in with the two categories but were one of their own. It was pretty amazing, and they both had great reasons for their side of the argument. To be honest I am still not sure what is correct haha. Miss 2 (at the time) would be in the car saying ''deciduous'', ''deciduous'', ''evergreen'' pointing at the different trees haha, it was cute but also a little scary!
My daughters are both gifted. Your son sounds amazing and very advanced for his age (and to me he sounds very similar to my daughters) and very lucky to have an on to it mum :)
My suggestion to you would be to just keep going with him on his interests and his level, don't look at age ranges of toys and books (my miss 4's favourite toy is a microscope aimed at age 8) but check they are at his interest level. Let him lead you and you be there to guide his learning at this stage.
I agree with Anon above, testing can be very helpful if not for anything but to reassure you that you aren't just another doting parent and to confirm (from a professional) what you already know about your son.
Formal extension groups at kindy are not always a good option as although the expectations are at a higher age level the thinking/questioning is not always deeper or faster there.
If the people he interacts with engage him at his level and he keeps questioning then you're on the right track.
