Challenged by my son's brain

[onthefly]

DS has always been very interested in the world around him and how everything works - millions of questions and non-stop chatter and play, etc. But in the past few weeks he's really gone into hyperdrive. He's asking much 'bigger' questions, and everyday inventing some new machine, or drawing up plans or maps, or building something.... So now I'm wondering if I need to offer him some new stimuli. He is pretty good at amusing himself, but I just sense that he needs more right now. I wish he could read!
Anyway, I don't like to direct his activities and in any case he likes to do his own thing, but he's frustrated and angry a lot, too. School has been keeping him entertained a few days a week, but more recently he's been talking about how he's looking forward to pre-primary next year as they'll have different things to do (he's bored with kindy, I think).

He's not into sports, really. He needs a science geek club for 4 year olds. Do such things exist? My mum suggested there might be a gap in the market for me to start a business. HA!

[LimeSlice]

Sorry, am FAKing...

Scitech?

[onthefly]

yeah, I thought I might try taking him there some time. It's quite a hike from here, unfortunately, though the train ride is always fun.

[Epacris]

Is he into Lego yet? I just think Lego is so brilliant because you can follow the instructions if you want OR do imaginative free building stuff too.

[onthefly]

yeah, he has lego and enjoys it. Does not follow the instructions! (which are all lost anyway, along with many of the fiddly little bits)

[LimeSlice]

Would he have a go at model aeroplane building? Basic circuitry or Meccano - there are some pretty coo ones these days.
He sounds like he may have the aptitude for it, and the processes and structure may appeal to him if he likes invention and design....

Have you maybe considered have him assessed for giftedness?

[LuluHB]

Have you seen the ABC Reading Eggs program? My kids do it through school - light intro in kindy and then they get stuck into it in pre-primary. Might be something else to stimulate/challenge him.

I get truly baffled by some of the questions the girls ask me. The educational toy stores also have great games that are fun, but more stimulating than just the normal trouble, bingo etc

[onthefly]

He really hates structured activities. The questions really are nuts, hey?
But now I remember we have an old meccano-type set at my parents. Might see if he's interested. He'll probably want to dig the driveway up again and/or work on his gold mine/concrete factory.
My parents bought him a couple of little kiddy model planes which he put together. But then he wanted to use parts from both to make a totally new plane. Unfortunately the slots didn't line up so they weren't compatible.
His enthusiasm and creativity often exceed his ability to actually do stuff, which is a real problem.
Thanks for all the suggestions

[~clover~]

Is he interested in learning to read?
My cousin was similar as a kid. Lego was an obsession. He was a very bright kid (one of the highest IQ's in Aust). The only thing he really did at that age was lego & learning to read & write etc. I remember he was much better at maths though. He was learning grade 7 maths at 7... So maybe learning to read & some basic maths? I only suggest that because his mind sounds like it works almost exactly the same as my cousin.
He was pulling toys apart about that age, because he wanted to know how they worked. His mum was going to give him her car to pull apart when she finished with it, just so he had something new to do!
He was an only child & home schooled. So his mother had all the time in the world to put all her energy into him & his interests exclusively.

[Artechim]

My DS is like this. My DS does best when he has a current interest, something that absorbs his mind for a few weeks or months. Then he moves on from it and his behaviour deteriorates

Reading Eggs is a good suggestion. My DS wanted to read when he was 4 so I subscribed to reading eggs. He spent hours a day doing it, so much that I was begging him to stop and go outside lol. After 6 weeks he had taken himself from about a dozen sight words to reading at end of G1 level. Then he dumped it and moved on to the next thing.
He did similar when he wanted to write - copied the alphabet and realised he could do all the letters and then started writing massive amounts of notes etc. He is also fond of drawing maps.

Do you have some old electronics? DS loves to take stuff apart and see what is inside.

In NZ we have One Day School, where kids can go one day per week outside of their normal school class and spend time doing more advanced stuff with kids more like them. There are none in my area so we can't do it, but there may be something similar where you are?

I am surprised there is no sticky thread or something for parents of gifted kids. One in 50 kids are gifted and there can certainly be a fair bit of challenge in their behaviour and keeping them stimulated.

[Frangipani Lou]

Your DS sounds like a really switched on child :-) the kind of child I'd always enjoy having in my kindergarten :-)
In Melbourne we have a place that recycles office and manufacturing off cuts and bits and pieces. Everything from electrical cable to timber and containers. It's called 'reverse art truck' and the other place is 'resource rescue'.
I wonder if there is something like that near you?? I think resource rescue delivers. Some tips also recycle bits and pieces and could be another option.
Giving him lots of bits and pieces would continue to challenge his creative inventive brain and is unstructured enough not to put him off. Frustration is a normal part of some children's learning.
There are some great factual books around that would also feed his enquiring mind but I can't thing of the name of them! If I do I'll come back and add the info.

[loulabelle]

Your DS sounds like a really switched on child :-) the kind of child I'd always enjoy having in my kindergarten :-)
In Melbourne we have a place that recycles office and manufacturing off cuts and bits and pieces. Everything from electrical cable to timber and containers. It's called 'reverse art truck' and the other place is 'resource rescue'.
I wonder if there is something like that near you?? I think resource rescue delivers. Some tips also recycle bits and pieces and could be another option.
Giving him lots of bits and pieces would continue to challenge his creative inventive brain and is unstructured enough not to put him off. Frustration is a normal part of some children's learning.
There are some great factual books around that would also feed his enquiring mind but I can't thing of the name of them! If I do I'll come back and add the info.

REmida is Perth's version of this.

[onthefly]

oh yes, he always gets non-fiction books from the library these days. And he loves drawing maps and plans.
While he has a blossoming interest in reading and writing, he wouldn't be interested in doing set activities like that. The emphasis on learning the alphabet & sounds and writing practice at kindy are the things he complains about most. He enjoys play writing and drawing on his own terms. He isn't able to replicate what he sees, yet, though, which is a source of frustration for him and I think the reason he only ever scribbled till he started at kindy. We do do math, as that fits in with everyday life a little easier. He can do basic addition and subtraction but hasn't shown much interest in doing anything more than that. Will see.

I like the sound of that remida thing! I shall look into it.
He learnt to use a phillips head screw driver quite some time ago. For a while I kept finding screws all over the place and he tried to take apart a few of his toys to see how they worked. He promised to put tem back together - but being 2.5 he didn't do a very good job of it

[MantaRay]

You'll probably find he hates repetition. Letting him work on things he's interested in at his own pace is a good idea. You're doing a great job.

Art, it has been discussed before but hasn't gone ahead for various reasons. There are various forums around the country that are dedicated to parents of gifted kids so they are probably a better bet. I have the link to a good one in Qld if you are interested.

[onthefly]

You'll probably find he hates repetition. Letting him work on things he's interested in at his own pace is a good idea.

Yes, he does. And yes, there's no other way with my son!

[Epacris]

Oh yes, FrangipaniLou and Artechim, great idea. Get some small electrical items, preferably already broken, like toasters, kettles, video players, old computer equipment, that sort of thing, cut the plug off so he’s not tempted to plug them in, give him a set or screwdrivers and some pliers and just let him take them apart. Hours of fun!

[~clover~]

Actually, thats an awesome idea for any boy! I'm going to do the same for DS.

[Artechim]

I just remembered today about the electronic brain box (google) which has snap together connectors to make circuits. My DS spent hours and hours playing with it making circuits from the book or of his own design.

Also, do you have a local toy library? They will often have an educational section with thinking games etc that can be good.

My DS sounds similar to your in the stubborn stakes. I have been accused of hothousing a time or two because he is reading so early, but there is absolutely no way that you could teach anything to that kid if he didn't want to know it, just like you can't stop him if there is something he wants to learn.