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Really? Idiot Savant? Really?
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 324596" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>That's really important, to be plugged into your child so well.</p><p></p><p>You mentioned that the other kids are bright - I remember reading somewhere that siblings tend to be within 10 IQ points of one another. We also tend to choose partners who match us in intelligence in some way. so it's always a good working hypothesis, to treat all family members as being equally smart. No more of the "he's the smart one in the family, I'm the dumb one" (as my sister keeps insisting).</p><p></p><p>It does make for a challenging and often very different household, to have a family of bright and unusual individuals. The best thing you can do is NOT try to enforce normality on them because that is probably a retrograde step. It's better to work with the family and how they like to function (afte all, it's YOUR home, all of you) and make home a happy, comfortable place.</p><p></p><p>For example in our house, a house full of readers, we often choose to read while we're eating. Obviously not if we're having a more formal meal with guests but generally if it's just us and we're all talked out, we'll have a book in front of each place at the table. sometimes someone will stop and laugh, and read a bit aloud to the rest of us. My mother would be scandalised.</p><p>Or we watch TV while we eat, often talking about what we're watching. </p><p></p><p>The kids might bring home lots of stones, sticks etc - OK, they go outside in the garden. I don't say, "Don't collect," but I do say, "put them outside."</p><p>Our walls are covered in educational posters or jokes, or other interesting snippets that have amused someone. Lots of photos.</p><p></p><p>We bought an appliance and it vcame in a large cardboard box, which the boys set up in the living room for a while. They put cushions in it, cut a circle in one side so they could still see the TV, then climbed inside and read books in there or did homework. Outside I hung a cargo net in the tree and the boys would often climb right inside and wrap the net around them, hanging there looking like some piece of cargo being transferred to another ship. I believe the feeling of being held was comforting for them. Basically, we had the raw materials there and they played with them. For various reasons the box had to go (when it fell apart) and the cargo net was packed away (I forget why). The environment is under their control but it also changes for other reasons. They adapt. It all helps. But it IS unusual!</p><p></p><p>difficult child 3's therapist describes our house kindly as "an enriched environment". We've found it was the only way to cope with our horde. You can walk into our house and pick up a puzzle immediately. Or see an interesting, challenging picture. The fridge contains food available on tap. There are books everywhere on every topic and computers in every room. If anyone wants anything, from a meal to information, it is within reach. But there might be some work involved to get what they want!</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 324596, member: 1991"] That's really important, to be plugged into your child so well. You mentioned that the other kids are bright - I remember reading somewhere that siblings tend to be within 10 IQ points of one another. We also tend to choose partners who match us in intelligence in some way. so it's always a good working hypothesis, to treat all family members as being equally smart. No more of the "he's the smart one in the family, I'm the dumb one" (as my sister keeps insisting). It does make for a challenging and often very different household, to have a family of bright and unusual individuals. The best thing you can do is NOT try to enforce normality on them because that is probably a retrograde step. It's better to work with the family and how they like to function (afte all, it's YOUR home, all of you) and make home a happy, comfortable place. For example in our house, a house full of readers, we often choose to read while we're eating. Obviously not if we're having a more formal meal with guests but generally if it's just us and we're all talked out, we'll have a book in front of each place at the table. sometimes someone will stop and laugh, and read a bit aloud to the rest of us. My mother would be scandalised. Or we watch TV while we eat, often talking about what we're watching. The kids might bring home lots of stones, sticks etc - OK, they go outside in the garden. I don't say, "Don't collect," but I do say, "put them outside." Our walls are covered in educational posters or jokes, or other interesting snippets that have amused someone. Lots of photos. We bought an appliance and it vcame in a large cardboard box, which the boys set up in the living room for a while. They put cushions in it, cut a circle in one side so they could still see the TV, then climbed inside and read books in there or did homework. Outside I hung a cargo net in the tree and the boys would often climb right inside and wrap the net around them, hanging there looking like some piece of cargo being transferred to another ship. I believe the feeling of being held was comforting for them. Basically, we had the raw materials there and they played with them. For various reasons the box had to go (when it fell apart) and the cargo net was packed away (I forget why). The environment is under their control but it also changes for other reasons. They adapt. It all helps. But it IS unusual! difficult child 3's therapist describes our house kindly as "an enriched environment". We've found it was the only way to cope with our horde. You can walk into our house and pick up a puzzle immediately. Or see an interesting, challenging picture. The fridge contains food available on tap. There are books everywhere on every topic and computers in every room. If anyone wants anything, from a meal to information, it is within reach. But there might be some work involved to get what they want! Marg [/QUOTE]
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