Ilala
This school psychologist was young. In our region, school psychologists typically are not the best psychologists; in case of serious problems, parents choose to go to "real" psychologists and not to public specialist in school.
Probably, she is experienced with aggressive and too active kids, and kids with learning problems; in our discussion she did not even mention that being too smart for her grade can be a problem.
Her attempt to talk to my kid definitely was a bit intrusive.
And her explanation about the possible problems was exaggerated; I was ready to hear it but she did not think that it is not for the ears of kid which was also listening.
I am sure that my relationship with my daughter is OK. She has secure attachment and she is self-confident. I am empathic and supportive parent. But my girl is highly sensitive child (hsc). These children typically seem "shy" in their childhood. It is OK to be highly sensitive. She is exactly as described in book "Highly sensitive child",
http://www.scribd.com/doc/60743155/The-Highly-Sensitive-Childpage 20
"Unfortunately, most people - and that includes parents - tend to notice mostly the down side of the sensitivity. This is because HSCs are easily bothered by things other children do not notice, ... and can become totally overwhelmed by ... changing situation. ... They may refuse for a few minutes, hours, days, or even months to speak to adults, strangers, or in class."
Sensitivity was discussed also in this thread
http://forum.brillkids.com/coffee-corner/anyone-else-have-a-%27highly-sensitive-child%27/ and short summary of this kind of sensitivity is here
http://www.hsperson.com/ Our kindergarten teacher knows my daughter since she was 3. This teacher also says that: it took 3 months to get my girl talk to her (and at the same time my girl said me that she likes this kindergarten and this teacher; she just needed time to watch); that she is secure and self-confident; that she is definitely above the comprehension level of every other kid in this kindergarten. That sometimes she is looking at her equals in age like they are total strangers.
Stodd
I would probably choose him to stay with his same age classmates, because I want him to learn those social skills.
My main argument is that in kindergarten (here are children aged 3 - 7) my girl does not want to play with children of her age; she wants only children which are one year older. Socially she feels better with older kids.
But who knows.
It seems that we do not go to school this autumn. I will occupy her in various extracurricular activities.
Digg
