I second the use of computer learning software. I built my career off my addiction to whatever computer software I can get my hands on as a kid and picking them apart like a mechanic with a car. I finished calc AP and was taking college courses as a junior in high school and I can honestly attribute it to BASIC programming at age 12. I only wish I could get my hands on a PC at age four. Our company builds mobile business software and it’s quite humorous at a company dinner to see all the little ones enamored with an iPhone/iPad. All the parents have a plethora of learning apps installed. My sister’s two year old knows how to start Angry Birds on her iphone and make it through levels.
Just my humble opinion, but I don’t get this “don’t push them too hard” stuff. It’s a tough world out there…there are winners and losers and I won’t shy away from preparing my kids for that. I mean, don’t be mean/degrading about it, but they should know the difference between poor and great performance. I think it’s key to instill that there will always be someone who will do better…just not at your school (kidding).
Course, I’m not a dad yet and I have not met the expectation I set for myself with training my puppy so far…as I never accounted for just how cute they look when they mis-behave ;-).
On a related note, anyone opposed to bribing (money for grades) older kids with their school performance?
