First Children: More Exceptional? - Page 2

[EdnaMarie]

Interesting, because that's what we're seeing here.

Just wait until we get the second child poll. It might just be that a huge percentage of the children of MDC moms happen to be gifted. Frankly I do not think that even nearly 50% of most first children are gifted, because given the birth rate, that would be 15% of all children gifted, which sort of belies the notion of giftedness as exceptionality. So obviously there is some selection bias showing up in this survey.

What would be interesting is if the stats were different for second children.

[Justmee]

Both my twins have language delays, but twin A (Nechama) seems to have a more severe one (we are doing more testing next week). I'm pretty sure she has auditory stuff going on and some type of learning disabilities. She also has some minor physical delays (she couldn't jump at 2, got PT as a baby for weak muscle tone) but nothing too extra ordinary. She starts PT & OT whenever there is an appointment.

[cappuccinosmom]

Well, I do think my first (almost 5) has somewhat exceptional intelligence. He totally shocked me with his grasp of abstract concepts starting around age 13 months. He definately has exceptional verbal skills, and is doing first-grade math right now.

My next two though are still so young, I'm not sure I could say he is more exceptional than the others. Definately different strengths, though.

In my family, I am the oldest and I am *not* the more exceptional one. My brother (adopted) and one of my sisters are the two out of all four who would be considered gifted. Me and my youngest sister are smart , but those two sibs surpass us.

[pigpokey]

My daughter and son have very different personalities. My son tends to do "tricks" earlier though he is younger because he is very persistent and driven and she is quite a bit more conservative about physical safety. I think it will even out.

They are 15 months apart. My impression is that birth order is not as important in children that close.

[EdnaMarie]

Interesting, keep those votes coming. I would like to see us get to 200...

[Xoe]

Nak....My firstborn was tested and she's gifted. But we could kind of tell-- strangers were commenting on her vocabulary, and she started doing first grade work before she turned three. We aren't sure what the future holds for the second kid-- but dd2 was alert from birth and seems quicker than dd1 at this age. Still, who knows??? She may not have the ability to concentrate that her sister has, so only time will tell.

xoe

[EdnaMarie]

Thanks to all those who answered the poll. Just bumping one more time- maybe I can at least get 100 answers before posting the 2nd child poll.

Can you tell I've lowered my standards? Come on, ladies, just 25 more of you, you don't have to post...

[EdnaMarie]

Okay, is this stupid poll?

[flapjack]

I'm curious, actually. There is a huge gap between DS1 and DS2 in terms of attitude and attainment and I want to see if this is panned out in other families...

[EdnaMarie]

18 more! Just 18 more votes... please.

[Lymeade Lady]

I think both mine are gifted. It runs in the family though. The second says more profound things, but I think the difference is her expresssion of giftedness, based on personality. The first born is gifted, but doesn't take many risks, so she does do as many extraordinary things. She is reserved until she has a complete understanding of things. BUT she is more responsible and more of an achiever. It is definitely a first born characteristic to be more responsible, more of an achiever, and more of a perfectionist. And studies show there is a high chance of giftedness in a child if their sibling is gifted. Though I think the first born is more likely to be identified as gifted.

[acannon]

nak

My first is only 3 mo. and, although he's not old enough to get any kind of evaluation, he seems gifted, or at least advanced, to me. He's been saying "mmgee" when he's hungry since he was around a month old. I know I've heard him say mama and dada at least twice, but DP doesn't believe me. He's been squealing, jabbering and teething since two months old. He recently got coordinated enough to suck his thumb and he's been self-soothing. He rolled over both ways at two weeks old but doesn't do it anymore because we haven't had tummy time in awhile, and if we hold onto his hands while he's sitting, he can pull himself up to standing.

[springbabes]

My oldest has always been very physically adept but she isn't in any way academically gifted. She struggled in school to stay at grade level. My second child, though, would be in the gifted program if we were still doing public school. She was way ahead of her peers.

[JamesMama]

: I think James is fairly normal, but he's special to me. However, I've had him evaluated (a program that goes with WIC) and the nurse said he's really bright? I don't know, I don't have a ton of experience with 3 year olds...among my friends James is ahead of them in many aspects (or was more verbal when he was their age/knew more when he was their age for my friends kids that are younger than him, etc)

Aldria is too young to say either way.

[fairejour]

I find it odd that 35% of people answering selected "gifted". Wouldn't that be impossibe? Gifted by definition is rare, not average.

[sunnmama]

Originally Posted by fairejour

I find it odd that 35% of people answering selected "gifted". Wouldn't that be impossibe? Gifted by definition is rare, not average.

Actually, including the 6% who selected "twice exceptional", that is 41% gifted!

While that seems unlikely to me, it isn't impossible, as MDC isn't a random sample of the population (and the "parenting issues" board even more selective).

[velochic]

I only have 1 child, so she is first, middle and last... but for the most part, she seems to be on par with her peers. The school she goes to, though, required testing to get into and there were only 12 of 77 applicants that were accepted for her class, so perhaps her entire class is above the norm. She seems more "advanced" than her twin cousins who are 8 months older (and 2nd and 3rd children), however their parents are very apathetic about learning. I clicked "normal" because I don't see her as being gifted yet (she is only 6). Her father and I are both gifted... dh is profoundly.

I read recently that ~3% of the population is actually gifted... from mildly to profoundly (surprisingly enough a majority of that sampling are profoundly). Something like 65% of parents, however, think their kids are gifted.

[Lymeade Lady]

Originally Posted by fairejour

I find it odd that 35% of people answering selected "gifted". Wouldn't that be impossibe? Gifted by definition is rare, not average.

Actually I've noticed on message boards--I think it's the people who agree who tend to be the ones who are interested in the topic. So, those who have gifted kids, are more likely to open the thread in the first place.

Parents have shown to be good predictors of giftedness. But exceptional may be more broad a term that all parents think of. Who knows.

[katheek77]

I didn't vote yet, because I don't yet know if my daughter is gifted or not. She's only 20 mos. I am certified gifted (academically, I always maxed out the standardized tests, scored years ahead, did OM for years, etc). My husband is also very smart, but I don't know if he's gifted -he was somewhat...ahem...resistant to schooling. I suspect in a less traditional school setting, he would have been pegged as gifted in some aspect. So, she has a good chance of being gifted. We'll see - I'm probably not the most unbiased judge.

That said, she has Duane's Syndrome (she's missing a nerve in her left eye, so, it doesn't turn outward past midline - it makes it look like her RIGHT eye is crossed-but it's not).