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You can't really force it and there isn't a formula. I'm just a journeyman software jockey but my brother got into Harvard, Yale, and Stanford even after skippi

You can't really force it and there isn't a formula. I'm just a journeyman software jockey but my brother got into Harvard, Yale, and Stanford even after skipping a year of high school.

hnthrowaway0315 5y ago
I totally agree. But I believe there is a process to explore his interests, pinpoint something, and then spend some money to further it.
- HeyLaughingBoy 5y ago
  Just remain flexible when his interests completely change six months in...
  - hnthrowaway0315 5y ago
    haha very true...
- erosenbe0 5y ago
  You don't need necessarily need to spend much. Of course quality music lessons or gymnastics will consistently cost a bunch but the lion's share of things will not. I know plenty of impressive scientists who were very middle class growing up. Collect coins, stamps, or sports memorabilia. Practice sports statistics and trivia. Go for hikes and catalog leaves, plants, and insect specimens. Grow a garden or vegetable from seed. Learn cooking while teaching the physics and chemistry of it, or focus on the artistic aspects. Explore your local road maps and learn navigation skills. Put a world map on the wall, then throw a dart at a country and grab a book on it from the library. Draw comics or try digital art. Draw dinosaurs. Build PCs from spare parts or try retro computing or vintage electronics. Do online coding for kids. Try robotics kits. Learn how to do bike tune-ups and maintenance, then get old grody bikes from friends and refurbish them. Try a new game monthly like Chess, Go, or Backgammon. And an important one would be to take advantage of local geography and culture. For example, in Illinois and Wisconsin, we can enjoy the geology and ecology of the Great Lakes, or the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.
  - hnthrowaway0315 5y ago
    I agree with you, there are a lot of possibilities. I'm waiting for him to grow up (just 16 months now) and try those things.
    - Breza 5y ago
      My daughter is only a month older and I share your feelings. I'm glad you posted that comment above, I often feel intimidated about admitting how little I truly know about parenting.

You can't really force it and there isn't a formula. I'm just a journeyman software jockey but my brother got into Harvard, Yale, and Stanford even after skipping a year of high school.

hnthrowaway0315 5y ago

I totally agree. But I believe there is a process to explore his interests, pinpoint something, and then spend some money to further it.

HeyLaughingBoy 5y ago
Just remain flexible when his interests completely change six months in...
- hnthrowaway0315 5y ago
  haha very true...
erosenbe0 5y ago
You don't need necessarily need to spend much. Of course quality music lessons or gymnastics will consistently cost a bunch but the lion's share of things will not. I know plenty of impressive scientists who were very middle class growing up. Collect coins, stamps, or sports memorabilia. Practice sports statistics and trivia. Go for hikes and catalog leaves, plants, and insect specimens. Grow a garden or vegetable from seed. Learn cooking while teaching the physics and chemistry of it, or focus on the artistic aspects. Explore your local road maps and learn navigation skills. Put a world map on the wall, then throw a dart at a country and grab a book on it from the library. Draw comics or try digital art. Draw dinosaurs. Build PCs from spare parts or try retro computing or vintage electronics. Do online coding for kids. Try robotics kits. Learn how to do bike tune-ups and maintenance, then get old grody bikes from friends and refurbish them. Try a new game monthly like Chess, Go, or Backgammon. And an important one would be to take advantage of local geography and culture. For example, in Illinois and Wisconsin, we can enjoy the geology and ecology of the Great Lakes, or the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.
- hnthrowaway0315 5y ago
  I agree with you, there are a lot of possibilities. I'm waiting for him to grow up (just 16 months now) and try those things.
  - Breza 5y ago
    My daughter is only a month older and I share your feelings. I'm glad you posted that comment above, I often feel intimidated about admitting how little I truly know about parenting.