How to Support Your Gifted Child
Article
Does your child have a higher-than-average learning ability? Do you think they might be gifted (also referred to as high potential)? Here are some questions to consider.
Does your child have a higher-than-average learning ability? Do you think they might be gifted (also referred to as high potential)? Here are some questions to consider.
The word giftedness is commonly used to refer to exceptional skills or talents, especially in sports or the arts.
However, when giftedness is used to describe high intellectual potential (HIP), it refers more specifically to intellectual giftedness. A child who is intellectually gifted may have an exceptional ability to reason, understand concepts, learn quickly, or solve problems. These skills constitute intelligence or intellectual potential. While a child’s potential is mainly innate, it can also be affected by education and cognitive stimulation. Giftedness is generally measured using an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) test. Other characteristics are also taken into account during the assessment. These indicators can vary depending on the expert and theoretical model. Here are some of the most common:
A common stereotype is that gifted people are hypersensitive and tend to have more emotional difficulties. In reality, research shows that gifted people are better at coping with stress and adversity, and have fewer behavioural and emotional problems than the average person.
When giftedness occurs in conjunction with a disorder, such as a learning disorder or ADHD, the child is called twice-exceptional, or 2e. If a child is suspected of being both gifted and challenged, the family should consult a specialist who has experience working with 2e kids to avoid misdiagnosis. Often, one condition can mask the other. For example, a child may have a learning disorder, but their high intellectual potential allows them to hide their difficulties more effectively than the average kid. Or, a child with ADHD may have behaviours that mask their high potential . An experienced specialist will be able to recognize a twice-exceptional child, understand how their ability and disability interact, and accurately identify their needs.
Children may be born with the potential for giftedness, but must be guided, stimulated, and encouraged to fulfill that potential. Here are some ways parents can help their child develop their talents:
Gifted children who also have a learning disorder don’t always do well in school and may struggle to reach their full potential. To help them stay the course, check out our article entitled Keeping your child in school.
To keep your gifted child stimulated and help them do well in school, consider the following options:
Outside school, you can enroll your child in extracurricular activities that spark their interest, specialty camps, competitions, and arts and science events. You can even encourage them to start a creative business project!
Rewriting : The Alloprof Parents' team in collaboration with Institut TA