Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Living Learning
 4Real Forums : Living Learning
Subject Topic: Can they be "too smart"? Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
Kristin
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: April 03 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 317
Posted: June 16 2008 at 8:11pm | IP Logged Quote Kristin
I'm beginning to get comments from FIL that our son, who just turned five, is too smart. He worries about what DS will do if/when he goes to "school" (implying that he will be bored) and for this reason thinks it is harmful to our son to let him learn all that he wants to learn.

DS is coming along well with reading, writing and math --- but at a very basic level! Also, he loves to learn about various things, in which case we get a lot of books from the library and do related activities. I do not put pressure on him to learn, although FIL may not have a grasp of this because they live in a different state. DH and I consider him to be right in line with many of his peers and very well-adjusted!

Based on what I have read here lately, I have a hunch that others have heard the same "complaint" ... Any ideas on how to respond?

__________________
Bunch 'o Honey to my Honey Bunch and Mama to five - Noah 10y , Rose 8y , Dominic 2.5 y , Oliver 16m
Back to Top View Kristin's Profile Search for other posts by Kristin
 
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
Posted: June 16 2008 at 8:28pm | IP Logged Quote SeaStar
Oh, good grief! Can your FIL appreciate how silly that sounds: don't let him learn because he's too smart! ?

Some replies that come to mind:

We are just thankful that he is a bright boy and enjoys learning.
He must take after his grandfather. We would never dream of holding him back...
At least he is not sitting in front of the TV all day.
We have put a picture of Doogie Houser up in his room...

In-laws sure can be tricky, can't they?

__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)


SQUILT Music Appreciation
Back to Top View SeaStar's Profile Search for other posts by SeaStar
 
Taffy
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: April 05 2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1567
Posted: June 17 2008 at 9:55am | IP Logged Quote Taffy
I've heard this before and, sadly, there is a grain of truth to this. I'd make a quick one-liner comment to your FIL, like the examples that Melinda gave then quickly change the subject. Or, tell him "That's why we're homeschooling where there is no drawback to being smart!"

__________________
Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
Back to Top View Taffy's Profile Search for other posts by Taffy
 
happymama
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: Feb 05 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 410
Posted: June 17 2008 at 10:52am | IP Logged Quote happymama
everyone who meets my 5yo pulls me aside to say, "he's so smart and polite!" The criticism I get is more along the lines of suggesting that I'm TRYING to push him, for example, by teaching him the names of all the countries in the world with Montessori continent puzzles, and that sort of thing. I posted a bit about it here .

When asked why we are not sending him to kindergarten in the fall, our response is, "we have a dozen reasons, but a main one is that he'd be bored." Reasonable people see the good in this, and respect it. Honestly, I think the main problem people (like your fil?) have is that they don't want us raising "weird geeks" of children - really. They just want all kids to be "normal". As long as your fil can see that your child is happy and social, he'll get over it.

One suggestion: for father's day last week we got dh the "Dangerous Book for Boys". It is such a wonderful, fun book "for boys 8 to 80." You could buy a copy for your fil and encourage him to do those fun types of things with your son!
Back to Top View happymama's Profile Search for other posts by happymama
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com