Archives for September 2010

Thanks to a comment left by a new reader recently, who posed the interesting question to ask if K is a gifted child, I went to do a research online on the topic of gifted-ness.

It seems that the term "gifted" is rather commonly used these days and lots of parents are also much more well informed, looking at the popularity of schools and enrichment centres who advocate gifted education. These programmes constantly challenge the child to tasks that are more difficult; multiplying the child's intelligence, or stimulating the right brain to improve their photographic memory and overall encouraging giftedness in children.

How do the experts define giftedness? Some view giftedness as an unusually high level of development in abstract reasoning skills, while another view is to perceive giftedness as "exceptional potential for learning and academic achievement in relation to chronological age peers". There is also Renzulli's "three-ringed" approach which defines giftedness as the convergence of three traits (above-average intelligence, creativity, and task commitment), while others have used Gardner's multiple intelligences (linguistics, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal) to define giftedness as superior performance in any one of these areas. 

Each of them seem to have plenty of differences in their definition of giftness, but there seem to be one common denominator: Giftedness is regarded as a high level of performance or the potential for such performance beyond what is expected of typically developing individuals. For added interest, read this link on characteristics of gifted children and this link explains the difference between a bright and gifted child. 

Using these articles as a reference, there are lots of children who are very bright and some very likely gifted these days. I know of many kids who are able to understand instructions by 18 months, long attention span in interest areas by age 2, recognition of letters/alphabets, rote counting, of first word and interest in puzzles by age 2. Show extreme curiosity and asks many questions, ability to memorize and recall facts easily, ability to do one-to-one counting for small quantities by age 3 and ability to read easy readers by age 4. Generally, it seems giftedness can be observed in many areas, not just academic excellence alone.

According to Inderbir Kaur Sandhu, Ph.D, 'gifted children would demonstrate development that is at least 30% more advanced than their peers. It seems that it is much harder to determine giftedness since many children are exposed to various activities by parents; these activities actually make them learn faster regardless of ability. All children are like sponges and absorb learning quite rapidly, and enthusiastic parents certainly help in their development. For example, a gifted toddler may learn to read at three, and so will a bright toddler. However, a gifted child would need much more stimulation and any learning activity needs to match their intellectual capabilities. If it does not, the child would lose interest in learning and may become disillusioned and probably disruptive. On the other hand, a bright child would do well in most learning environment and would usually be toppers. They adapt to learning quite easily and are viewed as "good, obedient children". Naturally, a bright child is easier to nurture compared to a gifted child.'

Interestingly, although not commonly known, gifted children are classified as special needs children as they need just as much attention and educational resources to thrive in school as do other students whose physical, behavioral, emotional or learning needs require special accommodation.

Regardles of whether a child is just bright or gifted, there are all blessings from God. I believe almost every child in some way gifted in the eyes of their loving parents. A parent's role is to nurture their interests and potential, and expose them to as many experiences as they can to maximise the child's potential.

I am also extremely thankful to have a bright and healthy child, however do wish he can be a little less manipulative at times. 

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