arndt@lymph.DEC (11/08/84)
Mike, have you ever considered that the kid may be TELLING you what to call the objects rather than ASKING you what they are called??? If he wants to call everything "whoz-at" you may be in trouble. Kids, once they get an idea into their little heads, can be pretty hard nosed about' things. By all means go with the flow and answer his questions. I am a firm believer in not talking DOWN to kids. I talk to mine even when they cannot understand everything said. (Like my dog, they love the sound of my voice. - I do too.) The important thing is to give the kid some slack as he grows and not press him to excel all the time. How many bright people have been shipwrecked by driven parents. Parents are the last people we are emotionally able to tell ( in effect) to "piss off". One of the hardest adjustments for a "bright" child is to deal with the rest of the world who are not as quick and advantaged. It's a two-edged sword. It calls for compassion, understanding, and PATIENCE on the part of the "bright" child when dealing with others. There is a natural bent, given human nature, to give way to the dark underside of superiority. Kids are despotic enough without being able to outthink their peers, not to mention parents. With your and everyone else's permission I'll resubmit a piece for net.kids a while ago on superior kids. Regards, Ken Arndt