Recently, I had to make a decision regarding the renewal of my son’s Mensa membership. After careful consideration, I chose not to renew it. This decision stemmed from a few key observations and experiences.
Firstly, our experience with Mensa revealed that it caters more effectively to older members, such as teenagers and adults. While the organization offers resources and opportunities, we found them somewhat limited for younger children like my son. It’s important for parents of gifted children to find resources that resonate with and challenge their children’s unique abilities, and in our case, Mensa’s offerings fell short of this need.
Secondly, the financial aspect played a role in our decision. Mensa requires a membership fee, which is something to consider, especially when there are alternative organizations that offer resources for gifted children at no cost. Organizations like PG Retreat and Davidson Young Scholars provide valuable support and opportunities for young, gifted individuals without any membership fee. This aspect made us reassess the value we were receiving in exchange for the membership fee.
Moreover, our interaction with Mensa’s customer service was less than satisfactory. Over the past two years, I contacted their membership office via email twice but received no response. This lack of communication was disheartening and gave the impression that once membership fees were paid, the organization’s interest in individual members diminished.
In summary, while Mensa is undoubtedly a renowned high-IQ organization, it did not meet our specific needs for our gifted child. More importantly, we no longer care about what organization he can join. We want to concentrate on providing an environment that fosters his growth and development, tailored to his unique talents and interests.
Brilliant Kindness 