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I have two sons, 14 Borderline Autistic (Aspergers)
11 Normal with IQ way above average
I am a professional, but structure my hours to be home with them as the older one responds better to me than to his mom
The younger one is coming up now with questions about science and physics that I cannot answer....possibly no one can.
He reads Michio Kaku books for fun...and loves them.
And I love the challenge. I thrive on it at times.
Listen, I am not impressed any longer by really smart people.
I mean, I am glad my son is obviously smart, but knowing a lot of really smart (genius level and gifted, etc) people in my life and being one, I have lived long enough now to see that it's what you do with all your smartypantsness that makes the difference.
I have friends who scored perfect 1600s on their SATs (this was back in the early 90s when 1600 was the max score) or aced AP test after AP test who basically don't really use their brilliance as adults and/or make really crappy life decisions despite their intellectual advantages.
Of course, most of them have good or decent jobs (myself included), but some of the most financially successful people from my high school and middle school years were middle-of-the-pack types who were just scrappy and business savvy.
You can succeed either way, and I figure you're still more likely to do so if you're above average in terms of intelligence, but it's certainly not the end-all be-all I used to think it was.
So I will teach my son that it's great to be smart and all that, but it's hard work, networking, imagination, perseverance, etc, that make the biggest difference in life.
Yeah, I wouldn't make a big deal about your son's IQ. You do realize that practically everyone at any decent college has "way above average" IQ scores, right? And then there are plenty of high IQ types delivering pizza as well. Better that he feels a little behind at times, so he knows he has to work hard to accomplish something, rather than get kudos for acing a meaningless test. Make him learn the piano or something that will be an endless challenge to him--and make him practice.
Some of these responses seem really negative - what I drew from the OP is that his bright son is also intellectually curious, which is a great quality and something to encourage in all children, not just those with high IQs. So - take him to the library, to the science museum, get him involved in the outdoor world (science camp - see Tremont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park), and so on.
It's also great that both boys turn to their dad for assistance. Good father-son bonding opportunity.
Actually, all the suggested activities also would serve the older son very well. If his interests are not scientific, then use the same techniques to encourage him to learn more about whatever does interest him.
It's not uncommon for kids with Asperger's to go really deep into their own special interests.
Getting kids excited about learning more about the topics of their own choice outside of the classroom is often far more important than is innate intelligence, in terms of positive life-long impact.
Some of these responses seem really negative - what I drew from the OP is that his bright son is also intellectually curious, which is a great quality and something to encourage in all children, not just those with high IQs. So - take him to the library, to the science museum, get him involved in the outdoor world (science camp - see Tremont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park), and so on.
It's also great that both boys turn to their dad for assistance. Good father-son bonding opportunity.
Actually, all the suggested activities also would serve the older son very well. If his interests are not scientific, then use the same techniques to encourage him to learn more about whatever does interest him.
It's not uncommon for kids with Asperger's to go really deep into their own special interests.
Getting kids excited about learning more about the topics of their own choice outside of the classroom is often far more important than is innate intelligence, in terms of positive life-long impact.
Thanks. I have kind of ignored the negative responses and I apprecieate your insights. No real question, just self discovery, I love challenges and having a kid pick my brain about answers I do not know encourages me to learn more along with him.
My older son has had, in typical fashion, clusters of interests that change throughout his life. Right now, he is into airplanes, wants to be an aeronautical engineer a well as to get his pilot's license. Just for fun, I bought him a ground school study book off amazon, I ma giving it to him as one of his Christmas presents. We will see how he does reading that. If he can pass ground school, well, maybe that will show me that he can stick with things.
We bought a membership in the local science museum and that is money well spent each time we go. I encourage question asking, exploring, and learning though experience.......all things my parents did not really do, but things that I think a good parent should do.....Curiosity should never be stifled.
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