[Oz-gifted] Oh, dear! Those Older Children!

[Matthew & Tracey Wood]

Hi Ellen,

When S asks questions we answer them honestly...It's always been our policy
to tell the truth and explain things our way rather than them hear things
from other kids, who often get it wrong and make up their own mind. S knew a
lot about sex by age 5...gifted kids pick up stuff early and tend to ask
questions. 

S read a "where did I come from" book in the school library when she was 4
so I had no choice but to talk to her about it...as she came home to tell me
she knew all about it :-) 

I know S hears a lot of swearing at school now...year 8's swear a lot....but
she's never sworn in my presence...unless you count "crap". She knows that
it's not acceptable in our house...but she probably does swear with her
friends.

We've prepared her well for the conversations she hears at school, because
we've always kept the communication lines open...I think that's the best way
of handling it,...but others may disagree. They are more likely to come to
you and ask the big questions if they know you will tell the truth.

Tracey



-----Original Message-----
From: oz-gifted-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
[mailto:oz-gifted-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au] On Behalf Of Ellen Hrebeniuk
Sent: Friday, 1 December 2006 7:48 PM
To: Oz-gifted mailing list
Subject: [Oz-gifted] Oh, dear! Those Older Children!

L is in Kindy and, over the last term or so, has managed to get 
involved in playing handball with a group of Year 6 boys.  When he 
first started talking about it, we just thought that kids started 
handball younger these days, but no.  His teacher tells me that it's 
unusual for a K child to join in the games -- if they are interested, 
they are graciously allowed to be ball-boys.  Somehow, L has managed 
to actualy get into the playing, followed by some of his other 
friends in his K/2 composite, and there is now an all-age tournament 
running at recess and lunch time.  Very nice.

Except when L announces to Daddy at bath-time, "When some of the Year 
Sixes miss the ball, they say 'F***!'"  Hubby told him it was an 
extremely rude word and he'd be in serious trouble if we heard him 
using it.  A few minutes later, "F***! -- Oops!"  Hubby is kinder 
than I am and told him that was his final warning.  <hand to 
forehead>  Those Evil Older Children are corrupting my little boy!

L is quite verbally gifted and sooner or later will ask us what That 
Word means (we don't swear).  Or something else, like rape.  How have 
other people dealt with such questions?  Furthermore, do parents of 
gifted children find themselves talking about sex to the kids earlier?
-- 
Ellen Hrebeniuk
Sydney, Australia

Being a librarian is how you change the world.
Nancy Pearl

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