Can You Teach Children Too Much Too Early?

[ukanonymous]

I was babysitting the other night and I taught my 6 yr old nephew his 2-5 times table and taught him how to do basic algebra. He seamed to enjoy it anyway but my sister wasn't happy as she thinks learning too much at an early stage is bad for development as they will not listen at school. I guess they are her kids but I don't agree. What do you think?

[Zacs-Master]

Shame that PP. not much call on here for maths.

[DaisyNonna]

Learned to read at 3
Lousy at maths
Run out of room for books but can calculate where another book case might fit

[Svejk]

Lol, zacs.

[Peter Pedant]

// All 'kids' are natural mathematicians!//

erm I hadnt noticed actually

as for the fish and chip question
does any one remember : if two men dig a hole and a half in three days how many sweaters can their wives knit in a week ?

[Zacs-Master]

My life is complete. I've made svejky laugh. ;-)

[Peter Pedant]

// she's in the States, Peter - if the choice of Oxbridge, it would probably come down if she was going pure or applied......//

you surprise me ... I thought they didnt do calculus or mathemathical induction at secondary school there, but they have far more taster courses at uni for the bright kidz which havent really caught on here

[DTCwordfan]

depending on the State, some of them have excellent accelerated courses for bright kids....you do the same course as the others (you may be asked to provide coaching assistance) and then they will pair you up with someone to push you with projects for whatever. For example, if you are a mathematician or physicist, you may find yourself working on a NASA project in Florida or Texas.... if you are a historian, then alongside a well-known author on research projects. They are far better at nurturing talent - and I am talking the state system, not private education - yes, it isn't consistent between the States but in the better ones, it's pretty consistent across the state and wealth doesn

[DTCwordfan]

depending on the State, some of them have excellent accelerated courses for bright kids....you do the same course as the others (you may be asked to provide coaching assistance) and then they will pair you up with someone to push you with projects for whatever. For example, if you are a mathematician or physicist, you may find yourself working on a NASA project in Florida or Texas.... if you are a historian, then alongside a well-known author on research projects. They are far better at nurturing talent - and I am talking the state system, not private education - yes, it isn't consistent between the States but in the better ones, it's pretty consistent across the state and wealth doesn't come into it.

[Zacs-Master]

No IT skills then?

[DTCwordfan]

Ultimately, it depends on the child and encouragement without ramming it down their necks - we had that with my ex, whose mother wanted her to go to music school for harp....she objected and went her own way on that front, concentrating on piano which she played for love, vowing never to play harp until the day her mater dies...in many ways, such a shame but one can understand the bullying.

[Togo]

((// All 'kids' are natural mathematicians!//))

PP you try sharing sweets out or cutting a cake or pizza for a group of 'kids', they know. That is geometry covered as well.

[Peter Pedant]

in the slum area I live in manchester
they tried an accelerated course
but of course the kids didnt wish to be picked out in front of their peers and accelerated meant anyone who didnt think a leaving school job was selling stolen CDs on a street corner

one kid refused to do it as it was too dangerous to walk home after school hours in the dark ..... this kid wants to do ancient history at uni
Christ why dont you do Math or Law I said ?

[Zacs-Master]

Probably set him a bad example (?)

[Peter Pedant]

Togo
You know there is a Pancake Theorem - there is also a second pancake theorem.

[two pizza on a plane - you can with one cut cut both of them exactly in half ]
Yeah you do and you teach math

[Zacs-Master]

Anybody....no? Me neither.

[Peter Pedant]

/// Probably set him a bad example (?)//

hahaha O god you dont know the true situation ..... I might even print out your comment and show him ......

erm seriously no - ancient history was a bit of a non starter when i was at uni in the seventies and hasnt got better. You know if you are gonna fork out £27k on a uni education you sort of need an ability to express yourself ( English my weak subject ) and something that will sell yourself ( USP ).

[Peter Pedant]

no nobody ? not even Togo

because no one can access wiki - what nobody ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ham_sandwich_theorem

pancake theorem points to that

and like Mama erm it was an attempt at humour
O god lets get back to the daily staple diet of 'muslims degenerates are setting fire to school age girls' that Zax can understand and loves contributing to

[cupotee2]

**You were right to communicate with nephew as invited. The communication led to maths of which the nephew was unaware as he was not in school. There is no difference in singing 5x5 table and 3 blind mice, both are merely songs. Your nephew has a bond with you that his mother should appreciate.**

Absolutely ukanonymous. Its lovely that you want to spend time with your nephew. Keep up the good work is my advice, without falling out with your sister of course.

[DTCwordfan]

Peter, here is one of the most amazing schools that I have ever come across....in the public sector (state) but it does attract enormous donations because of its mission and ethos....bringing together the very bright and talented and mixing them with the really needy. The place is amazing and there's no flies on the intellectually bright - they go out of their way to help..... a friend's Dad was one of the original supporters.....

If it had been me, mine would have gone here in retrospect.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._H._Rogers_School

[Zacs-Master]

Cheeky boy PP. I understand far more than that and well you know. I just don't understand people bragging about intelligence but not having any communication skills. Still, I suppose Oxbridge is full of them.