So, my two-year-old is reading . . .

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

My son was reading by the age of 2 also. He was rather social as a little boy, but then became QUITE introverted. His needs were met the best in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There, they had a school (public – Pioneer Park was the name), that has a seperate section of the school JUST for gifted kids. He was in a class of 3rd graders who were ALL gifted, which meant that they ALL learned at a quicker pace. And ALOT of them had social issues (my son was academically brilliant, but socially, a bit behind). Being in a class with similar kids, meant that if he had a meltdown (and he did several times in his early elementary years), the other kids related to it, and did NOT pick on him. They were teaching the kids spanish in kindergaren, because the kids were SO EAGER to learn. We moved from there after 3 years (military move). To supplement his education, I bought workbooks from Sam’s Club (or find a teacher supply store… they are all over the place), and you can get your own things to work on over the summer, or to aid what the school system is NOT giving.

We have never found another school system that had a gifted program as young as kindergarten, except in Wyoming. Incidently, it was a wonderful place to raise a child! Everyone was friendly. Not much to do there (although they have expanded alot since we lived there 10 years ago). But the quality of life was so peaceful! It’s a little bit of a drive to an outlet mall, and a larger city.

All that said… we put our son in the gifted program when we got there, and saw the need. Honestly, until the 3rd grade or so… there really wasn’t much of a need, because we wanted him to learn the necessary social skills. We knew we could adequately supplement his education at home, until the academics got beyond workbook assistance. Hope this helps!

42

Mojo Pin had, IMHO, bar none the most important point to make - all the exceptionally smart people I have ever known, myself included, have envied the not-so-smart people because they had to learn the habit of hard work. Being smart makes it SO easy to be lazy, and you’ll keep that with you your whole life, I promise you, unless you’re being challenged to your absolute utmost (and frankly, who’s lucky enough to have a job that does that?) Even though I was so much less mature than my classmates, even though I ran into a million problems, even though I couldn’t drink until February of my senior year of college, I’d suggest advancement rather than the alternative, because I was still lazy even after I skipped a grade. Imagine how lazy I’d be if I hadn’t!

43

Yes, seriously, I am terribly lazy (and highly gifted). Hell, my husband would show up in HS around 4th period, sandy and wet, and still ace whatever the teacher felt like throwing at him, which was never very much. They were way too busy keeping the monkeys in line to care WTF the quiet, smart kids were doing. So we either didn’t show or lazed our way to a C or B.

44

I don’t know from Kumon, but I can share that my stepson was in a “normal” public school environment until the 6th grade because there was no G/T progam. In the 6th grade, we moved and he was placed in the G/T group. All was good until he reached the 10th grade when he hit “The Wall”. You see, all those years grades came easy for him. He never learned how to study! It was like a lightbulb for his dad and me. I can teach a kid math but how do you teach a stubborn teenager how to study? Teaching your child how to learn rather than just learning more stuff will be the greatest gift you could ever give.

45

I’m sure it’s not the case with the child in the OP but people should be aware that phenomenally early reading is not always a good sign.

Hyperlexia

46

I agree with Ruby! My son was just like that. He was brilliant until 10th grade, and then the subject matter became actually challenging… and he didn’t know how to sit down and READ a chapter of the history book, and take notes from it. It was quite challenging to teach a 15 year old, who is quite confused as to WHY this is so challenging. He was very frustrated with himself for not being able to understand something. It was a very new concept for him.

Teaching children, when they are young, how to sit and study, and take notes, is a valuable tool that will only increase in value as the child grows up!

47

I skipped a grade and I graduated high school a year early. It was good only in retrospect because my mum died when I was 16 and I was already in college so it wasn’t a big deal.

While it’s good your kid’s reading, there are a lot of other things a child needs to develop at that age. Probably before reading. I found for myself, being rather smart, book knowledge does little good in the real world if you don’t have the coping skills, social skills or money to back it up.

Instead of trying to turn junior into superchild, just add reading to one more fun thing she can do. I think the best thing for you to keep developing her reading, which I do believe is important is for her to read at least a half hour per day to you or your spouse. A life long love of reading is a good gift, but to base her future on that solely at such an early age is a bit much.

I’ve known plenty of early bloomers to just stop. And in the end it doesn’t matter. I was 15 years old and in the University of Chicago. I was exceptional and bright and so was 99% of everyone else there with me AND they were years ahead of me in other ways

So just enjoy your kids love of books and reading and encourage her.

48

She’s two. Relax. Enjoy having a baby. Encourage her but don’ pressure her. There is no need to start picking a college for a baby. There is plenty of time to help pick her path.

I am by no means brilliant but I was smart enough to be in the AT program and score in the 99.9% on the standardized tests. And like others said I never learned how to be a student.

49

She’s two.
She needs mudpies, ice cream, hugs, kisses and barefeetsies.
Encourage reading and bits of schooling, like when you are preparing a meal or having a dinner, but the rest of the time, let her bang on pots and pans and be a noisy, dirty, germ infested kid.
Childhood is so short. Adulthood never goes away.

50

I was a very early reader, was in a gifted class, but never skipped any grades.

I know that I’m EXTREMELY thankful for the gifted class. I think it’s extremely important to be around other intelligent people who will challenge you intellectually.

My friends outside of school were not even close to me intellectually and I actually had to teach myself to dumb things down a little for them as my natural vocabulary had many words they just didn’t understand. It did teach me to be able to move in between many different circles, however. I was equally at home with the nerds, jocks, stoners, and just about every other social circle.

My problems came because of an extremely lax home life. My parents were often gone for lengths at a time and I was left to my own devices. Once I hit 8th or 9th grade I got pretty lazy and kind of just skated through high school. My other problem was my social crowd, which was a pretty bad lot and I got into a fair deal of trouble.

51

I’m surprised no one has sent you to Hoagies’ Gifted yet.

I took college classes in high school, but not as young as 12. A coworker had a daughter that young attending community college; they made her mother also enroll for chemistry before they would let the daughter into the lab. (Pretty amusing to have a PhD physicist enrolled in Chem 1A in the local community college.) I found it pretty bizarre that she had to enroll, not just attend classes with her daughter, but that’s apparently what they did.

For right now, I agree that you need to just relax. Keep reading to her, even though she can read for herself, or get her to read to you. Something to make it social and let you discuss books together. Take advantage of daily opportunities to learn stuff and figure stuff out. Go with the flow. I wouldn’t bother with a special school yet - you can think about that when she’s starting kindergarten.

52

I said earlier to one who PM’d me, and I’d like to repeat to all of you, that I am truly awed and humbled by, and beyond grateful to, everyone who has taken the time to respond in such detail and with such heartfelt and well thought-out narratives. You guys are the BEST!

To those who are concerned that I may be a “pushy Mom” or ignoring Celtling’s babyhood, thank you for caring enough to speak on her behalf. Please be reassured. Her needs come in this order: Physical, Emotional, Social, Intellectual. And there is no way I am going to turn her into a little David Helfgott. We have toys, and “silly time” (think chasing and giggling and zerberts to the belly) every day. We go to the park anytime the weather allows it, and she has playmates who she sees regularly at preschool. I am a firm believer that a parent who does not regularly render their child helpless with laughter is missing the point. :smiley:

We read together often, because she brings a stack of books to me and asks me to read them. She also brings her flashcards, and we go through them until she shifts attention. She asks for her educational videos more often than her “fun” ones, and clearly enjoys learning.

That being said, I do feel ALL her needs should be met, and that it’s my responsibility to find the best possible support system to allow her to use her gifts. Studies have shown that children who show promise at an early age often stagnate and can actually lose their potential if they are not provided with the opportunity to flex their intellectual muscles.

And I’m not trying to set her path in life, or pick her college. She’ll do all that for herself. I just want to do my part in providing her with opportunities and supporting the directions she chooses to go in. I know some of the parents you are referring to - and appreciate that you are willing to stand up for their kids!

It is in my nature to research any challenge, even the ones I see coming from way down the road. It’s how I approach just about everything, and is a habit that has served me well. It doesn’t mean that I am making all the decisions now, just setting a foundation of knowledge to inform my later decisions.

Hyperlexia: that was fascinating, thanks for bringing it up. It reminded me of a kid I knew in school. It sounds like maybe a symptom of Asberger’s . . . but this kid I think had a “photographic memory” and did very well in elementray school because of it. Once we got to High School and he was expected to write essays, and connect ideas into new thoughts, he “hit the wall.” It definitely does not fit the Celtling though.

Laziness: Oh how I can relate to that! Studying was completely lost on me - I’d just never had to do it. I used to read all the textbooks in the first 2-3 weeks of school, occasionally brushing up a little after Christmas. Then I’d ace the tests, ignore the homework, and dare the teachers to fail me. (in High School, a couple of them called my bluff, but that’s another story.) I am still a terrible procrastinator, and ridiculously deadline driven. Mojo nailed this one, I need to find out how to teach diligence. . . [wanders off to Google]

Thanks again all!

53

Two words: foreign languages

She can pick them up so much more easily now than if she waits until she’s in college etc.

54

You might want to try living in a more urban area. Many suburban cities, bedroom communities for larger cities, will have true gifted track education. I have a niece who was able to go through 3-5th grades with children who learned at the same pace she did. The district had one classroom set aside in one of their elementary schools that was for gifted children and they attended that class full time. It was a great program and the children were able to learn the material in a much more in depth way. They actually had real science classes and were expected to write essays.

My children’s school district offers a one hour a week pull out class. It’s hardly worth the time. :frowning: We’ve toyed with homeschooling the oldest because of boredom issues. When you’re kid isn’t even hiding the book she’s reading during class and the teacher just watches her do it because she still passes the tests, the school district isn’t really teaching her much.

55

Hoagie’s is the bomb! Thank you soooo much for that link!

For those of you who are confused by my early concern, this article may really help. http://hoagiesgifted.com/underserved.htm