What is the best thing to do with a smart kid?

Question

My daughter goes to preschool 3 (full) days a week (I work), she turned 3 in Jan so she is 39 mos old. She is way more advanced than her peers in the 3 yr old class, and it's obvious she is not being challenged. We have workbooks at home that she loves, they are for ages 3-5 and she whizzes through them with no problems. Lots of people think she's 4 because of how well she speaks and articulates herself. I remember being bored in school, and my brother answered questions wrong on purpose to "fit in". I don't want the same thing to happen to my kid, but I know they won't let her start K early because her birthday is Jan 3, and the regular cut off is Sept 30, and the "early start" (if you test as gifted) cut off is Dec 31. What do they, or should they do with kids who are several steps above their peers? I've talked to her preschool about moving her up to the next class (she would be a couple months younger than the youngest there), but she is even advanced for that class.

Answer 1

For now it doesn't seem to be too big of a deal. I wouldn't worry about moving her up yet because that just means that she'll be bored sooner. At this point boredom just means that she'll look at something interesting. She'll keep herself occupied so there is no reason to move her up early. This advice could be ignored though if you choose to put her in an advanced program like private school or something like that.



The remainder of my advice is not applicable right now but rather when she enters school.



From the beginning of her school career talk with her about the system and how it is flawed and how it is okay for her to succeed and it is okay for her to struggle, no matter where she's at at any given time. Make sure lines of communication are open at home.



Get her into things where she is not the top of the food chain. Maybe things where she has to be active. Gymnastics or dance, something that is technically challenging at a very high level. These are the things that will help keep her focussed through her day when she gets bored in school.



Encourage her to seek to know the things that come up in her brain when she is in school. Stay one step ahead of her so that if she gets bored you can show her something new.



Always talk with her teachers so that you can have a unified front if she starts to have behavior problems due to boredom.

Answer 2

I think you should let them test her, where they most likely will categorize her as gifted. Then lobby the principal or other administrator to bend the Dec. 31st rule to allow her in (it's only 3 days!). These rules are written with the general public in mind, but kids have often been placed early, sometimes by a year, so a few months for a really advanced kid shouldn't be too much of a stretch.



Sorry -- I just looked again, and now realize, she's only 3! So she'll only be turning 4 next January, not 5. I don't see how she could honestly start kindergarten until she's at least 4 (and for that she'd be a little early). Maybe she'd be better off at a special gifted school or something like that. I mean, physically, she's not going to be at the same level as kids 1 1/2 years older than her, right? I think starting with the Sept. class (when she's 4) is great for her, but earlier than that, are you sure?

Answer 3

I completely understand. My daughter is the same way.

The best advice I can give is to keep nurturing her when she's at home with you. If she's past those age appropriate workbooks then move up.

take her out to museums and libraries.

If she can't move far enough ahead in school right now, it's okay, she should be with kids her own age any way for now. As long as you make sure her interests are fed some other way she will be okay. When she gets to be older she can be tested and moved ahead, but remember to have her around peers of her own age on a regular basis maybe a weekend playgroup or something.

DO NOT LOSE HOPE

Answer 4

Try to find a new school for her if you cannot home school her.



My son is 3 years old, and he can do addition and multiplication now. Counting is a breeze for him. He is passionate about numbers, and we trained him using the abacus so numbers are not just something to be memorized. We helped him understand the concept behind the numbers.



When we were looking for a pre school for him (the real academic preschool, not daycare pretending to be preschool), one of the criteria we had was the flexibility of the school in going beyond the stated coursework to accomodate my child.



We found it in a Montessori school. His teachers recognized how advanced and they encouraged him. He is the only 3 year old in his class who is doing addition work and other advanced math work. The good thing with Montessori is that they let the child dictate what he would learn - and encourages their interests. And my son absolutely loved it - he is definitely challenged by the school. I love the way the school handles him and nurtures him. The school is expensive and it was hard to get in, but it is definitely worth every penny.



My suggestion is to consider looking for a school that will really nurture him.

Answer 5

Home school her if at all possible. It doesn't take any special training to educate your children at least as well as the public schools (especially since so many kids come out hardly able to read). If you are interested, I would recommend getting some books on it and checking out hslda.org. I would particularly recommend the book "A Thomas Jefferson Education," especially since your daughter seems so gifted. You can buy it at gwc.edu in the bookstore section.



I was home schooled my entire life and it was the best thing to ever happen to me. Also, don't let the "home schoolers are social failures" stereotype deter you. It isn't called a stereotype for nothing, and like most stereotypes, there are a few people like that, but on the whole it is not accurate. I hope that helps, good luck.

Answer 6

I think putting her up to a higher class wouldn't be right because Even though she is very bright she is still only 3. You should encourage her to want to learn more and when she does start school look into asking about gifted classes. She is still a baby. Let her be a baby she will grow soon enough.You'll be wishing she still was a baby.Alot of things can change between now and 5 yrs old. I hope she doesn't burn out before she starts. Good Luck

Answer 7

Well, my mom had that same problem with me. I was reading when I was 3 and knew everything I was supposed to know for 2nd grade when I was 5. So, my mom Home schooled me. It's very fun and I don't get a bad attitude from public schools or learn bad language. And you don't have to have a degree in teaching or anything. You just have to order a curriculum and do what it says for each day.

Answer 8

Is it possible for the preschool teachers to recommend her for a higher level, in this case, K? Maybe if they did it instead of you, the authorities would understand and give her a place. I can imagine how boring it is for her to be doing things that do not challenge her. I was like that myself but was refused entry in K because I was tiny. And I refused to go back to kindergarten that year.

Answer 9

Holy crap!!!! i really dont know.. I think sense she is soo smart u should keep her in her garde but get other harder work from other teachers and she how she does on that if she is soo smart maybe try the next grade after.. But dont go to far cuz u dont want her to be ot young, But yea i think u should get harder work for her or have her visit a class that might be harder like 1 or 2 nd grade for a week and see how well she does.

Answer 10

my daughter went throught the same thing she would play sick to go home because the teacher would theach the children things that she already knew. i think that u should put her on hucked on phonix to start her to read, give her more challenging work because her mind is like a sponge and it absorbses all the info u put in it. keep feeding her info don't wait for the school to do it. or you could change schools.

Answer 11

arethere private schools that will encourage her?the monta sorri(sp) schools educate at the childs pace. schools need to take a look at each child and there intelligence (or lack of) and make decisions from there.most answers say home school,but you say you need to work,encourage her education after she comes home,maybe introduce something new such as a foreign language orearly mth skills. good luck,robin

Answer 12

Let her watch more tv so she can dumb down a little. You don't want her to grow up and be a freak! j/k! LOL Homeschool the kid.

Answer 13

learn from her. watch her. she will tell you if she's ready to move up by her actions and behaviour in school. But don't move her up until she let's you know it's time for sure.

Answer 14

a new grade or home shool