Bad to push 5 year old on academics outside of school?

[Anonymous]

My dear OP,

Welcome to DCUM, where everyone's darling children are natural prodigies without ever having been prepped. Woe betide you if you dare to introduce interesting topics before they are taught in school, in this country where all schools are way behind compared to other developed countries! You will be descried as a despicable Tiger Parent, handed a scarlet TP, and publicly shunned.

OK, here's the real world: I have done workbooks with both my children when they were that age, for different reasons. My friends ALL did the same, for their private reasons.

1. My first was developmentally delayed and I started to add academic work to her already heavy therapy schedule, hoping it would get her mainstreamed into a general classroom, and also because I felt confusedly that she could follow and appreciate the concepts. Now at 10 she has been found to be both gifted and learning disabled. Due to her disabilities, I am convinced no one would have recognized her giftedness had I not done the groundwork at home. It has been truly life-changing for her to be appreciated at school, when before only I believed in her.

2. My second is a quick-witted math and music lover, and he demands activities in both those areas, so I happily oblige. He started his musical instrument when he was 3 and practices daily, and does his sister's math homework unless I provide other math work.

Only you can tell whether what you are doing is necessary and beneficial to your child! Sometimes it's only with the wisdom of hindsight that we can see our mistakes, or revel in our wise decisions.

So go ahead and do what you think is right.

[Anonymous]

At that age, I wanted my kids to enjoy learning. We never did worksheets but learned in more natural ways (measuring out a recipe, science projects, etc.). And, they had a lot of free time to play outside and follow their own creativity. Worked well for us.

[Anonymous]

We do lessons from Khan Academy at home to supplement. Do you think she might enjoy that more that worksheets?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to all for their helpful suggestions--truly! We are going to can the worksheets, because she's just not enjoying them, but incorporate math in other ways and through games. Every kid is different, so to each his own!

[Anonymous]

We play card games or board games every night after dinner. It is a fun family activity that lets all of us wind down after a long day.

[Anonymous]

You might also check out Peg + Cat. In addition to the show, there's a web site that might have some ideas for games or activities that incorporate math concepts.