My kids are gifted in different ways. Jessamine just learns by breathing. I've never tried to teach her anything, she just picks it up. She'll be four in August, but she can already do basic reading, writing, addition, and subtraction, just from observation. My son on the other hand is more of a creative spirit. He's very good at drawing and loves telling stories. He likes to perform in front of a mirror and try to make people laugh. He's really social and good natured. Yet when I'm trying to teach him, I feel like I'm trying to beat knowledge into his head with a sledgehammer, and missing. He just turned six. He understands how to read, but won't try. Just when I think he's finally gotten a good grasp on something I find there's some fundamental piece he's missed that I just can't get him to understand. It's getting to where his little sister is more advanced than he is. I think a good part of it is that he's just plain stubborn. But I'm afraid to take a totally hands-off approach with him. I know him well, and he'll just want to play and draw and get more and more behind. Yet the more I push, the more he pushes back. I guess I'm part asking for advice and part venting.