Gifted Children

Parenting gifted children is certainly both an extraordinary privilege and an extraordinary challenge. Any preconceived notions of parenting are best forgotten, for if your child is gifted, you have been gifted with the task of nurturing a profound mind.

In physical appearance, the gifted child appears “normal,” yet is cursed by both his / her birthday and body. For one not aware of the gifted child’s unique needs, we assume that their chronology / birthday and their physical size mean they are like their peers. As a parent of a gifted child, you know nothing could be further from the truth!

Gifted children may have little kids’ bodies, and little kids’ birthdays, but inside they have big kids’ brains!

First and foremost, the gifted child does not, and will NEVER, view you, the parent, as the parent. In his mind, you are both thinking on the same level, because, in fact, you are. Trying the “I’m the mommy, that’s why” logic will likely result in a roll of the eyes or outright rebuke from your little on the outside, adult on the inside, gifted child!

Successfully parenting this unique child is, thankfully, supported by some excellent resources, many of which are included in the AMERICA’S ANGEL Bookstore, under the heading of Giftedness. These books provide the necessary knowledge and parenting strategies you need to negotiate your child’s unique needs.

Parent Checklist for Identifying Giftedness:

Below is a list of comparisons of the Bright Child and the Gifted Child. If your child falls most often in the Gifted column, you may consider seeking further testing in order to ensure your child receives the educational course that benefits his promise and potential. In addition, most cities, counties, states and even the federal level, have political action organizations for promoting the educational rights of gifted children.

There are several characteristics credited to the gifted child:

• The Gifted Child exhibits intensity and curiosity sooner than the average child. They respond to events with stronger emotion, sensitivity and passion than the average child.
• When they are interested in something, they pursue it with passion! They seek out information to discover as much about it as possible.
• The gifted child has an excellent memory, which may account for their ability to remember details, spelling words, or math problems with ease.
• Younger gifted children can watch television or work at the computer for longer periods of time, and sit quietly and listen to a story for longer than their peers.
• These children need to be challenged. They have a thirst for information, and general education classes frustrate them, as they don’t like repeating or practicing things they already know.
• They are often perfectionists, highly organized, and expect to do well at everything.
• Gifted children often speak at an early age and have an impressive vocabulary. They learn to read sooner than most, often before kindergarten.
• They can be sensitive to sound, clothes tags, or wrinkles in socks. They are perceptive to facial expressions, body language, and often have a good sense or humor.
• They are voracious in their search for answers, including reading and internet research, and tend to ask a lot of questions.
• These children are methodical thinkers, have definite opinions, and are very motivated when curious about a topic. They work well on their own. Because their intelligence is highly developed, they are not interested in typical activities of their chronological peers. Rather, they prefer the company of older children or adults.
• Identifying if your child is gifted is an important step to establish the best way to advocate for your child in school.

 

Giftedness Resources

Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) was formed to bring attention to the unique emotional needs of gifted children. It provided adults with guidance, information, resources, and a forum to communicate about raising and educating these children.

Today, SENG has expanded its goals to focus not only on gifted children, but also on gifted adults. Many schools, communities, and organizations focus on the intellectual needs of gifted individuals. SENG brings attention to the unique social and emotional needs of gifted individuals, which are often misunderstood or ignored. By underwriting and providing education, research, theory building, and staff development, SENG promotes environments where gifted individuals can develop self-esteem, thrive, and utilize their talents.

Please visit their website for more: http://www.sengifted.org/

 

Download the Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children FULL PDF