TD, I would say be guided by your DS. I think some children need constant stimulation and challenges and others don't do well with too much activity. See how he is responding to things and take it from there. I would also say by that age that you could probably start asking him about whether or not he wants to do things. GL, I hope you find the balance that works for him.
Sounds like you have a very bright young boy on your hands!!!
One of the things I would suggest is ensuring that you are balancing up the 'intellectual' stimulation with 'social/emotional' stimulation.
I work alot with very bright children who struggle socially. I'm not sure if this is your little boy, and I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, but I think it's really important when you have a bright child to make sure that you aren't 'watering and nurturing just one part of the garden'.
If possible, I would encourage you to find some way to organise informal play overs where he is just hanging out with other kids. Perhaps have a play over 1x fortnight.
Social/emotional development is incredibly important. There's a great book called "emotional intelligence" by Daniel Goleman which you may find interesting to read.
Anyway...again, I hope I haven't spoken (written) out of turn...and I wish you all the very best.
With regards to school work his teachers will give him harder work if they feel its needed, they are the professionals and will know what he is capable of and teach accordingly.
MantaRay - i do ask him as to what he wants to do and he says nothing or shakes his head as he finds watching Ben10 more exciting. We found a private tutor who will teach him Spanish and now he doesn't want to do it. I offered to sit in the tutoring with him and that we could both learn Spanish, which has he kind of accepted. He just wants to do nothing after school!
I, growing up was not given the opportunity to do extra activities as my parents did not speak English that well to enrol me in things like that. I guess in a way, i want him to offer him the things that my hubby and i missed out on.
Monnie- i will definitely seek out that book you recommended. I truly agree with your comment about not watering only one section of the garden, but that section is the part that flourishes with Devrim. As you said, i don't want him to be a hermit or a recluse or be bright but not be social at the same time. He loves playing with his friends at school and i guess i should have more playtime with his friends on a regular basis outside of school.
We were going to have his IQ tested but was told not to do it and to let him be a kid. If you spoke to him and heard his responses you would not believe that he was only 6. He had to sit an entrance exam to be able to enter into his school and he got 80% on a grade 2 test when he was 5, then. I want him to be stimulated all the time!
Mrsmac - the school does not want him to be lifted to grade 3 as they think that he is not socially ready and would be picked on by the older kids, who would be then 3-4 years older than he is. I go to the bookshops and buy homework books which we do together in the evening after his regular homework.
What about scouts? Do you have a local branch?
Or he might enjoy chess - lots of children do.
Maybe he could do some volunteering - visit the local old people's home.
Does he have a bicycle?
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