Child Genius-car crash TV?

I was appalled by this programme though I didn't catch the first part of it. The parents , apart from one set , were, as you say ,close to abusive especially the ones of the Chinese/Korean (?) boy who had to endure all that strange Chinese "medicine". I feel that he could have been autistic with his inability to concentrate at home and his constant movement and bodily swaying. One girl lacked self confidence - not surprising when you saw the mother ! The fact that they got very upset when they didn't win suggested to me that they should not have been there in the first place. Give me the laid-back "normal" child any day.

I watched the first (?) series of this last year, and although it was compulsive viewing at the time I didn't want to go through all that again!

Some of the parents (especially the mothers, it has to be said) seemed to be determined to go to any lengths to give their child the edge, although there were one or two children who did it for themselves and actually enjoyed it even when they didn't get through.

It's so awful it's compulsive. That dreadful woman who pressured her daughter into continuing when she'd been in tears should have been thrown out. And the poor child ended up in tears again. I rather liked the Chinese kid who had a more healthy attitude than his father. No wonder he was bouncing off the walls when his parents had him in 'lock down' and fed him on giant packs of crisps.

I did not watch this on principle. It is simple child abuse. Concentrating on one aspect of a child is unhealthy, and doing so on TV is pure exploitation.

I have a very very bright 6 year old grandson, and his parents took the wise decision to send him to a village primary school, rather than an academic private school. The result is that he is well-balanced, popular, fun and lively, whilst at the same time pursuing investigations in encyclopaedias and on the internet that are far far above his age. His reading ability was that of an average adult about 2 years ago. he could just read anything that was put in front of him.

When we are at out local pub quiz we often say to each other that what we need is our GS there to put us right. He wandered into one of these quizzes once with his Dad and I was just chatting to him, when he said - you know that last question they asked? - well the answer is...... - and he was right!

His assessed levels in his school report are at least 4 years above his chronological age, but he fits into his class just fine. The other children are aware that he is a bit different and often ask him for facts or help with what they are doing - the teacher says that the other children look up to him and he is very popular and always ready to help others. He has learned social skills and is always up for rough and tumble. He is as far from a "boffin" as anyone could be.

What he is learning there is far more important than his outstanding intellectual skills - he is learning that he is simply a child among many others.

I can imagine that some parents would have "hot-housed" him, but I cannot think he would have been the same friendly little chap that he is.

I haven't watched any but I think the whole idea is truly dreadful.
A pushy parent fest if ever there was one. Let the poor kids be kids.
IMO its bordering on child exploitation.
No one should be "cramming" children like this.

Luckygirl crossed posts. I agree with you points completely.

Your points

I think that there should be some rules that prohibit broadcasting companies from exploiting children in this way.

I did wonder who was funding the whole thing. I hadn't heard of the competition before this programme was made. The way the children are treated is extraordinary. I thought most people now understood that accelerating children and putting them in for examinations early wasn't good for them and doesn't necessarily mean they will achieve more. I also wonder if social services are watching.

As I said in my previous post, this is not the first series, trisher. I expect if social services had felt it warranted investigating they would have done so last year.

I doubt if it could be regarded as an issue for child protection as such, but it is quite plainly wrong and unhelpful as Trisher says. Of course we do not know to what lengths some parents might go to get get their children to win.

What I have heard about educational hot housing habit is that ...

"However, studies suggest that children whose parents are very focused on early achievement are less creative and more anxious. There also appears to be no long-term academic benefits."

psychologymum.wordpress.com/2013/08/12/hothousing-and-competitive-parenting/

Let them go out and have a water fight, make mud pies or slob in front of the television once in a while.

I refuse to watch any programmes like that- children should not be exposed on TV.

I think Mensa had something to do with this contest - set the challenges, possibly?

Water fights and mud pies are what they need Nelliemoser you are so right.
I remember some time ago reading a "recipe for raising children" which involved a field, a stream and leaving them for so long. Can't find it but would love to read it again-any offers?

PS
I was flabbergasted when the answer to one question - a word meaning something to do with the underworld - was 'chthonic'. How many of us have even heard of this word, far less, ever used it?

Or have need of it?

It is all so unacceptable. Those poor children. Just because they are intellectually gifted does not mean that emotionally they are anything but children.

Found it- It's how to preserve children
How to Preserve Children
1 large grassy field
½ dozen children
2 or 3 small dogs
Pinch of brook and small pebbles
Few wild flowers (optional)

Mix children and dogs well together and put them in the field, stirring constantly.

Pour the brook over the small pebbles and sprinkle the field with flowers.

Spread a deep blue sky over all and bake in a hot sun.

When thoroughly browned, remove and set to cool in the bathtub.

Anonymous

I saw a few minutes of one programme in the last series and that was enough for me.

I think it's very damaging to encourage children to think of themselves as "special" just because they are "brainy". Parents who instill these feelings in their children are, I think, doing them a great disservice. There is more to a happy and fulfilled life than being academically gifted - "soft skills", such as the ability to communicate and relate to people, are important, as are qualities such as determination, conscientiousness and initiative.

I know lots of highly intelligent people who are not happy adults.

I agree it is wrong to emphasise one skill above others. Intelligence is one aspect of a person. This worship of intellectual skills is why we have a disjointed education system, where practical abilities are undervalued, and so many charming and talented young people feel like rejects because they do not have the right scraps of paper when they leave school.

I think Mensa should be ashamed of themselves.

I was horrified, as was my husband

trisher I just love that recipe! It reminded me of this play experiment in Wales
I don't know whether it is still open, but I hope so. Our children need more of these, hard as it may be for modern, fearful parents to let their children join in.

"Better a broken bone than a broken spirit." Brave words in this day and age!

If it is Mensa inspired I would rather rudely suggest that some of those who feel they have to create and join a society in order to show others how incredibly intelligent they are, might well be those who just cannot see why there might be a problem with this sort of game show.

I like your link, AshTree. It reminded me of the fun we had as children in the post-war years when building started again in our street. The foundations of the new houses were a great playground and we could always mess about with the builders' sand after they had gone home for the night. The only one who got hurt was my Mum who sprained her ankle chasing my sister to get her to come in for her bath!