Parenting the Young Gifted

8/3/2019 Parenting the Young Gifted

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ParentingThe Young Gifted

Identifying the Young GiftedMost parents see their child as special andmarvel at the amazing things they can dowhen they begin to learn and exhibit newtalents. As parents, we would like to believe

that all children are gifted. However, in orderto identify the child correctly, we must use acommon definition of what a young gifted childmeans. Most researchers agree thatgiftedness in a young child relates to theirrapid rate of development in certain areas aswell as their precociousness. As a generalrule, parents can identify any child who is one-quarter to one-half of their age ahead of theirpeers as gifted (ex. a four year old who is oneor two years ahead of his peers).

Characteristics of the Young Gifted

The young gifted are not as easily identifiableas older gifted children since the standard testsare often beyond their abilities. Therefore, thebest way to identify these children is to have a

complete picture through observations indifferent settings, products from the childswork, and anecdotal information from thechilds parents.Through those observations and products, youmight discover the following:

expresses curiosity continually asks questions solves problems in new and unusual ways communicates with an extensivevocabulary

posses wonderful memories have original imaginations able to learn really quickly take initiative and can work independently prefer to play with older children

Parents of gifted children with encounter somejoys and challenges on a daily basis and willmany times wish they had a normal child.Between the friends or family who berate youfor pushing your child, andthe constant worries ofwhether you are doingenough, being the parent ofa young gifted child ischallenging.However, youhave been given agift, it is up to youto open itspotential.

DoYouHaveaGifted

Child?

Aretheycuriousandasklots

ofquestions?

Dotheyhaveanamazinglongtermmemory?

Isyourchildveryindependent?

Dotheylearnthingseasily?

Dotheyhaveanunusualor

specialtalent?

Dotheyshowleadershipamong

theirfriends?

Dotheyliketoinventnew

thingsorbuild?

Cantheyapplylearningfrom

onesituationtoanother?

By: Mandy Fox


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Providing for their Affective Needs

A gifted child has particular affective needs that other childrenmay never experience. Depending on their area of giftednessthey may experience worry, over excitability, underachievement, perfectionism, and a heightened sensitivity to thproblems around them. Some of the things that you can do tohelp these children cope are:

Help them enjoy the topics they may show initial strength irather than pushing them and turning it into a drudgery.Often times, parents will see a strength and want to develoit further immediately. For example, a child can addnumbers, now he needs to know how to subtract.

Be patient with your child, as most people who have doneanything with their talent were committed to developing it foa lifetime.

Develop the authoritative mode of parenting rather than thdebating mode. Many parents are drawn in by the giftedchilds ability to debate. Remember that you are the adultand you have the right to set the boundaries.

Address the perfectionistic tendencies that might developearly on by being a model for your child. Celebrate yoursuccesses and learn from your failures publicly with yourchild. Never be afraid to show your child you are not perfeceither.

Helping Them Academically

Academics is the area where mostparents are concerned with theirchilds development. Parents needto find and maintain a balance of

giving their childopportunities to learnwithout over-scheduling

them. Here are somehelpful hints to ensure your

child is getting the most out oftheir school experience.

Provide you child withopportunities to explore theirinterests. This does notmean sign them up forevery lesson under thesun, but take them placesand expose them to newideas in order to help them

find their area of interest.

Hoagies Gifted- Young GiftedChildren-http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/

young_children.htm

Where Does Your Child Fall? AScale of Typical Behaviors andBenchmarkshttp://www.austega.com/gifted/preschoolers.htm

NAGCs Information Page onthe Young Gifted Child-http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?

id=1467

University of ConnecticutsParents of Gifted ChildrenResource Page-http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.html

Council for ExceptionalChildren- TAGhttp://www.cectag.org/

NAGCs Practical Tools forParents-http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261

ONLINE

Resources

Mandy Fox currently teachesenrichment classes for 3rd-5thgraders in Hoover, Alabama. She hasan EdS. in Technology Leadership inEducation and is pursuing her secondMasters in Gifted Education fromSamford University. She is also aNational Board Certified Teacher.
http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.cectag.org/http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.htmlhttp://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.htmlhttp://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1467http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1467http://www.austega.com/gifted/preschoolers.htmhttp://www.austega.com/gifted/preschoolers.htmhttp://www.hoagiesgifted.org/young_children.htmhttp://www.hoagiesgifted.org/young_children.htmhttp://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.cectag.org/http://www.cectag.org/http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.htmlhttp://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.htmlhttp://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1261http://www.cectag.org/http://www.cectag.org/http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.htmlhttp://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.htmlhttp://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.htmlhttp://www.gifted.uconn.edu/parents/parentrp.htmlhttp://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1467http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1467http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1467http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1467http://www.austega.com/gifted/preschoolers.htmhttp://www.austega.com/gifted/preschoolers.htmhttp://www.austega.com/gifted/preschoolers.htmhttp://www.austega.com/gifted/preschoolers.htmhttp://www.hoagiesgifted.org/young_children.htmhttp://www.hoagiesgifted.org/young_children.htmhttp://www.hoagiesgifted.org/young_children.htmhttp://www.hoagiesgifted.org/young_children.htm


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Be a role model for your child and show them the excitement of learning new things. Just because you mhave finished school does not mean you are done learning. Read a new book, go to a new museum andhave discussions about what you each learned that you never knew before.

Try to find assistance from other individuals who can help answer your childsmyriad of questions. Your child may be the type of child who asks a million questionsa day. Find experts in the fields that can answer those questions. Make sure youemphasize when you dont know, but you know how to find out.

Teach them the use it or lose it principal of learning, rather than the principle ofhe harder you work, the smarter you become as that will set your child up forailure later on in life. Many times gifted children will hit a wall later on and thinkhat if they worked a little harder, they would be able to figure it out. Reality sayshat sometimes you need a different approach or explanation, rather than

harder work.

Set up opportunities for your child to engage in creative play.This will givehem the ability to develop that budding imagination.

Give your child chances to take risks and learn from those situations. Anygifted child needs to be able to take a risk so that they will realize that failure iseminent. It is what you learn from your mistakes that make you the better person.

Encourage teachers to screen your child early if you are relatively sure ofgiftedness, as regression to be like their peers can be a real problem once the childenters school.

When possible, use technology as a teaching tool to allow children to move atheir own pace.

Ensure that the child is gifted in all academic areas before consideringacceleration to a higher grade or early entry into school.

C a s t e l l a n o , J . A . ( 2 0 0 2 ) . S p e c i a l p o p u l a t i o n s o f g i f t e d c h i l d r e n . A l l y n & B a c o n .

D e l c o u r t , M . A . O f f i c e o f E d u c a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h a n d I m p r o v e m e n t , N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C e n t e r o n t h eG i f t e d a n d T a l e n t e d . ( 1 9 9 8 ) . W h a t p a r e n t s n e e d t o k n o w a b o u t . . r e c o g n i z i n g a n d e n c o u r a g i n g i n t e r e s ts , s t r e n g t h s , a n d t a l e n t s o f y o u n g g i f t e d c h i l d r e n . W a s h i n g t o n , D C .

R o b i n s o n , N . M . O f f i c e o f E d u c a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h a n d I m p r o v e m e n t , N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C e n t e r o n t h eG i f t e d a n d T a l e n t e d . ( 1 9 9 3 ) . P a r e n t i n g t h e v e r y y o u n g g i f t e d . S t o r r s , C T .

S m u t n y , J . F. ( 2 0 0 0 ) . T e a c h i n g y o u n g g i f t e d c h i l d r e n i n t h e r e g u l a r c l a s s r o o m . E R I C d i g e s t s .

W ei n h o u s e , D . ( 1 9 9 8 ) . E n c o u r a g i n g p o t e n t i a l i n y o u n g c h i l d r e n . H a u p p a u g e , N Y : B a r r o n ' s E d u c a t i o n a l

S e r i e s .

Resources

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Parenting the Young Gifted