The real facts about your child's IQWritten by Alannah Moore
Parents may be surprised to discover following facts about IQ and IQ testing.1. IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient. But it is debatable whether IQ tests really measure intelligence (or whatever it is we mean by "intelligence" - psychologists have been divided for years). IQ tests do not take into account aspects such as creativity, artistic or musical talent - a child can most certainly be "gifted" without having a high IQ. Nor do IQ tests take into account qualities such as leadership which will have a huge impact on child's life. They cannot be taken as any kind of indicator of success in future life. It is dubious as to whether IQ scores have any real value of their own outside educational system. 2. However unimportant IQ is in itself, your child’s IQ score will have a serious impact on his or her schooling. It may well determine which class he or she is put in and can therefore have far-reaching effects. It is a fact that children achieve better academic results when in a class with more able pupils. It is therefore in your child's interest that he or she gets a place in highest class possible for his or her abilities. 3. IQ test results can be very unreliable. Research has shown that 50% of children will achieve a score varying by 5 points in either direction when retested, some as much as 20 points! The most unreliable tests are group tests (rather as individual tests) which are usually kinds of IQ test used in schools. The teachers responsible for carrying out tests are often not trained adequately, which may make results even more unreliable.
| | The Parent Teen RelationshipWritten by Carol Shepley
It was homework that did it. Each night became a challenge in how I was going to get my son, a non-academic, to do his homework. I tried patience, encouragement, and teaching, all to no avail. I moved on to bribery, threats and punishment, still no success. Finally I tried anger, frustration and tears, but still no joy. At end of my tether I knew it was time for a change. Looking back on my behaviour I could see how I had changed from a calm, encouraging parent into a demanding, controlling tyrant. This was a true wake up call; I could not believe I had turned into very thing I hated to see in others. I asked myself, "what is more important, homework or relationship with my son?" The parenting relationship is a tricky one; one that needs to continue to evolve over time. It is made doubly tricky by fact that child uses this relationship as a role model for future relationships. As a child they see that adults have control and power in a relationship; as they grow into adolescents they want this control and power for themselves. No wonder there are so many battles between parents and teens. However, desire for control and power is also reflected between teenagers themselves. Mixed with self-centeredness left over from childhood and need to belong, a potent mix is created; otherwise known as peer pressure. This pressure can take many forms, from daring someone to do something that you haven't got courage to do, to manipulating someone to give you what you want. Standing up to this pressure, particularly from their close friends can be difficult, Teenagers need to learn how to get their needs met but without resorting to using control, power or manipulation. Just as importantly they need to learn how to resist pressure from others. If parents can change relationship they have with their teen so that each other's needs are dealt with using respect, understanding and appreciation, then teens can experiment and realise benefits of such a relationship.
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