Tough beginning to the school year for my crew. On the second day of official schooling my little Peanut had to go into the hospital. Followed by a brief stay in the hospital and days of back and forth to the dr. That Saturday the kids were so happy to all be back at the house we worked on school. The next Monday everyone was ready and eager to keep on working. This reminds me that taking the time to instill the joy of learning and excitement of new discoveries is so important.
While talking to another mom at a recent support group I found my thoughts being echoed in her questions. She is blessed with a child that is extremely advanced and she was struggling with how fast to move him up in grades. I too am facing that issue. My little one Smiley is reading far advanced from her age but her emotional understanding is much closer to her age.
The more I think of how to encourage and advance her material to match her ability, my thoughts come to what is an education? Is an education just a straight line march from one age/knowledge based level to another. A series of dots on a straight line that must be connected?
NO! Learning is more of a vibrant rainbow. It is a journey to a far off horizon. I hope to never get there, the journey is so much fun. Moving ever forward with a full vibrant learning experience. Staying on one subject or area of learning that interests our children should be encouraged! Those blessed with high intelligence should not be made to spin their wheels waiting for the rest of the class to catch up, nor should they be pushed so hard so fast they miss the subtlety and depth available to someone with keen observation and deductive skills.
I will encourage and provide material that increase my daughter’s abilities. Whether that is her reading or her emotional awareness of the world. As parents of child with exceptional skills we have a large responsibility but oh how great the rewards. The journey will be fun and fast paced, with unusual bumps.
After all the movers and shakers of our homes today will be the movers and shakers of the country in the future! Let’s raise them right and watch them soar!