The Prodigy Programme
How
many parents would like their children to be prodigies? The queue starts
here! Or perhaps the queue starts in the bookshop as the compilation volumes
How To Help Your Child Become a Prodigy and How To Educate Your Child in the
New Millennium have now been published (ISBN 974-94992-9-8 IQ Inc. March
2007).
The promise inside, and repeated on the back cover, is “Parents conversant
with the many dietary, environmental, physiological and psychological
components that can help expand and inspire intellect during the early years
when so much is possible, can potentially increase their children’s growth
by an exponential degree.”
The first part of the compilation deals with ways to assess the intelligence
of your child and discusses the IQ testing and its deficiencies. There are
milestones to show whether your child is displaying prodigy ability and
other ways of identifying the gifted child.
However, you are not left there, the chapters are very much practical help
and give references when needed, such as “Should I have my child tested by
an educational psychologist?”
I liked the fact that the book covers much more than just IQ levels (which
are explained very succinctly), but also deals with creative and emotional
potential.
I was also impressed with the depth of research in each chapter, with
references, and practical advice on things to do with your children. Things
which are developmentally advantageous for children. It actually explains
just why certain ‘play’ behaviors are good for your children. If you are
going to play with your offspring, the games might as well be good for them.
As well as satisfying for the parent, knowing you are doing something
positive.
The book also does not leave those parents whose child is just ‘average’ as
if that child is then of no importance. It shows any parent how to raise
their children in the best possible way, and by doing so, maximize their
children’s chances of a successful and happy life, something I do agree
with.
The second part of the compilation deals with education of the child in the
new millennium, and begins with some chilling statistics, if you thought
that the US or UK systems were the pinnacle of teaching programs. Fairly
recent maths and science testing carried out through a number of countries
had the US and the UK nowhere in the top 10. Scandinavian countries, and
even Russia was ranked higher, with the first native English speaking
country being Australia in 7th position.
The ways that children learn are explored, with many references to back up
the statements in the book. There is also frank discussion on children with
learning problems, including ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), and help for
handicapped children, whose potential may be obscured by their physical
problems.
This second section of the compilation also includes helpful internet sites
plus one reference section which is very apt in this society, with English
and Thai language educational internet resources.
At B. 440, this compilation represents excellent value, as well as excellent
advice. Incidentally, part of the purchase price goes to providing
educational scholarships for children around the world.
