u/FredMist

So I’m finally watching the actual show thanks to a fan sub account and I just finished episode 4 when they are down to 4 contestants.

Star quality just means young and pretty. Literally every person that they comment that has Star quality is on the younger end and already looks similar or just like an idol. Sakura, Hiori and Aoi. I think there might have been someone else with Star quality but I forget who it is and it wasn’t their main draw.

Let’s go through the similarities that these girls have, they’re all on the younger end of the group demographic. They’re all slimmer with more if an idol look. Honestly Hiori reminds me a bit of Ryujin from itzy. Talent wise all three are on the weaker side though I think Hiori is stronger and passable though kind of forgettable. I like Aoi’s gumption though she was never trained as a dancer or singer she really just decided to do it.

Pretty privilege is a thing and it’s particular strong in East Asia. Many of the contestants didn’t fit the idol aesthetic because they were older, their face shape didn’t work or they were simply a thicker body type. I think with their faces already broadcasted and an international group there might be hesitancy to go the plastic surgery route which is so common in kpop groups so having the winner already be beautiful was important to the judges (though to an international crowd almost all the girls are seen as attractive). Someone like Jayla who was one of my picks along with Honoka K and Rira just didn’t look the part although in all honesty she was so immensely talented.

So while I do think charisma is a thing, I don’t think ‘star power’ is the same thing. It’s basically pretty privilege + youth.

My 4.5yo is not diagnosed but has recently been evaluated for IEP services due to focus and behavioral issues. Her attention, ability to focus and follow instruction seems to fall apart in larger groups but she does well one on one. All her evaluators said that she does show signs of ADHD (she was literally climbing on me during one evaluation) but is too young to be diagnosed.

I know parents often see their kids differently but I’m also wondering how much of this is due to likely having ADHD or at least some signifiers. Her teacher says that she doesn’t know her letters and their sounds but she’s been spelling and starting to read simple words since September.

Her teacher also said that although she picks up new concepts quickly she doesn’t retain them and seems to forget new skills. However just the past week she started doing simple addition up to 10. Previously in September she was doing simple addition up to 5. I haven’t really pushed any math so when she started reciting 2+2, 3+3, 4+4 and 5+5, (she was correct in all the sums) I just assumed she learned it in class.

She has a star system at home where she gets a small toy every ten stars or she can save for a larger toy (she hasn’t saved yet). When she had 7 stars, she said oh I need 3 more to get ten! (There was no visual marker to help her get this number. She was only talking about it as she was going down the stairs.) So maybe her preschool class is learning even more advanced material and my kid isn’t picking it up or she just isn’t able to focus enough in class to show she knows the material?

I just received the report from her CPSE evaluations on Friday and overall she’s average intelligence and they recommend PT, OT, SEIT and speech-language therapy.

Maybe I’m wrong because she’s my kid but she seems to be at least be picking up the skills she’s learning in class and displaying them at home? I’m mainly worried because she’s been asking me if she’s a smart girl and I tell her she is but she still needs to work hard. I just wonder if she feels dumb in school and that’s why she’s asking me?