Just your thoughts and opinion on things.

Bottesini said:
Wanting the child not to be held back by peers. (Parents hoping to raise a prodigy.)
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hhhmmmm I don't think you can "hope" to raise a prodigy. The kid needs to be born a prodigy.
 
Jiro said:
hhhmmmm I don't think you can "hope" to raise a prodigy. The kid needs to be born a prodigy.
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:lol: I did not say it would work. "Hope springs eternal in the human breast." :D
 
I think gift can be developed. For example, my friend is gifted at languages, and many people consider me to be gifted at languages. But I have had many more opportunities to work on my languages, so I am more fluent in a larger number than her. However she and I both have the gift--but I got the chance to develop my further. Sorry I don't mean to brag I am just using that as an example.

The issue I have with parents trying to make a prodigy out of their kid is it sends the message "we'll only love you if you are exceptional." If the kid goes to the parents and asks to have the opportunity to develop his/her gift, that's another story. But this just reminds me of when I would have piano recitals and there would be parents there videotaping their four-year-old playing some technically complex Beethoven piece. All I could think was, love your child for who s/he is, not for what s/he does!
 
Nika said:
Sometimes their kids need accommodations a school can't provide.
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exactly. some parents might choose to homeschool a child especially if they have a disorder such as ADHD and haven't been successful in the classroom.
sometimes the best environment for a child is at home out of the public school system.
 
Hear Again said:
exactly. giftedness cannot be developed. it is inate.
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I suppose that once the parents recognize the gift... they'll have to homeschool the kid to specifically nurture that gift. One could say that it is bad idea because in doing so - that kid will not be well-rounded but then... what prodigal person is ever well-rounded? I don't know if this is actually true for most but IMO - a prodigy tends to be asshole or exhibits an "elitist" attitude.

So I suppose the toughest job in raising a prodigy is to make him/her likeable and sociable.
 
Nika said:
this just reminds me of when I would have piano recitals and there would be parents there videotaping their four-year-old playing some technically complex Beethoven piece. All I could think was, love your child for who s/he is, not for what s/he does!
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this is yet another example of how some parents live vicariously through their children. it's sad, but true. having said that, it's not only parents of gifted children who do this -- parents of average children do this as well.
 
Byrdie714 said:
Parents were constantly travelling--so that is how we were homeschooled.
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How long? Have you ever attended to a public school or private school.

What are the pros and cons of homeschooling In your opinion?
 
There are definitely prodigies that are likable and sociable. The 18-year-old professor Alia Sabur comes to mind. Alia Sabur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia She is also slightly more well-rounded than the average prodigy. <laugh>

Maybe some parents want a child prodigy just so they can have a Wiki on their kid. <wink>
 
Hear Again said:
this is yet another example of how some parents live vicariously through their children. it's sad, but true. having said that, it's not only parents of gifted children who do this -- parents of average children do this as well.
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Good point.
 
Nika said:
I think gift can be developed. For example, my friend is gifted at languages, and many people consider me to be gifted at languages. But I have had many more opportunities to work on my languages, so I am more fluent in a larger number than her. However she and I both have the gift--but I got the chance to develop my further. Sorry I don't mean to brag I am just using that as an example.

The issue I have with parents trying to make a prodigy out of their kid is it sends the message "we'll only love you if you are exceptional." If the kid goes to the parents and asks to have the opportunity to develop his/her gift, that's another story. But this just reminds me of when I would have piano recitals and there would be parents there videotaping their four-year-old playing some technically complex Beethoven piece. All I could think was, love your child for who s/he is, not for what s/he does!
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I think "gifted" and "prodigy" are a complete world of difference. A lot of us are gifted in some ways... good at arts, speaking several languages, excelled in some subjects, etc. etc...

but the prodigy is the one who is internationally recognized for his/her gift and that is the one whose name lasts for a long time in the history book... and also have wikipedia information LOL
 
Jiro said:
I suppose that once the parents recognize the gift... they'll have to homeschool the kid to specifically nurture that gift. One could say that it is bad idea because in doing so - that kid will not be well-rounded but then... what prodigal person is ever well-rounded? I don't know if this is actually true for most but IMO - a prodigy tends to be asshole or exhibits an "elitist" attitude.

So I suppose the toughest job in raising a prodigy is to make him/her likeable and sociable.
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one of the reasons why some prodigies are not well-rounded people with other interests is because they tend to place so much emphasis on whatever it is they are gifted at.

i believe giftedness can be nurtured, but it cannot be created. a child is either gifted or they are not.

furthermore, they may be gifted in one area or many. obviously this differs from one child to the next.

incidentally, many children with learning disabilities may have a lower i.q. in some areas, but they can demonstrate extraordinary abilities in others.

it has been said that some people with bipolar are gifted as well. many people with bipolar show an interest in art and/or writing and indicate that their level of creativity peaks (or they come up with the most creative ideas) when they are experiencing a manic episode. i know that holds true for me. i do some of my best writing (and brainstorming) when i'm manic.
 
Nika said:
There are definitely prodigies that are likable and sociable. The 18-year-old professor Alia Sabur comes to mind. She is also slightly more well-rounded than the average prodigy. <laugh>

Maybe some parents want a child prodigy just so they can have a Wiki on their kid. <wink>
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Does anyone see the purpose of this thread?

Please remove your link.
 
Jiro said:
but the prodigy is the one who is internationally recognized for his/her gift and that is the one whose name lasts for a long time in the history book... and also have wikipedia information LOL
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Even prodigies have to practice a lot. For example, Bill Gates had more than 10,000 hours of practice with writing programs before he started Microsoft. The Beatles practiced more than 10,000 hours in Hamburg, Germany, which helped them being much better at playing together. There's no question prodigies have innate ability, but they also put in a lot of hours of hard work and practice.

I was just using my example with languages to show that excelling in something is a combination of innate ability, opportunity, and work. I agree with you that being gifted and being a prodigy aren't the same thing.
 
Babyblue said:
Does anyone see the purpose of this thread?

Please remove your link.
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Yes. I posted the link for people who have no idea who Alia Sabur is. I didn't both with Bill Gates and The Beatles since they are much more widely known.
 
Babyblue said:
Does anyone see the purpose of this thread?

Please remove your link.
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I see the point!!!!

I have the opinion that a Wiki link does not count as a substantiated source, so should be allowed as just opinion.:P
 
in my opinion, being a prodigy and being gifted are synonymous. both define a person who demonstrates extroardinary or great ability.
 
Nika said:
Even prodigies have to practice a lot. For example, Bill Gates had more than 10,000 hours of practice with writing programs before he started Microsoft. The Beatles practiced more than 10,000 hours in Hamburg, Germany, which helped them being much better at playing together. There's no question prodigies have innate ability, but they also put in a lot of hours of hard work and practice.

I was just using my example with languages to show that excelling in something is a combination of innate ability, opportunity, and work. I agree with you that being gifted and being a prodigy aren't the same thing.
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yes of course. so do professional athletes, professional chess players, etc. That's why they are the best and famous. I suppose you could say Beatles and Bill Gates are the prodigies..... although I wouldn't say they are IMO. They are just very good at what they are doing because it affects people on conscious level. Beatles.... great music. Bill Gates..... you're using the computer program that he built.

To describe a prodigy - I'd say.... Albert Einstein... Bobby Fischer... John Nash... Daniel Tammet... Sadly enough - people don't appreciate them as much as Beatles and Bill Gates because it does not directly affect them even though it does. If it ain't something like a music or WinXP or iPhone that they can use... they don't care.
 
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