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At what age can you have your child tested to determine IQ? I’ve already mentioned here that Alex is my most difficult child, yet I also think he is most likely to be very successful. I think that because he’s my most difficult child is why he’ll be successful. I think he gets bored and pushes the envelop. Now I know a lot of you are sitting there thinking she’s lost it. Maybe I have. But what if I haven’t? What if I’m really on to something? How would I go about testing him? Should I get him tested?
I’ve convinced him that women are smarter than men. The other night he asked me if Santa knows everything. I love this time of year when I can blackmail my kids behavior with Santa won’t visit if… I, of course, told him that he did.
He looked at me very matter of fact and said, “No, Mom, he doesn’t. Remember only girls know.”
I did the only appropriate thing a Mother could do, “Well, he has Mrs. Claus to help him.”
After all the fun and games, I decided that if I truly want him to excel, I needed to tell him that boys are smart too. Here’s how it went:
Me: “Alex, did you know boys could be smart?”
Alex: “No.”
Me: “Well they can. They can be very smart. You’re a boy and you’re very smart. Did you know that?”
Alex: “Yes.”
Me: “Good! And because you are so smart you can be anything you want when you grow up. Do you know what you want to be?”
Alex: “A counter.”
Me: “Mommy’s a counter (accountant) and she doesn’t like it.” Translated this means I have high hopes for you kid, don’t mess it up.
Tim: “Alex, if you want to be a counter, you can be a counter.”
I think my reluctance is because I’m trying to change careers and am having a difficult time doing so. I know the job I want (medical sales), but I can’t get a call back from those companies. I know times are tough but it is so frustrating!!
I have big aspirations for Alex. I keep pushing him towards being a doctor. However, after he watched a little bit of Grey’s Anatomy with me last week, I don’t know if he can handle being a doctor. Whatever you decide to be, Alex, just be happy doing it.
So, seriously, should I get him tested?? What are your thoughts? I’m curious.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I know a lot of frustrated docs too! I work with them every day:) As a mom of very smart kids (I’m so humble!) I would say no to testing. The tests will either tell you what you already know and will perhaps cause you to push the poor kid too hard, or it could turn out disappointing and then you forget to tell him how smart he is!
Also, there is a study out there…I’ll look it up when I get a chance. there were kids, divided into two groups. They all took the same standardized test. When given their scores, one group was told how smart they were, the other group was commended for working very hard. They were given another test. The group that was commended for hard work outscored the other group…the first test had them all scoring equal.
Conclusion: praise for kids is great, but we need to be careful how we praise. Telling them they are smart takes their hard work out of the equation and they rest on their laurels. I try to commend for hard work and a job well done.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:30 am
I had people tell me to get Peyton tested awhile ago. And I decided not to do it. I feel I would rather have her be the top of all of us dumb people than fight for who is the smartest elsewhere. I think she is having a fun time being top of her class and a kid. I have heard stories about rushing a kid to adulthood and I think we get there too soon as is.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:45 am
I would talk to his teacher and the school counselor and see what they think. You may be right that he is bored. If he is highly intelligent there are additional classes he can take to keep him challenged.