Should we compromise with our children?

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Hi,
Year 2005 is about to go by and our children have grown miraculously before our eyes. For many of us, we would be thankful when we count our blessings. For those who are struggling, they can be thankful too and acknowledge their 'blessings'.

Be thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

~ Author Unknown ~

As all of us will be having a Christmas holiday, so there will be no newsletter for the Christmas day. I will see you next year!

p/s: Btw, if you want to give your kids a surprise Christmas gift, you can consider a personalized letter from Santa. Find out more here!

Please visit our sponsor ad web site below. Thanks to our sponsor for keeping this a free newsletter.

Q1: I am concerned that my gifted son will become bipolar. The reason is his father is bipolar. My son is 6 years old with an IQ of 140. He is already showing signs of moodiness and being a perfectionist. He is very sensitive and sometimes withdraws. Otherwise he can become silly and hyper.

I am also concerned that if he has a psych evaluation and needs medicines, this would cloud his thinking for school. Any suggestions on which way to go with this?

Q2: I have two boys, ages 6 and 2. The 6-year old was identified as highly gifted (profoundly gifted in math) a couple of years ago. Ever since he was born, he has exhibited quite a few classic signs of being EXTREMELY smart and well-developed. Here's my question; since my 6-year old was my first, I don't think I'm accurately assessing the skills or abilities of my 2 year old. He's definitely not the same kid, and doesn't excel in the same areas, but has his own talents. How do I know whether he is just kind of bright but pretty average, or actually gifted?

Q3: My four year old son is always bored. He has a huge vocabulary and was talking very clearly by age 1.5. He understands complex and abstract ideas, he can formulate his own theories and run with ideas, he learns and understands explanations very quickly. I am at a loss with how to encourage and motivate him.

Q4: My child is 3.5 years old and is highly intelligent, he can speak sentences, however has difficultly with questions like "How was your day?" "Did you eat your lunch today?" "Did you take a nap?" "How did you get hurt?". He does great with questions like "what is this" "How many are there". He has a remarkable memory. The day care thinks he is autistic and he is rejected by his peers. I'm worried sick is he gifted and/or autistic and/or hyperlexic and/or OCD and/or hyperactive or is he just a normal 3 year old?

Deluxe Wooden Train Table with 100 Piece Train Set and 2 Storage Draws
* Imaginarium
* Recommended age: 4 - 6 years

Generations of children have been mesmerized by train sets. Now it's your kids' turn to get on board and let it carry them thousands of imaginary journeys around the lake and over the bridge, through the bustling town, out to the airport, back to the roundhouse, past the runway, next to the tram stop, under the helipad and across the road! Imaginations never stop with 100 durable, inspiring pieces, all designed to fit on this deluxe wooden train table with dual storage. This train table is made with a durable melamine surface that's scratch resistant and easy to clean.

Baby Einstein Caterpillar Discover & Play Activity Center
* Graco
* Recommended age: Birth - 2 years

There are at least 8 stimulating toys within hands' reach with this latest Baby Einstein creation, together offering enough interest and diversity to teach new colors, textures, shapes, musical scores, realistic animal depictions and sounds, and a bevy of bilingual words.

Low growth hormone level linked to lower IQ
BBC News Nov 29, 2005

If a child has a low growth hormone level he or she may have a lower IQ than a normal baby, says a study. Scientists have already found that low birth weight babies develop more slowly, reaching development milestones later and having slightly lower IQs than normal weight babies.

Parent-Child Connection Shapes Brain
ABCNews.com Dec 5, 2005

Allan Schore, a leading neuroscientist at the University of California, Los Angeles' Center for Culture, Brain, and Development, points out that the parent-child connection during a child's first year can not only affect a child's psychological state, it actually plays a role in physically shaping the brain.

Dyslexic children use nearly five times the brain area
uwnews.org Dec 2, 2005

Dyslexic children use nearly five times the brain area as normal children while performing a simple language task, according to a new study by an interdisciplinary team of University of Washington researchers. The study shows for the first time that there are chemical differences in the brain function of dyslexic and non-dyslexic children.

Can kids' brains be trained to pay attention?
msnbc.com Nov 30, 2005

The use of special computer games to train their brains improved healthy youngsters' ability to pay attention, scientists reported Monday. It's not clear just how much the games helped, other specialists cautioned. But with booming interest in developing therapies for attention problems, the research sheds light on how a normal youngster’s brain pays attention in the first place.

Bilingual at a young age
charlotte.com Nov 28, 2005

Center for Applied Linguistics, a Washington D.C.-based national research and language training organization, cites studies that show a child's brain is more open to linguistic development than adults. And it suggests that children who learn another language often are more creative and better at solving complex problems.

Toys that Teach: Which toys are the most educational?
Miami Herald Nov 26, 2005

Many child psychologists and development experts say that parents may be pinning misguided hope on fancy labels. Young children can learn as much from regular toys and everyday objects -- shoe boxes and car keys, for instance -- as more expensive specialized playthings.

Scientists: Gene may affect IQ in males
Seattle Times Dec 4, 2005

Scientists in North Carolina say they have identified a gene that affects IQ, a finding that, if confirmed, would be a significant step toward understanding the genetic basis for intelligence.

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