Are there any summer institutes for the gifted for first graders?

http://www.giftedstudy.com/ has day camp that start at age K. Hopefully there will be a campus near you, and if not, you can 'vacation' near a day site. Also check your regional talent search headquaters, as they might have an idea.

Smiles,
Grinity

Grinity,

Thanks once again. Has your DD or DS attended this program?

Yes, he attended after 3rd and 4th grade. He first year was heavenly, and he grumbled a good deal during the second year (when he was amoung the older of the kids in his group) - however, for all his grumbling he learned an amazing amount in his ability to write, and he got sold on the idea of using a laptop. Both of those things dramatically increased his readiness for the gradeskip that was to finally come. They make a big deal over allowing the child to choose the classes, but I told DS - you pick two - I pick one, 'cause I'm paying the bills. Luck for me, the writing class I chose had the coolest teacher and was his favorite.

They will also place a child with older kids if you feel your kid needs it. I'm not sure why I didn't push it, but maybe I should have. We've had great experiences going above-age at the state gifted association's saturday programs.

Good Luck,
Grinity

We live in a smallish community, but even here there are some nationally known programs that may also be available near you. When the boys were 1st grade, we did Camp Invention, USA Chess Camp, British Soccer Camp, local museum art classes, library reading incentive program and weekly crafts. Now we even have Missoula Children's Theater (weeklong outreach where kids act & at the end of the week they perform)--you may be able to look these things up and see if/when they're coming to your area. I also would take them to every museum in town and then some nearby towns (sometimes an overnight field trip). I suggest scouring the available programs in your area.

Thanks so much. I will have to save up time at work for SIG for next year. I really appreciate the review of it, since I see it is expensive. Yes, we do have the Camp Invention program and I will check on the others since SIG is out of the question for this year.

Thanks for the camp invention feedback! We are signed up for that this year.

My boys did Camp Invention last year and LOVED it. It was at their school with teachers they knew. They had a great time and left wanting to go back for more. It is the one camp we are doing again this year. Hope everyone else has as much fun as they did!

Thanks to all of you, DS just signed up for camp invention today. He can't wait. Thanks!

Be prepared - my DS11 HateD Camp Invention at age 8. It's more 'dream it' than actually 'do it.' Of course it varies locally, as the individual teachers matter so much!

Good luck,
Grin

Thanks for the warning. Actually, I already got an inkling b/c online they said the kids could bring in an old computer tower as a take-apart item, and once I registered and paid, I got an email saying they could bring in an old clock or a radio as a take apart item. Of course, I don't have an old clock or radio, but I do have an old computer...

Yup. The take the pieces apart and use them to decorate a card board box and you can 'imagine' what your machine might do. I'm sure that would go well for many fine and gifted children - just not mine!

Oh, that isn't what my kids did at all! They took things apart and made other things with the pieces. They made a roller coaster with loops out of different things and rolled marbles down them, they played different games everyday, made airplanes out of reyclables, made a rocket and they decided how to make it fly (mine used an air pump), etc.

Now they aren't going to make great and wonderful new, fully working machines so don't expect that. It is out of recyclables after all, but they didn't just have to imagine things working.

Grinity I can definitely see why your DS didn't enjoy it!!!!! I'm sorry he had such a bad experience.

EandCmon
I'm glad your local program was a good experience! Sound like fun. I don't know if anything short of DS's overly high expecations would have been ok for him at the time, but he loves putting together stuff that works, flys, moves, explodes - so I think he would have been interested.

Smiles,
Grinity