I do think it is a decent price for the services being offered...just not really in our budget right now. But we will try and make it work. I know that we would regret not doing it. my DS is not highly creative at all, and extremely literal so I think that test would be good for him. I am glad you found a good specialist, I think it is really important to find others to relate to. I would also love for my DS to have some peers to relate to at some point. He has lots of friends, and all the kids love him actually at our church...but he does tend to be the class clown and just acts goofy with them. He is so different around other children than he is one on one. I would also like to meet a real life gifted child his age, LOL. I know they exist with people on line, but we have yet to meet any. he plays with older children and adults and relates well to them at least. I would bet we would definitely need to retest at some point because he changes so much so often, it is amazing. I guess gifted children in general do, but is still amazes me when he just starts doing random things that he should have no idea how to do. Thanks for the well wishes!

Well, I always tell my kids that "hugs shouldn't hurt." That seems to help them distinguish between real, friendly hugs and the aggressive kind. Kids can use hugs as a way to wrestle, so even if that wasn't your DS's intention, I can kind of see what the teachers were saying.

Oh, and I got a kick out of your DS's running in circles during circle time. Seems appropriate, no?

I think even play-based pre-K's tend to do more of the "This is the letter A" stuff at circle time than our kids need. But it tends to be small doses--5 minutes or so--so most kids can deal with it. It's a WHOLE lot better than a whole CLASS of "This is the letter A," at least! Hopefully you'll get the former (or less) and not the latter!

Thanks. Funny because when my DS was in his 3yo pre-k program he said he didn't really like it and the others didn't speak english because he couldn't understand him. He didn't really say that he liked it at all, and often didn't feel like going. He didn't fight it, but didn't love it. Then we took him out because of how the staff were reacting to him and frankly they truly didn't like him (which shocked me because I had never experienced that with anyone, everyone loves him). So then a month later he cries and says he is ready to go back. I felt awful. I still think it was the best choice but it made me sad. I would bet a week or so after he starts this preschool DS will say he doesn't really like it....but I don't really think he will feel that way. It happened this summer when we did swimming lessons. He would not want to go and then he would go and have a great time and say how he loved it and the next morning the cycle would continue, sigh. Glad the preschool is working out for you.

My DS's behavior at home is okay...but he he does like to test things. Lately it's the word 'poopy' It's driving me nuts. I just told him that I needed 15 minutes of mommy time (my first time all day) and then we could play a game together before his "nap" and he then emails me the word "poopy" so I replied and told him to go sit and time out. Not my typical parenting style, but it's got to end at some point. (I then followed up with him by talking with him about other positive ways to get attention). We don't have early entrance to K, and we have no good programs anywhere. New York sucks in fact. I love the state and everything, but there is no mandated gifted programming and our school doesn't have it so that is really frustrating. It's amazing what kids will learn by not doing real "schooling" or teaching. I swear we don't teach DS much of anything. We didn't teach him to read or sound out words at all and yet he was reading fluently at 2. He did fall in love with starfall at 16 months though, that helped.

Gotta run, it's DS and mommy time now.

yes, I found the circle thing amusing too. I agree about the hugs, he doesn't do that now. I just found it strange because he had just turned 3, cut him a little slack. I just would never have called a parent to tell them that their child was being aggressive, I would have explained what they were doing.

His preschool said they won't be doing worksheets or anything, so that is good. He likes workbooks sometimes...but I don't imagine he would be interested in coloring in the letter A. In fact he just colored in his first real coloring book picture for me this week. He always just kind of scribbled. I asked if he knew how to color in the lines, he said yes so I asked him to show me and he did an incredible job. I was amazed. He just never does it because I guess he doesn't see the point. But he is all for taking lots of time designing and writing out homemade cards for people on special occasions. Interesting.

Keep using it Especially if you call it wise at the same time. LOL j/k

Michelle, there still can be a little bit of academics even in the play-based program, but DS6 did fine with that. They did have a letter of the week, but it was just one day during a circle time and my son really liked coming up with things starting with a given letter for show & tell.

They had monthly themes, but then went fine as well. When they talked about space, DS made them add all the dwarf planets to the list and brought in 2 or 3 page "paper" he wrote about Solar System. 90% of the time was spent on playing, art, music, and more playing.

I hope your son will have great year this time around. As for peers that's one of the hardest things. I wouldn't be surprised if your son's scores get him accepted to DYS once he turns 5. You can then find out if there are any "local" DYS kids close by. You could also see if there is a local AGATE chapter in your area and perhaps meet people that way.

A little academics is fine. DS enjoys letters and numbers and always has, so small doses should be okay. singing abc's and all that would bore him to tears but that's okay. I love how your DS supplemented things on his own, that's great. Glad the school was responsive to that as well. I would love to find local kids around that are similar to him. I feel slightly isolated in that way, but he does not seem to feel alone and love playing with his friends so that is wonderful. I know that the person we plan to have him evaluated by is very involved with AGATE, so maybe she can give us some ideas as well. Thanks.

Michelle

You may want to give the psychologist a permission to share your contact information with parents with similar children who ask for it. A friend of mine was given a contact phone number by her child's psychologist.

You might also see if there's a GT support group in your area. The school might be able to direct you to one, or you might find one through the NAGC website. That can be a good way to find other GT families, and maybe you'll get lucky and find another HG+ family.