Hi, I’m new to the group.

I’m a little concerned that my 4 year old is having some trouble focusing and I was wondering if I should get him tested. Dashiell is a bright, sweet and curious little boy, but it took me the better part of three whole days to get him to focus and learn the Russian alphabet (“I’m finishing my RFK sculpture! Leave me alone!”). Ugh – very frustrating.  Also, he used to sit and read fiction on his bed for entire afternoons, but now he says he’s bored with fiction and only wants to read the poems of Dylan Thomas. 

Is it normal for a 4 year old to take so long to learn the Russian alphabet? Are other kids his age getting bored with fiction already?

This is all very distressing. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Claire

Hi Claire,

I would definitely be concerned.

For my son’s 3^rd birthday, I gave him a choice of presents. He could either spend the day learning Mandarin or finish his novel. Beckett being Beckett – he chose both. And it was not difficult to get him to focus.

Maybe the problem is the type of books you are giving your son? Like I said, Beckett is a full year younger than your son and, just last weekend, he read Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington. Now he’s reading Faulkner’s short stories (A Rose For Emily is his favorite). If you’re giving your son books meant for a 2-year-old, then of course he’s going to be bored.

Also, maybe you should consider teaching him something more useful than Russian?

My brother-in-law is a child psychologist at Stanford who specializes in problem children. I would be more than happy to put you two in touch when he gets back from climbing Everest.

Good luck!

Rachel

Hi Claire,

I can’t imagine having a son with developmental delays. It must be very challenging. I’m so sorry. I would suggest having him evaluated right away. 

I feel terrible for you.

Good luck!!!!

Mary Catherine

Claire,

We were concerned about Jasper just after he turned 2. At the time, he was having difficulty learning Japanese and French at the same time, sometimes combining the two languages when he spoke. Initially, we thought the problem was that one of his nannies only spoke Japanese, the other only spoke French, but neither one spoke both (long story). Anyway, we decided to have him evaluated by a family friend at Harvard and, much to our surprise, were told that he is gifted (can you believe it?). We hadn’t considered that he might be gifted, largely because his older brother Finnegan had effortlessly learned all of his languages by the same age.

We successfully adjusted our teaching methods to fit his gifted learning style and have decided to move on to Latin while we’re in Nantucket this summer.

It doesn’t sound like your son is gifted at all so I’m not sure this is much help.

Good luck!!!!!

Robyn 

Claire,

I think that instead of being bored with the books you're giving him, he probably just finds them too difficult. I don't know anything about low IQ children (my daughter is two and has been writing for The Economist since last year. Her focus is mainly the oil market and Middle East politics, but she's also written about clean coal technology and Michelle Bachelet's response to the student protests in Chile), but it only seems logical that you shouldn't give him anything but very, very simple books. Maybe have him read Toni Morrison or Salmon Rushdie? That might be more his level. 

Ava's sonata is finished and she's insisting that I come hear it.

Gotta run!

Good luck!!!!! 

Whitney 

Hi Claire,

Your son is definitely delayed.

Good luck!!!!!

Allison

Santa Monica, CA (north of Montana Ave)