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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]to OP, I'm 12:57 back - the second poster, adult member of Mensa, who didn't think much of Mensa.  When I checked into it for my Aspie daughter who qualified, there was nothing available for children's get-togethers - at least in our area.  You might want to check Facebook - some of the regional Mensa groups have pages and outings but I haven't participated.  Our local chapter is not active for children.

I hear what you are saying about wanting your child to find bright kids to play with but I truly don't think Mensa is the way to go about it.  I like 22:04's comments.  I wouldn't push.  Just provide enrichment.  Above all, don't give her a big head or make her think she is "special" above all other kids.  My I.Q. is 183 and I led a pretty normal child's life except that I taught myself to read at 2, which made public school boring for the first few years.  But I found things that interested me and learned that I excelled at school so gained confidence grade-by-grade that i was good at academics but my parents never told me that I was gifted or what my I.Q. was.  I had many many friends - from girls scouts and public school activites.  I gave three valedictorian speeches until finally beaten out out of the no. 1 slot at Harvard Law.  I think self-discovery is the best way to go.  I only recently learned that I have eidetic memory which explains a lot (you might want to research that re: your daughter - a lot of research work is being done in memory now).  Just give her the gift of time and enroll her in a bunch of fun summer courses, dance, art,  girl scouts, etc.  When she is older there will be too much homework so let her have some fun now and build self-confidence.  And make diverse friends.[/quote]

My concern is that she is not necessarily doing well in the classroom.  It's hard for me to actually tell.  The K teacher really challenged her and she loved school.  She warned us that 1st and 2nd were going to be challenging.  In 1st the teacher loved her at the beginning of the year, hated her by the middle of the year.  I got a ranting long email about how she's driving her crazy and she's basically failing 1st grade.  This was only after I emailed her to ask why she was getting sent to the reading corner for time outs so often - DD was delighted she got to read all day by herself.  Then in 2nd we are doing better but I can tell the teacher is annoyed wiht her disorganization, messy desk, asking too many questions, trying to continue classroom discussions forever and into way  more depth than planned and correcting the her.  My DD can't understand why it's wrong to correct the teacher if she is factually wrong or not clear on a subject.  She says she's just trying to have a conversation with the teacher about the subject.  While we explain it's rude and she should write her thoughs down and show it to the teacher later or just tell us about it she doesn't seem to get it and I really can't blame her.  She just lives in a world that she craves information as much as she likes sharing it.  From what little I've read there are different types of gifted personalities and while you sound more like the kind that figured out the system and makes it work for them, she's the kid that somewhat oblivious to the systems but slowly realizing it doesn't meet her needs or care about her.

This is why I'm so concerned.  [/quote]

Put her in AAP if she qualifies.

She does not need an academic peer group. If she is as smart as you say she is that will take care of itself.

She needs a social peer group, and an environment that gives her the opportunity to have as normal social development as possible when it matters the most. In my opinion, that time is late elementary school through middle school, when the skills on how to interact with others are really set.

If you don't get that part right it will not matter one iota what sort of mensa/cty/private enrishment you do for her.

My child tested far above the minimum required for AAP admittance.   At the age of your daughter he did many of the behaviors you are describing,  but with much better social awareness and a strong ability to make friends fortunately. AAP provides a broad enough sample of all sorts of kids that it mirrors a regular classroom. In addition, the AAP classroom has a disproportionate number of quirky stand out kids who might struggle socially. In AAP, they are not social outcasts. They are just one of the kids. There are enough of them there that they start to blend in, and as a result are able to find their footing socially. The AAP classroom allows them the have a peer group to develop friendships in a typical, normal manner, and at the slower pace and maturity that these kids seem to need.

That is why I think your daughter needs to consider AAP.  Kids go to school to learn to eventually become good citizens and functional adults.  Your daughter sounds like the place she is weakest is in her social development.  AaP will provide her a place where she can find enough kids who are similar to her so that she can take the time to effectively develop the social skills she desperately needs to, be fore it gets too late and you are dealing with isolation and depression in the teen years.

Your daughter does not need AAP for academics. She needs it for the peer group and the social development that having friends provides.[/quote]

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