A4 / 4 hole is standard here... and it's back to school sales time if you want some sent over :-) I feel your pain though - I have had an awesome Harry Potter binder / folder thingy that I hve never been able to use because wedon't have 3 ring / letter size paper here.

my biggest tip is: fruit, veg and meat are naturally GF. So going back to basics / real food really makes things much easier. Over time you'll find things you really don't want to do with out and look for alternatives.

We have just trialed school for our 8 (now 9) and 6 year olds. While I do think where we tried turned out to be a particularly poor example, and it *could* have worked for at least the younger for a while, I think 8 is probably the limit for my kids anyway. I *wish* there were another option here for us... but there isn't and here I am!

around 4 ish I let them do it themselves but supervised and pointed out missed bits, helped with hair, etc. I guess from 5 or so I expected them to wash mostly successfully without me right there (still not hair)... I'd still check in at the end and point out that they couldn't have washed the back of their neckthoroughly if the bottom of their hair was still wet, lol! DS has just turned 9 and is finally independent on the hair, although he could do with a few reminders to wash UINDER an AROUND things sometimes. DD 6 is learning to do her hair... she's getting there. Both still need an occasional reminder to actually scrub, not just rub vaguely, but I don't sit in there with them and supervise now.

It's nice when they realise it's not just you. Enjoy the moment.

nah, it's definitely not that common. The really smart ones stay and do scholarship. The ones that leave are generally the ones who have had enough of school and have good enough marks to get in, but not super high... super high stay for scholarship and the equivalent of the US liberal arts year. If he wants to do his LBRSM, I'd totaly get that done before he heads off.

I htink letting him have that year of "other" is not a bad thing at all - because you're right, once he specialises, it will become all consuming, and it's that from the get go, pretty much at uni here - none of the broad stuff I hear about from the US system. No way would I want my under 18 year old flatting, then again, I also wouldn't want them in the Halls :-O SOmething to keep in mind / give him some perspective on the whole UNi after year 12 thing is that many MANY of the kids who do that then change direction half way through their degree, or take a year off somewhere in there. He could just do that now, as many of our private school kids do, instead of interrupting the degree process - spend the year doing all that stuff he wants to do, and see where it leads. What does he want to do?

oh yeah, you can access STAR as a homeschooler too... that's easier than the way I did it, lol! I get wanting to be competitive at grad level, but honours project is a little way off. Are you sure he's not able ot do the halls if he transfers? Or, actually, that he's eligible for Halls if he skips first year? I know the hall that is for first years down here won't take you if you're not taking first year papers, and I know some of the others that take transfers. Of course it's different wherever you go.

9 am to 3pm with about 1.5 hours of lunch/break/play/recess in there - usually 20 - 30 min at at 1030 and 1 hour 1230 - 130 (eat lunch then go and play). Some schools have a different break arrangement, but all about the same time. So 4.5 hours of class time.

another thought... could he start at your local (Victoria? Massey?) and then transfer? Or do undergrad there and post grad in Auckland? Or (which is what I did) do one undergrad degree at home, then move to Auckland for the "real' one, lol!

some of those year 12s going off without year 13 are only 16. If he could go where you are - not leave home, I'd say go for it. But if he has to go flatting or into halls of residence, I'd leave it another year. Given his current levels of achievement, he's not going to find much by way of challenge in most of the undergrad courses anyway, so he may well find he has plenty of time to work on his violin and AOPS. *my perspective* - I headed off after my year 12 year as a 16.4 year old. I took max credits (48) as opposed to the 36 required to count as full time. I completed LTCL qualifications in two disciplines, worked almost full time and did a couple of night classes too during that year. It really isn't onerous at all, if you enter well ahead of the curve. I could live at home while I did that though.

DH took our 6 and 9 year olds. THe 6 year old had to watch some of it on his lap, but otherwise it was all good

DS (9) plays two plus choir. He has asked to start another this year. I have asked him to put one of the others on hold exam-wise and just play it for ensemble work while he brings the new instrument up to speed. I think two that are "learning" and one or two others that are maintaining is ok for him for now.

As others have said, I've found they're pretty good at putting the book down if it's too much.

I used it a long time ago - when it was free. I found it helpful to have meals ready to go when the children were tinies, but not so good nowadays. There are a couple of recipes from then that I still use. I'm not sue I'd pay for access though.

lately I've been passive-aggresively posting a lot of stuff about gifted kids and how the nonsense put forward by schools is not just wrong, but actively damaging for them. Usually, just updates for fmaily mostly.

I am a little jealous that your kids have believed for so long. Both of mine were preschoolers when they worked it out. I might have liked a few more years of "magic". That doesn't stop me going to great lengths to provide "proof" for them... it's all part of the santa game we like to play. Fortunately both know it is not ok to tell their friends, and both enjoy the game.

MY DD received the same lego set from three different people. Oops.

:hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :hurray:

I took DS all the way through AAS 7 before going to PZ. So yeah, I think 4 wouldn't be a problem.

Get a dog. No more crumbs :-)

yay! That's great news

My DS did Ellen McHenry's elements at that age. He enjoyed it.

yeah, I hate December shopping too, and avoid it if at all possible. I'm done - although I may add one or two small things if I see somethign cute. COs I ca't help myself, lol!!

I just got DS an ozobot (http://ozobot.com/) for his birthday. He's loving it. So is his 6 year old sister... I'm kind of wishing I'd waited for Christmas and got them one each.