<p>Too vague of a question for me to answer, IP. It all depends on the circumstances.</p>
<p>IP dude, you seem upset by this whole thing.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I was not thinking about that part at all, but then …</p>
<p>You seem to have plenty of time on your hands and plenty of unique opinions about the business. I am sure you’d give the local SAT sweatshops a healthy dose of competition, and have the added benefit to understand the high-achieving culture of your extended community.</p>
<p>How about a hybrid model ranging from chess to piano classes with a sprinkle of USAMO/AIME? And, for good measure a pinch or two of Bollywood acting? For all, I know you could advertise via youtube videos? From Mazurka Op 68 to Pythagoras Theorem … sounds like a winner to me!</p>
<p>That sounds like a lot of work, xiggi. I am way too old for that.</p>
<p>PG, let’s say the kid wants to learn calculus at age 5, 10, 15. What would you do?</p>
<p>IP, how can you tell what a kid truly wants to do when he has an overly pushy parent who insists on hours of practice and indicates that certain choices will be met with strong parental disapproval?</p>
<p>Keep that aside for a moment, PG. Let’s say that there is true desire. Then what would you do? You are just avoiding the question.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s normal for a 5 yo to want to learn calculus, and my answer to the 10 yo would depend on whether learning calculus would preclude him from just enjoying being a young boy. The 15 yo, go for it.</p>
<p>If a kid takes an unusual interest in something at an early age, its unlikley anyone will say they shouldnt. Thats not the issue, IP.</p>
<p>So, what would you do? Not allow the kid to learn calculus if you believe there are other things to do by your priority? Sounds like an Asian parent to me.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t send mixed signals that it was up to the kid but kid, you’d better practice / drill for hours on end every day.</p>
<p>I know very well what you wouldn’t do. But what would you do? Can you please stop avoiding the question?</p>
<p>
I don’t think there is a fixed answer. It depends on the kid, and requires honest evaluation.</p>
<p>Whether I would make an effort to teach a pre-pubescent child something like calculus would require real introspection as to whether they actually possess the desire and aptitude, or are just parroting something daddy said.</p>
<p>IMO, many true geniuses, the type who would really benefit from calculus at a very early age(eg Wiener, Von Neumann or Ramanujan), are autodidactic to a certain extent. Especially in mathematics, language and music. Although they likely succeed best with tutors, they will find a way to learn these things almost regardless, and will be extremely unhappy if not allowed the opportunity. But these kids are pretty rare.</p>
<p>That’s my kid Bovertine.</p>
<p>
That’s nice.</p>
<p>Not mine. That’s nice too.</p>
<p>Not the genius part. The autodidact part.</p>
<p>Well, moat of us on CC are mereiy parents of normal-bright kids, so not sure what useful advice you will get from us.</p>
<p>Confused. If a child is self taught, then what is the issue with regard to “letting” them learn?</p>
<p>And wasn’t this thread about SAT guides?</p>
<p>You are still avoiding the question, PG. I don’t need advice from you. You criticized my parenting style. I am merely asking you what you do in my shoes. It is OK to say that you don’t know, and was just criticizing because I am taking a different path from you.</p>
<p>If a child really wants to learn, and learns well on their own, help them find and offer them the opportunities, resources, materials[ books, online classes, lessons,] that they want or ask for, and then get out of their way…
Support them in their intellectual pursuits, don’t try to make them into something that they are not capable of accomplishing on their own…
Above all, listen to THEM, not your neighbors, or other parents from school, or nosy relatives who don’t know your child as you do. When they are ready to move on to other areas of interest, let them…</p>
<p>this is what I did for my child- despite the fact that we lived across the street from a fine elementary school, I had him apply to go to a school for the gifted 15 miles away. Best thing I ever did… There he was not the weird kid, but was an intellectually advanced 6 year old who could discuss the Ort cloud with visiting astronomers and could follow his passions, with full support of both parents and teachers.
He was interested in music, [as well as more unusual areas of study from a young age] and continued his piano lessons well past the time when most adolescent boys were dropping piano and picking up guitar, cause it was “cooler”. He was the only “white boy” in a sea of Asians in his piano teachers advanced class. His interest in piano music developed into a competition with another, more musically gifted friend, around who could find the most obscure piano composers and their rarely played compositions… An intellectual pursuit to be sure, as he could not play most of those pieces, but it was HIS passion and interest, not mine…</p>
<p>PG has answered your questions, IP. Several times. In there something you are wanting/pushing her to say that she isn’t saying? Seems like you are looking for the response you posted in #238. She has a different way of wording her response. I hope thats ok with you.</p>
<p>I guess we arent talking about college prep books any more…</p>