My (formerly) intellectually gifted child.?

Question

Hello, I have would like to see some opinions. I think my kid (He's 16 now) showed strokes of genius as a child, but it was never nurtured. He was just treated like a normal kid, found school very boring, and now doesn't give any effort because of the fact that it isn't easy or interesting to him. Things brings me to my question: Is it too late for his brain to blossom? I mean, I have read different things, but MOST say that the brain is done growing by age 16. Did his talents go wasted? Or can he still learn and expand his mind, to prosperity?

Thanks and best,

Answer 1

It's not too late ... He needs to find something he likes and is good at ...  

Answer 2

It is never too late, why not nurture your child regardless and as far as a brain blossoming and stopping at age 16 sounds false, we learn as we go along and not until advanced age do we start to lose some brain power, and as long as one continually sharpens the mind they will retain function. I wish family would have nurtured my talents as a kid, they (parent) was too busy and now my mom regrets not paying more attention to us, so rather than regret it, start nurturing and offering your support or your child will coast and may become a slacker and later regret not trying harder.  

Answer 3

Regardless of when the brain stops physically getting larger, you're never too old or too smart to learn more.  It sounds like the problem here is laziness on your son's part.  Kids at sixteen tend to think they know a lot of stuff .  Kids at sixteen who DO know a lot of stuff tend to think they know it all.  If school is boring to him, make sure he's taking classes that are advanced enough to challenge him.  Does he do anything in his spare time that might exercise his mind?  He's old enough to have ideas about what he wants to do with his future and should be applying himself towards those goals.  If he's as smart as you say he is, it's certainly not too late to expand his mind, but all the genius in the world is wasted if there's no motivation behind it.  

Answer 4

Recent research indicates that the brain continues to develop in many important areas throughout life.  It is never too late to change.

However, showing talent and genius at any time is not enough.  Mensa is full of people who have ordinary jobs, or in some cases, no job at all.  It only proves that talent or "genius" is not enough.  Moreover, many people of ordinary intelligence have done extraordinary things and made great contributions.  Thomas Edison was not considered to be a genius as a child.  Alexander Graham Bell did not hold an honored position in society.  Their greatness was not recognized right away.  Sometimes it depends in what areas a child shows greatness.  Many great men in music and art and physical sciences showed their greatness early, and then never showed much later or died.  People in the social sciences tend to make their contributions much later in life, such as Charles Darwin.

I think the important thing is that a person accept him/herself for who they are and try to be as good and helpful to people as possible.  There are many ways to make contributions to the world.  Saint Teresa of the Little Flower said, "Some people do great things; I try to do ordinary things with great love."

Answer 5

It's never too late for the brain to blossom.  He just needs more challenges and probably more motivation.

Good luck

Answer 6

Why isn´t he in advanced classes if he really is that good? Again, is this just your opinion or are other disinterested people of the same mind? If so, then why haven´t you done something about it. That´s what parents are for. It´s not too late.

Answer 7

skip grades?

Answer 8

It's not to late for him. But he has to want to do it. He just has to find something that interests him. Also, just becaue your brian stops growing doesn't mean you can't learn something.

Plus, i always wonder abt ppl who don't put forth effort becuase it's boring or "too easy." if it were that easy then why not just do the work? He sounds like my brother...smart but extremly lazy...there are a lot of smart ppl out there...but it also takes drive and determination to succeed. Remind him of that...his place at Harvard (or whereever) isn't just going to fall into his lap b/c he's smart...GL!

~chai