what to do when your 4 year old says?!?

Question

"Mommy... Santa isn't real. It's physically impossible to arrive at every household in the world at midnight on the same night. And what about the homeless people? He can't possibly know where they are at any given moment".

Yes, she used those big words, we caught it all on tape. Too smart for her own good? Going to be made fun of for being a nerd in school? My husband and I both acheived 4.0's all throughout high school and college, but I thought that was hard work... not genes. She says and does other intelligent things as well, far beyond her age. How do I make sure her brilliance is not ignored in the public schooling system? In my area, public schooling is actually better than private.

I'm worrying that my husband and I are using too mature of language around her, that she's not going to be able to effectively communicate with her peers. I feel like I've ruined her childhood.

Answer 1

what ever you do dont try and dumb down your child. if her intellect is superior then teach her graciousness and patience since shell need both to deal with the ignorance she is sure to encounter in school

Answer 2

No answer here for the Santa problem.

For her excellent language skills, congratulations. Keep it up. Too many people today have poor language skills. She has a head start on the rest. When she gets older, she can slip into the latest slang, but she will have the background to carry on an intellectual conversation too.

Before she starts school, try to talk to the administration to see if she can be tested. Regardless, go to the parent teacher conferences and be aware of what she is learning in her class.

Answer 3

Are you more worried about your 4 year old not believing in Santa or what school she'll be attending assuming she's as intelligent as you say she is and not that she just might have picked that up from somewhere. That sounds like a line from a Christmas movie I recently watched. Polar Express maybe?

Anyway, some schools have special classes for 'gifted' children. Contact the guidance councelor for your school location and find out.

Answer 4

Of course you haven't ruined her childhood. Isn't it terrible when parents lie to kids about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the rest of it? Simple logic teaches them that Santa is silly, and when parents hammer that crap into their heads, all they do is teach the child that thinking is wrong!!!! Teach her the history of the season, but don't lie to her.... Santa is tradition, and we all have fun with it.

And no, her brilliance will not be ignored. Hopefully your schools have a GATE program... All you need to be teaching her is that one ought not to brag about one's brilliance and one's knowledge.... it's a quiet secret between you and her. Kids only get called nerds when they put other kids down who are less educated, or talented, or reason less well, or simply know less. She needs to understand that she doesn't wish to be branded as a "know-it-all".... a bore. Sometimes a quiet smile when her friends are off on some ignorant tangent is something she must learn.... we all have to.

Answer 5

No!!! PLEASE do not feel like you have "scarred" her! I believe EVERY child has a talent and her's is exceptional intelligence. Embrace her use of "big words" and praise her for using such mature vocabulary. I was a "gifted" child and I'm glad my parents pushed me to exceed past all my peers. I wasn't picked on and believe it or not I was looked up to as a tutor while i was in grade school.

So, continue to uplift your daughter, buy her books but make sure she stays grounded and not think that she's better than anyone because she's very smart. good luck!

Answer 6

next explain time zones
so she knows santa has a few more hours than she thought



my neice is very smart too
she is 2 and speaks like a 5 yr old or better
when other 2 yr olds babble to her
she actually looks crazily at them and says" what are you saying??? i cant understand you.
mommy what is he saying??"

she doesnt have to believe in santa and if she is as bright as she is
then simply explain that this is still a season in which we take the time as we should everyday of the year-- to express our love and gratitude to those we care about and part of that expression is exchanging gifts..
you can break it down and explain the original santa claus story of the gift giving bishop
and explain tradition rather than fairy tales

Answer 7

You either A
Tell her the truth and tell that everyone isnt as smart as her

b: he's magical hence that glides on air and glowing nose

c: change the topic when ever you hear it

d: tell her : "I dont know, you tell me. what ever you say"

e:bring her to a mall and have her ask 'Santa' and he will awnser all the questions so you won't have to.

Thats all I could think of. All I can say is that that's one smart kid- you better take good care of her abillites and send her to many places that will enhance those gifts of her's.

Answer 8

Santa doesnt do every house at midnight! Plus not everyone celebrates christmas, Santa doesnt go to people who celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, nor does he go to people who dont celebrate any hoilday like christmas, think bout the muslims, and the traditional religions of Africa.

Answer 9

well ... now dont get your hopes up. when i was 3 i learned how to play chess and six months after i first learned i beat my teacher who taught me . i could recognize and learn things very quickly, and still can, but through my years of school i didnt have the proper support to stay focused.

my point is this. it is not up to the school to pay attention to her brilliance, it is simply up to you. if she is taught by you to be proud of her gifts then nothing will stand in the way. and i hope this goes without saying ... there is a difference between "proud" and "conceited". good luck.

Answer 10

santa clause is the spiritual energy that makes people happy around this time of year. Even if he doesnt exist, the emotion he brings makes people happy and forget the problems of the year, once a year