Children Who Show Advanced Development

Parents should pay attention to very advanced development in early childhood, such as:

• Learning to read before age four
• Teaching themselves to read
• Advanced Math ability
• Advanced speech and language abilities
• Advanced musical ability
• Advanced drawing skills
• Advanced physical coordination skills
• Advanced acquisition of general knowledge

These early signs of high order intelligence need specialized nurturing.  Children who enter kindergarten or Grade 1 and who are already reading, speaking in complex sentences, and are able to add, subtract and do simple math problems, face a situation in which their classmates are being taught the basics they already know.  They can learn to believe school is boring, or too easy, and they do not experience the joy of learning at their own challenge level.

Early identification of these gifts and talents allows parents to provide the special coaching and advocacy these children will need as they enter school.

When children show signs of advanced learning abilities, early experience with exciting learning techniques allow them to broaden and deepen their learning experiences in and out of school.  The learning techniques include mind mapping, special children’s drawing programs, and challenge level tasks in reasoning and problem solving.  These kinds of activities help very bright children maintain their enthusiasm for learning as they face grade level environments where their classmates need to learn the skills they already know.

The process begins with a request for a free parent interview with Dr. Schwartz for an evaluation of the situation.  To arrange this first appointment call 604-738-2277 and speak to Andrew Taylor or Lindsay Sealey, or send an e-mail to info@vancouverlearningcentre.com. 

If it is determined that the child is an appropriate candidate for early intervention, then an assessment time will be provided.  An individualized program will emerge from the assessment.  This may include parent instruction and/or program delivery at the Vancouver Learning Centre.

The cost for the witnessed (parent observed) assessment is $2100.  A targetted program, which may include special instructions for parents, will emerge from this assessment within ten days.   The cost for lessons based on these programs at the Vancouver Learning Centre is $60 an hour.  Usually 1-2 hours a week is sufficient to develop excitement and enthusiasm for learning.  A post-kindergarten continuation of this program will also be available to provide ongoing partnership in challenge level instruction throughout school.