The summer is winding down, and that means that it's time to get back into business. Post Labor Day, there's always this mental shift towards getting back to work on laying those foundations for your future. Perhaps a new wardrobe for the fresh start of a new academic year? Or a renewed dedication to the career. Whatever it is, it's no different in my household. 

Abby will be starting Pre-K next fall. I never thought I'd turn into a tiger mom, but with the mounting competition to be the best, I've had to break out that ruler and whack some tables. This October, Abby has to register for the tests for the NYC Gifted and Talented program that could afford her the possibility of a spot in either a Citywide G&T program (98th Percentile) or a local program (95th Percentile). All parents think their kids are the bees knees, but that's no longer enough. Over the past year I've probably spent over $500 in educational materials, not including the stuff I've inherited from my MIL, who is a retired JHS VP. I've also made some stuff on my own. It may seem like a lot, but I drew the line at the $700 study materials package or the $1,500 tutoring sessions. 

Abby is only 3 and a half years old. Getting into the G&T program isn't just about having the understanding of the course material. It's a whole lot more when you're talking about testing a 4 year old. (The age Abby will be when she tests).

Firstly, it's 40 questions (or 60 if you child is already in Pre-K) to be administered in one hour. This is going to take training her to focus on an activity for one hour. No potty break, snacks, or having a little toy to keep their hands busy with. Total focus, only on answering the questions.

Your little 4 year old will be alone with a total stranger, in a strange place. They'll go though 10 practice questions, and then the 40 real questions. (50 total!) During the administration of the exam, the tester will read the question only once. After one minute, if there isn't a response they'll move onto the next question. So, if your child wasn't paying attention the first time, or if the question wasn't clear, there's no opportunity to seek clarification. And yes, we're talking about a 4 year old. 

You have to be in the top 2% or 5% to earn yourself a spot in the program. It's not the top 2/5% of the entire population... you have to get that top score among the testing population. That's competition among the other tiger moms who have also started preparing their child as soon as they can utter their first word. 

It's a long road ahead, all about laying the right stepping stones at the right time. It's not only a preparation process for the children, but one for the parents and all the caretakers and authority figures in your child's life. You have to work together to encourage the social and concentration skills as well as the hard skills that the test measures. It's prep time for this family!