Page 106 of Child's Play

‘So given your obvious interest, did you know that scientific studies have shown that the brains of child prodigies are different from ordinary brains?’

Bryant shook his head as they came to the open doorway of the music room.

‘Gifted children come in all types: musicians, acrobats, artists, chess players, mathematicians, computer programmers, even magicians. We can’t cater for everything here but we like to think we do okay.’

Bryant could tell she was proud of the event they’d organised. He wasn’t sure if she was fishing for compliments.

‘Are all the parents of gifted children pushy?’ he asked. He’d half watched a programme years ago on Channel Five about pushy parents and had found himself getting annoyed at their single-minded focus on the child’s gift as opposed to just the child.

She shook her head. ‘Terence Tao from Australia was doing maths and reading by the age of three. By the time he was six he had taught himself BASIC and written several computer games. His parents didn’t want to take credit or make money, so they managed a schedule where he could still be a little boy. He started high school at seven, and his IQ was measured at 220 against the average of 100. He scored 760 out of 800 on his SATs and passed the university entrance exam when he was eight.’

‘Blimey, that’s some skill.’

‘It sure is but he was never pushed by his parents and is now a well-adjusted, married man with a career.’

‘But is he the exception?’ Bryant asked.

‘But are pushy parents really so bad?’ she countered.

‘I suppose we all see our own childhoods as somewhat normal. My parents just wanted me to be happy. They didn’t raise me to be competitive. Just to do my best.’

‘I understand that and please don’t take this offensively because I’m sure you do a great job as a police officer but…’

‘But I’m never going to change the world,’ he added for her.

‘Let me put it another way. In the 1940s and ’50s there were quiz kids taking part in game shows. One of them, James D. Watson, was a joint Nobel prize winner for the discovery of the structure of DNA. But to reassure you I can confirm that not every parent is a tiger,’ she said, with a smile.

Bryant shook his head. He’d heard the term but wasn’t entirely sure what it meant.

‘It’s a largely Chinese concept and depicts strict, demanding parents who push and pressure their children to be successful. Like a stage mother. They prioritise learning above all else and only allow children to participate in activities to potentially win awards. They exert a higher level of psychological control over children and tend to use emotional threats and low-impact physical punishment. They don’t allow the child any decision-making freedom and ignore soft skills like socialisation, dealing with people, emotional intelligence, if you like.’

‘But what happens to these kids long term?’ Bryant asked. ‘Surely every childhood should be balanced,’ he insisted.

‘Studies show they lose a sense of belonging, purpose and self-esteem. In China, there’s a growing trend of children aged five to twelve seeking psychiatric help and even contemplating suicide.’

How the hell could a five-year old have such feelings? he wondered.

‘They have no coping strategies. Can’t manage negative feelings. Do you remember Shirley Temple?’ Serena asked, moving along the corridor as a child started playing the piano.

Bryant nodded. Everyone knew of the child actress.

‘Her appeal was in being a natural and that she completely enjoyed herself. No work involved and the well-constructed image that she got to enjoy a normal childhood. Except her daily regime began at seven and ended at five thirty. One critic noted something rude and rowdy about her, despite the mission of all around to keep her unspoiled.

‘She had her own three-bed bungalow on the studio lot, a daily tutor, personal bodyguard, medical advisers, a system of relaxation but not movies in case they tainted her style.’

‘Surely, you don’t think?…’

‘I’m trying to explain that pushy parents exist everywhere, officer, and always have. It’s not limited to the domain of gifted children. Your average sports day will include parents pushing their kids over the line. Parents sending drunken emails to teachers and headmasters trying to control their time at school.’

‘Isn’t there a famous book about this tiger parenting thing?’ Bryant asked, realising that’s where he’d heard the term.

‘Oh yes, Amy Chua’s shocking account of goading her two daughters to virtuoso extremes.’

‘You seem to know a great deal about this tiger parenting,’ Bryant observed.

‘Yes, both Jared and I were raised using the authoritarian method and look how well we turned out.’

Yes, quite, Bryant thought as he followed her along the hallway.