Interesting article re parental pressure on clever children

[Blitz]

I once saw an article that said 80% of middle class parents with a 4 year old think their child is gifted and talented. However, by the age of 10, 80% of parents feel their child is falling behind and look to tutors/school for extra help. Interesting!

[Milla]

classic!

[daughter]

I agree with loopylou and WFG about what appears to be diminishing intelligence with age in gifted children. Do you think perhaps this is to do with social/socialising skills and characteristics. The boy who seems "least normal" from the programme is the home schooled/chessy one. He had/is having a very narrow education as well as social life - I do hope all turns out well for him in the long run.
I imagine many of us can think of adults that have done very well based largely on their social skills (social intelligence) rather than IQ ... but then again maybe they are just the most visible success stories - (Stephen Hawking is quite visible also!).

[Waiting_For_Godot]

I don't think their intelligence diminishes per se but that they stop learning at the rate they could learn. School and life get in the way. Reception to Year 2 was an academic waste of time for DS but having the stamina of a normal boy he would still be tired after going to school so there was no way I was then going to give him the work he didn't get at school. So whilst many (not all) were learning he learnt virtually nothing. It bothered me at the time but I'm old now so don't care anymore!

Socialising may also play a part, either because there are more interesting things to do at school - DS sees school as a social event - or bright kids often learn quickly that it is not good to achieve.

I do think the chess family have sacrificed too much for their son. Dad gave up his job and they really are hard up. Mum has to work all the time so is never around and his academic and social education is limited. And all for chess!