how to help a young kid

JaBlue · #1 09-01-2006, 10:00 AM

My brother is 10 and really, really, really smart. Def smarter than I was at his age and (I'm told) I tested for IQ of 140-155. I found it very hard to make friends because I thought all kids my age were immature and annoying and consequently had friends all 1-2 yeaers older than me. Being social wasn't a problem for me, but it is for my brother. His interests are extremely esoteric for his age - conservationism, biology, blah blah - and he is having much more trouble adjusting than I did. He also lacks confidence, has a nasally voice, and is rather uncoordinated when it comes to sports.

I want to know how I can help him out. I will be able to visit him probably only a few days to a few weeks a year because we live on opposite coasts but I will be in touch on the phone weekly and give gifts on important days.

Magra · #2 09-01-2006, 12:27 PM

Does he have any game systems? If not, hook him up with an XBOX or ps2, or spend more for the 360. That always makes a guy immature, no matter what age...

RunyonAve · #3 09-01-2006, 12:31 PM

Get him into online gaming, he'll probably stop focusing on school but if he becomes good he'll be insanely popular online. Nerdy kids don't need a life when they have e-friends.

NT! · #4 09-01-2006, 12:31 PM

Take him hiking or rock climbing, connect it to his interests in the outdoors. Hopefully it will help him be more active and he'll get all diesel and bang mad bitches with his smoov tree-hugger sensitive guy angle.

Actually, seriously, taking him hiking, rock climbing, camping etc would be pretty cool.

NT

Duke · #5 09-01-2006, 01:41 PM

He'll have a much happier life if you somehow encourage him to become more coordinated. If he were in better physical condition he would be, and and would also have a "better" voice. He's gotta round out his activities, despite his base interests.

If he's smart, he'll understand the value in being adept in a lot of areas.

EDIT: To clarify, I don't think the goal should be to help him adjust and be the most self-confident skinny/uncoordinated/nasal geek in the world. It should be to fill out his abilities in disparate areas.

Aloysius · #6 09-01-2006, 01:47 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Get him into online gaming, he'll probably stop focusing on school but if he becomes good he'll be insanely popular online. Nerdy kids don't need a life when they have e-friends.

[/ QUOTE ]

Haha I know this is a joke, but this is terrible advice.

[ QUOTE ]
Take him hiking or rock climbing, connect it to his interests in the outdoors. Hopefully it will help him be more active and he'll get all diesel and bang mad bitches with his smoov tree-hugger sensitive guy angle.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is really good advice.

Your brother will likely excel in all the geek / Innanet-related spheres. Getting him involved early in his life in physical activities that won't demoralize him (you mentinoed he's uncoordinated = bad at competitve sports = demoralizing) is a great way to round out his interests. Also, as NT mentioned, will help him extend his social circle outside of just hanging with nerdy dudes.

-Al

Patrick del Poker Grande · #7 09-01-2006, 02:06 PM

Is there no geek camp he can go to?

Lazy Meatball · #8 09-01-2006, 02:11 PM

Give the kid a guitar. By the time he's sixteen he should be a virtuoso who can write emo rock songs and win his high school battle of the Bands, and then dedicate campfire accoustic sessions to the ladies.

TPupAZ · #9 09-01-2006, 02:21 PM

Hmmm I remember reading your first thread Ja, so I took an interest in posting a reply to this to try and help you out. My first thing would be, dont just stick him in a net world, where he wont develop any social skills. I've usually found that maybe a game store where he can pick up a card game might be able to help, like Magic: the Gathering, VS, or something. He'll be able to develop the social skills with other people of maybe equal self esteem?

Just a thought, hope that helps.

Tennenbaum · #10 09-01-2006, 02:25 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Take him hiking or rock climbing, connect it to his interests in the outdoors. Hopefully it will help him be more active and he'll get all diesel and bang mad bitches with his smoov tree-hugger sensitive guy angle.

Actually, seriously, taking him hiking, rock climbing, camping etc would be pretty cool.

NT

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. Plus doing things that he likes doing, he'll meet other people who are also interested and therefor wont need all the kids who are immature for friends. Plus like NT said, it'll make him diesel and he'll be able to bang hot bitches.