Asynchronous 3 yr. old

[The artist]

Testing begins this month for my almost 4 year old, so I don't have anything official. I've done all the research I can do, but giftedness is the only thing that seems to fit. He could be a poster child for asynchronous development, is very sensitive, throws frequent tantrums, and is perfectionistic. He also has an enormous vocabulary, can add four numbers together in his head, knew his alphabet before he was two, that sort of thing. When he was 2.5 he insisted on being a battery for Halloween, and for Christmas this year he wanted a rainbow assortment of feather boas.

I had to pull him out of preschool because of his temper tantrums. The public school system is providing us with free services and testing now, and we have meetings with several specialists lined up. The psychologist tells me he's "fascinating." His gross motor development and behavior is more like that of a 2 year old, but academically he's about 6 or 7. He can't use a fork well, ride a tricycle, hop, or catch a ball. Yesterday he drew and painted me a lovely picture of the solar system and we had a long discussion on the planets.

We only have the one DS. I didn't know parenting was going to be this hard. I'll be glad to have some answers soon, and if his tests reveal he's not gifted then I'll let you know what this ends up being. Personally, I think adults who are jealous of other's gifted offspring need to know more about it. The time and energy involved. Having to watch the other kids on the playground shun your little one because he's different. I love my son so much, but it isn't all roses to be gifted.

I'm not fantastically smart or anything, but I have an artistic gift.

[loraxc]

Welcome. I think you will find this board a helpful resource. I love that your son wanted to be a battery for Halloween. My DD usually asks to be odd things for Halloween--snail, hummingbird, and rainbow have been among my favorites. I don't sew, so we've had to outsource to friends who do--you really can't buy a snail costume!

[AllisonR]

Nearly off-topic ramblings. Loved your thread OP. A battery - what a wonderful costume. Your DS sounds adorable. When my DS was 4, he wanted us to be the weather for halloween. He drew all our outfits - he was a rainbow, DH was a cloud, I was the sun, and DD was - well, I don't remember, except she was only 2 then and did NOT want to be part of the weather, so she was a butterfly instead. I made all the outfits and we had a blast. Then again, I was a Q-tip/tampon one year at Art School in NYC - so costumes must be in our gene pool.  Maybe it is the artist types that like halloween? 

[The artist]

:) AllisonR - any excuse to be creative, too. My garden gets prettier every year in direct proportion to how difficult it is to keep DS entertained during the previous winter. LOL.

BTW, Does anyone know of any computer software/online games besides PBS, Disney, Nick Jr, Star Fall, or JumpStart? He's starting to get bored with them. I shouldn't have introduced him to them in August...oops.

:) Loraxc - TY for the welcome! Yeah, I do all my sewing with glue or by hand - never learned how to use a machine. (Our battery was all glued and stapled! ;)

[kittykat2481]

Originally Posted by AllisonR 

Nearly off-topic ramblings. Loved your thread OP. A battery - what a wonderful costume. Your DS sounds adorable. When my DS was 4, he wanted us to be the weather for halloween. He drew all our outfits - he was a rainbow, DH was a cloud, I was the sun, and DD was - well, I don't remember, except she was only 2 then and did NOT want to be part of the weather, so she was a butterfly instead. I made all the outfits and we had a blast. Then again, I was a Q-tip/tampon one year at Art School in NYC - so costumes must be in our gene pool.  Maybe it is the artist types that like halloween? 

Ha! This made me think of DS. All he wanted from Santa this year was a hot air balloon. Anytime anyone asked him what he wanted for Christmas, that's what he asked for. :p