Delayed school entry for gifted child - the system has failed us
Hi. I am new to the forum but hope to gain some support for the decision my husband and I are about to make. To go back to the beginning... My son was born in Feb. In the year he turned 3 he went to 3 year old kinder (in VIC). Halfway through the year we jumped onto the Kathy Walker bandwagon and decided that he should not start school in 2010 in the year he turns 5 but to delay his school entry until 2011, the year he turns 6. He is therefore repeating 3 year old kinder this year as a 4 year old and will attend 4 year old kinder next year as a 5 year old. Initally our reasons for the deferral seemed sound - he was quite emotionally immature, afraid of change, experienced separation anxiety etc. These reasons, however have all GONE. And to top it all off, we're fairly certain he's gifted. This is not something that has dawned on us recently. We've always known he was different to his peers but put it down to just being bright as his dad was (his dad was a gifted child...we should have seen the writing on the wall). However, as time has gone on, it's become apparent that he's more than just bright. We're going to have him tested at the end of the month but I have done enough research and reading to be fairly certain that our boy is gifted. So coupled with the now absent social/emotional issues and his giftedness my gut is now SCREAMING that we have made the wrong decision. We are now looking at sending him to school next year and skipping 4 year old kinder altogether. I just cannot imagine my boy sitting in a prep class in 18 months time learning a, b, c and 1, 2, 3. He will be incredulous. I am also SO concerned that he won't be able to relate to the kids in his class because he'll be older than them AND intellectually ahead of them to make matters worse. Already now he pays no attention to any of the kids in his 3 year old class (even the older kids who have been deferred too) other than one other child, thank goodness, who has become his big mate. This child incidentally has 2 older gifted sisters, so maybe he's gifted too :) As a result of this friendship my son is currently a happy, well adjusted boy. My concerns however, are for next year and prep.
Help! Are we making the right decision by sending him to school next year?
Jenny
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Re: Delayed school entry for gifted child - the system has failed us
Phew! Jenny. Really you and your husband are in the best position to make that decision. If the "testing" shows he is ahead and he seems keen to learn, I would say, let him learn! Put him wherever he is going to enjoy the learning.
Its never too late to change your mind.
Kind Regards, David
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Re: Delayed school entry for gifted child - the system has failed us
Hope I didn't post this twice!
Jenny sounds like an excellent decision to have him assessed and that will really help you. How did the assessment go?
We were also advised to hold back our son, everyone is on that same bandwagon, and thank goodness we didnt', he ended up being grade skipped.
I have had a couple of kids through prep now.
Is your son reading etc already?
All the best with whatever you decide, from the anonymous distance of the internet, I would sure send him!
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