Raising Gifted Children
The key to raising gifted children is respect; respect for their uniqueness, respect for their opinions and ideas, and respect for their dreams. Gifted have a need for responsiveness and flexibility. At home, children need to know their uniqueness is cherished and that they are appreciated as persons just for being themselves.
Nurturing Social/Emotional Needs of Gifted Children
To a large degree, the needs of gifted children are the same as those of other children. Some limiting problems, however, appear more often in gifted children.
-- They may enjoy more complex activities, games, and conversation than other children their age making same age relationships less than fulfilling. Help them find intellectual peers as well as working to keep them with peers their own age. Gifted children often have several "peer groups".
--They may have higher demands on themselves and assume others do also, causing undue stress about many things.
--Talk openly about your child's feelings of pressure. Be aware that your reactions and questioning may make them
feel pressure from you. (Reading biographies about other gifted people is a good way for them to understand about
dealing with stresses of being gifted.)
They may be strong willed, often seeming bossy to
children their own age. Teach them to practice taking
a break from being the one in control. Possibly have
them keep a journal and write about their feelings on
days they feel themselves letting others be the leaders.
Being gifted is not by choice, as having learning
disabilities is not by choice. All children are special.
Teach your child to accept this idea by not shying
away from taking credit for their accomplishments, nor
developing the attitude that they are better than others
because of their abilities. They must also learn they
will not always be right.
Remember that though gifted children need and can
handle more decisions of their own, the parent must
remain the one in charge. Children need limits/
boundaries and find security in them even when they
push the limits. If your child hasn't been taught to
accept boundaries in early childhood, it will be hard
for them to accept boundaries in adolescence. They
need your boundaries when they are young to help
them learn to set boundaries and exercise self-
discipline for themselves as they grow.
Be involved in your child's life and let them know that
you love them always and in all ways.
Nurturing Social/Emotional Needs of Gifted Children
To a large degree, the needs of gifted children are the same as those of other children. Some limiting problems, however, appear more often in gifted children.
-- They may enjoy more complex activities, games, and conversation than other children their age making same age relationships less than fulfilling. Help them find intellectual peers as well as working to keep them with peers their own age. Gifted children often have several "peer groups".
--They may have higher demands on themselves and assume others do also, causing undue stress about many things.
--Talk openly about your child's feelings of pressure. Be aware that your reactions and questioning may make them
feel pressure from you. (Reading biographies about other gifted people is a good way for them to understand about
dealing with stresses of being gifted.)
They may be strong willed, often seeming bossy to
children their own age. Teach them to practice taking
a break from being the one in control. Possibly have
them keep a journal and write about their feelings on
days they feel themselves letting others be the leaders.
Being gifted is not by choice, as having learning
disabilities is not by choice. All children are special.
Teach your child to accept this idea by not shying
away from taking credit for their accomplishments, nor
developing the attitude that they are better than others
because of their abilities. They must also learn they
will not always be right.
Remember that though gifted children need and can
handle more decisions of their own, the parent must
remain the one in charge. Children need limits/
boundaries and find security in them even when they
push the limits. If your child hasn't been taught to
accept boundaries in early childhood, it will be hard
for them to accept boundaries in adolescence. They
need your boundaries when they are young to help
them learn to set boundaries and exercise self-
discipline for themselves as they grow.
Be involved in your child's life and let them know that
you love them always and in all ways.