GK: The paraliminal tapes can be immensely beneficial to your child, if shared in a spirit of encouragement and belief in the child's ability.
Although my own early conditioning has (so far) been an obstacle to my receiving full benefits from the tapes, my daughter has enjoyed and benefitted from them. My approach is always to affirm that she HAS all the innate abilities she needs to accomplish her goals, and that the tapes will help to release this potential.
Particularly if your child is having difficulties, it is essential that you first convince yourself--and then communicate to your child--that he/she IS sufficiently intelligent and capable to succeed. "I believe in you" is the primary message; the tapes may then be a useful tool in demonstrating this to your child.
Chip: As Win Wenger points out (his writings include many techniques for increasing intelligence and improving performance), it is the more intelligent people--rather than those who "need" it the most--who are interested in improving their IQ and performance.
You do sound more intelligent, and more self-aware, than the "typical" 13-year-old. More power to you! I hope that you will never be dissuaded from your pursuits by terms like "nerd." Keep up the great work!
xiaosam: Only the brighter (or at least more self-aware) folks I've known--whether 13 or 31--seem to be interested in these things.
I'm sure your post was well-intended (probably meant as a good-natured joke), but I was concerned that the term "nerd" might strike a nerve.
It takes a number of years for most of us to develop the psychological "rhinoceros hide" necessary to weather the slings and arrows of the anti-intellectual climate in which we live. I always try to encourage these bright young minds, because a veritable minefield of discouragement awaits them.
"May all beings be enlightened."
[This message has been edited by shinsei (edited April 04, 2001).]