Those of you who know the family history know that I am not a fan of children skipping grades.  I just don't see the benefit.  Sure, they get to college a year or two faster, but it doesn't make them smarter.  And in many cases they're not mature enough to handle the environment and suffer as a result.  I offer by way of example my oldest brother (skipped 2 grades) and oldest sister (skipped one grade).  After the experiences with those two my parents did not allow the rest of us to skip.  Thank God!

I have passed this philosophy into my parenting.  I do not try to teach my kids topics ahead of when they learn them in class.  If I did, when the class learned the topic they'd be bored.  And would likely misbehave and get into trouble.  So again; what's the point?

But try as I might to hold them back, somehow the slippery buggers get away from me.  It appears that this has just happened with Seamus.

It wasn't malicious or spiteful learning (is there such a thing?)  He just happened to be in a room when the older kids were doing some math exercises.  And he couldn't help but overhear what they were doing.  This is how he learned to add.  Mandy was working with Tara, drilling her on basic addition.  She's in 2nd grade, so this is what she should be learning.  It wasn't sticking right away, so they went over it several times.  Think of Tara as Teflon when it comes to math and Seamus as glue.  Gorilla glue.

Now Seamus is in kindergarten.  I don't think they're even talking about basic addition.  It's more numbers, number line etc.  The fact that he picked up addition wasn't a big concern as he would get that instruction soon enough.  But it's gone just a bit beyond that.

Mandy came home today and announced that she was quizzing Seamus on addition facts in the van.  OK.  How'd he do?  Well, she was impressed that he could do the problems from his seat in the van.  No numbers in front of him, it was all in his head.  Again I discounted it, as I figured he had memorized the single number addition chart.

No, Mandy says.  It wasn't single number addition.  "Really?"  I asked?  "He's on double-digit addition already?  Wow.  That is advanced for kindergarten."  No again.  

He's doing triple digit addition.  In his head.  And getting them right.  As a kindergartener.

Holy cow!  Mimi can't do that!  I am just going to get myself mentally prepared now for behavioral problems in the next few years.  Like there wouldn't have been enough of those regardless.

Good with the bad I suppose.