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5 Year old gifted and bored? Worried about kindergarten.

Molly - posted on 04/22/2012 ( 2 moms have responded )

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This is my first time placing a post, and I am hoping that your experiences can help guide me in the right direction.



I have a 5 year old boy and am concerned about behavior issues when kindergarten starts. He seemed to have normal baby milestones until about 18 months. He would tell me when driving "That road goes to school", or "that's the way to the mall", etc. At 2.5 he knew all the planets in the solar system and at 3 he could point out all 20 written names of his classmates in preschool. At almost 5 he could name in order stores grouped together in our town, ie Barnes and noble is next to Bed bath and beyond, then party city, then shoe carnival...for multiple shopping complexes in our area. He is currently reading books in the 1st to 2nd grade range and most of it seems to be sight reading, however I think he may be sounding some words out, He read phone as pone the other day. He also has recently developed an affinity towards maps. He started with the disney world maps after our vacation and now loves to read the michigan road map before bedtime.



At 4 he started to have problems at circle time at preschool and it persisted untl he was moved into the school age room about 3 months ago. Just as he was moved in with the kindergarten kids he seemed to be doing well in circle, but he has recently been causing problems again. Can't sit still, etc. When the teacher asks him what she just said, the majority of the time he can repeat what she was saying. Is he gifted and bored? I am extremely concerned when he gets to kindergarten he will be labeled ADHD incorrectly. I am wondering if it would be wise to talk to his teacher before school starts, or should I just wait and see how things go?

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Jennifer - posted on 09/24/2012

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Sounds just like my oldest, who is indeed both gifted and learning disabled. If you need testing, get it done right. Neuropsychologists are excellent for identifying giftedness, learning disabilities, add/adhd, ocd, etc... and often, several of these things go together. Watch out for anxiety; it can mask as depression (actually the two are very related) and mask as anger issues. Get the right help from psychologists that understand this kind of kid -- not teachers with little to no training in this area. Doctors can often give you referrals to psychologists, which can help with insurance issues.

LESLIE - posted on 04/26/2012

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Molly, Do not wait. He sounds highly gifted and, yes, they will start pushing the ADHD crap. Both my kids are highly gifted. My daughter is bored but school works for her (as we all know about girls). If your son is already showing signs of 'not fitting in' you are in for a tough ride. Your son and his teachers will continue to get frustrated. My son got kicked out of 'story time' at 18 months because he wanted to tell the story because he saw it on 'Barney'. Audio learner at a young age.

Be up front in the beginning with the school (if you have to keep him in public). They will probably pay for testing so that you have something on paper to plead your case. He does need special treatment. He cannot sit through a week of learning the number 3. He is probably not interested in coloring flowers. My son wanted to build something (not stack blocks)...hey, not in kindergarten!

Your son sounds like a geo whiz. I got my kids an interactive globe and they memorized and played games while being timed. Loved it!

Your son will probably appear to be not paying attention but he is soaking it all up. The public schools will deem him distracting, a bad student and even go as far as secretly suggesting you medicate him.

I wish I had known more when my son was in kindergarten. Good Luck!

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