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?
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
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
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.
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.
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