I have a son who developed intrinsic interest in a Rubik’s Cube I purchased as a gift for him at the age of 9.
He voluntarily attacked it with an incredible investment in time and focus.
I wouldnit call him an intellectual prodigy, but he consistently expressed outlier intrinsic motivation.
We supported him in his cubing competition pursuits.
He competed to a high standard making it to recognised national level competition twice, reaching the semi-finals the 1st year and clearing semi-finals the 2nd(but immediately knocked out in finals).
We openly discussed the commitment required to achieve national success, repeatedly covering the concept of diminishing returns.
We discussed that whatever he decided his family would support him.
He committed, he succeeded(to an extent), he recognised the need to redouble his commitment to achieve the final step up to the apex, and he decided he wanted to continue cubing for joy, rather than singular pursuit of competitive excellence.
We try to parent with a roughly 50/50 mix of “tiger parenting” and “hippies in joyful pursuit”.
Claiming some stranger's kid is going to become an alcoholic that achieved nothing in life because they like to play with Rubik's cubes is on whole other level of mean.
He voluntarily attacked it with an incredible investment in time and focus.
I wouldnit call him an intellectual prodigy, but he consistently expressed outlier intrinsic motivation.
We supported him in his cubing competition pursuits.
He competed to a high standard making it to recognised national level competition twice, reaching the semi-finals the 1st year and clearing semi-finals the 2nd(but immediately knocked out in finals).
We openly discussed the commitment required to achieve national success, repeatedly covering the concept of diminishing returns.
We discussed that whatever he decided his family would support him.
He committed, he succeeded(to an extent), he recognised the need to redouble his commitment to achieve the final step up to the apex, and he decided he wanted to continue cubing for joy, rather than singular pursuit of competitive excellence.
We try to parent with a roughly 50/50 mix of “tiger parenting” and “hippies in joyful pursuit”.
Be disciplined in what we NEED to learn/do.
Be joyful in what we WANT to learn/do.
We think he’s a happy and well rounded kid
We think we did the right thing by him.
Too soon to tell?