You have observed some interesting characteristics in your gifted children. They seem unusually active and alert. They use vocabulary words that make them seem very mature for their age. They remember everything. They love puzzles and ask a lot of questions.
They spend a lot of time on something they really like. They have creative imaginations and love to tell stories and dream big dreams.
They might seem a little emotional at times, overreact, get frustrated, and get stubborn about doing things their way. They strive for perfection and are disappointed when they fall short of it.
You start to wonder if these children are exceptional. They might be actually gifted in some way. How do you find out, and if they are ahead of the curve, what do you do about it?
How do you help them develop their unusual talents? How can you help them explore their interests further? They may be skilled in math or science or language. They might be exceptional athletes. They may show advanced talent in art or music or dance.
While each of these areas may have a distinct path to greater expression and development, there are some general guidelines you can follow to get them pointed in the right direction.
At Home – Be Supportive
As soon as you notice your child’s specialness, be attentive to what she says and does. Create an open environment that promotes self-expression and encourages the sharing of thoughts and interests. This can be a crazy time for you, but it is very worth your time.
Help your child to learn more about those plants she has shown an interest in. Find ways to support her interest in animals. Take her to a zoo. Watch an animal show on television. Introduce her to the world of science. Visit the local library or bookstore.
If her interest is art or music, there is nothing like a museum or concert to spur imagination and desire to learn more.
If it’s cooking or crafts, there are classes and fairs. If it’s law or politics or the environment, there are books and legislative leaders and summer camps. Whatever is drawing your child’s fascination, there is a resource out there to further engage her curiosity and accelerate her learning.
Stress that learning along with exploration and discovery rather than the knowledge itself and the strive for perfection in the field. It’s more about the journey and the ability to keep learning than it is the destination.
It’s also about your child’s health. Along this learning path, there will be challenges and difficulties, emotional ups and downs. Discuss these issues and what might happen along the way. Other children, teachers, and community adults will have their own opinions and feelings, and not all of those reactions will be positive. Teach your child how to handle them in a healthy way.
Research giftedness on your own and become your own expert. Make notes about emotions and developmental characteristics as well as learning needs.
As your child moves into and through the school system, it is time for you to become involved in her formal education because many systems and teachers aren’t up to speed on exactly what giftedness is or how to deal with it. Your job is to work with them to make sure your child gets the opportunities to develop her talent in the best way possible, even if that means a disruption to the traditional classroom style of teaching and learning.
At School – Be Engaged
At your child’s school, you want to be her advocate, making sure that teachers and school officials are aware of her gifts and that there are avenues made available to develop those gifts.
Since your child’s teacher will have the most influence on how the child develops, you will want to share what you know about your child’s interests and abilities with the teacher. Make an appointment with all your child’s teachers to lay the groundwork for the school year.
Ask about enrichment programs, ability grouping, independent study, special projects, or special reading assignments that might be possible.
It’s a good idea to keep a portfolio of what your child creates, what activities she participates in, what awards and recognition she receives, and any other indications of her extraordinary skills.
Seek professional evaluations of your child’s intellectual or performance prowess. Enroll your child in any advanced classes or courses that seem appropriate for gifted learners.
If those opportunities do not exist, consider alternatives including grade acceleration of one or possibly two grades higher than her peers. If necessary, consider that you may have to move her to a different school with a different philosophy for educating gifted children.
You want your child to be challenged in the classroom and have the chance to pursue interests to a deeper level if she so desires. Offer to volunteer your own time and talent to help out. Join a parent support group (or start one) to serve as a resource to advocate for the recognition and development of gifted children.
Share your own cultural traditions of music, food, or art and ask about other cultures and how they are being shared. If language is an issue for you or your child, seek bilingual teachers or parents who can help you communicate your ideas and concerns.
In addition to working with teachers and other parents, you should check in with counselors and administrative officials who can provide additional support.
Monitor decisions and policies at the school district level. Does the school district support programs and budget for gifted learners? Are there programs for teacher professional development in the area of giftedness? Are gifted programs evaluated on a continual basis?
In the Community – Be Resourceful
If your child has extraordinary abilities, it is never too early to consider life outside school and eventual advancement to college or university levels. There are after-school programs, summer camps, weekend programs and online enrichment programs.
There are mentors and talent experts, museum curators, college instructors and tutors, and more professionals who can serve as sources of knowledge and inspiration.
You as an interested and engaged parent can be as involved as you want to be. Do your part in encouraging your gifted child. Remove obstacles in her path. Plan ahead. Open the gates. Prepare support that will be needed. Coach your child. Listen to what she says and how she feels.
And keep in mind that, although you want the best for her, do not overschedule things. She is still a child, and children should have fun.
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