It's Alright to be Bright

Have you noticed that your four year old is an early reader, has an excellent memory, is highly articulate and relates particularly well to adults?

Were you a little surprised when your child's teacher reported that despite displaying outstanding curiosity, initiative, academic skill and insight, your child gets bored easily at school, can seem absorbed in a private world or even be a bit naughty or irrepressible in class?

If this sounds familiar - your child may be a Gifted and Talented student.

Educational Psychologist, Karen Spitzer, works with many children who are Gifted and Talented. She says that while these traits can apply to all kids at some time, Gifted and Talented children have unique needs.

"Gifted kids often learn differently from their peers," she said.

"Some process information faster than their classmates and others have specific interests and abilities that deserve to be fostered."

Karen says that offering activities that stimulate and challenge gifted children from as young as four years of age is important to keep them interested and engaged in learning.

How do I know if my child is gifted?

According to the NSW Department of Education and Training, a gifted student often:
• learns rapidly and quickly grasps new concepts
• has an excellent memory
• is creative or imaginative, producing many ideas that are highly original
• is independent and may prefer to work alone
• has a keen sense of humour
• may be highly motivated, particularly in self-selected tasks
• has unusual or advanced interests
• demonstrates exceptional critical thinking skills or problem-solving ability
• may have superior leadership and interpersonal skills
• frequently asks in-depth, probing questions
• may demonstrate a high degree of social responsibility or moral reasoning
• possesses a large, advanced vocabulary
• has superior insight and the ability to draw inferences or is intuitive
• is an advanced reader either in English or in their home language.

Your child does not have to have all of these abilities at once to be identified as being Gifted and Talented.

However, if you can recognise several of these signs in your child, you might like to consider the possibility that he or she has special talents or abilities that could benefit from a slightly different approach to the educational journey.

 
What should I do if I think my child is gifted?

Karen Spitzer advises parents to talk to their child's pre-school or school if they believe that their child might be gifted.

‘I always recommend that parents talk to their child's teacher first," she said.

"While not every teacher is specifically trained in gifted education, most schools have a learning support teacher for children with additional needs who will have an understanding of the needs of talented kids."

Karen recommends that parents provide the school with concrete examples of their child's work, behaviours and feelings.

"While your own impressions are important, to really be able to take action, teachers need to have concrete evidence of your child's specific skills," she said.

Karen said that an IQ assessment, done by a school counsellor or by an external psychologist, can benefit gifted children by giving their teachers and parents a clear understanding of where the students' strengths and areas requiring development lie.

In addition, formal test results often give principals and teachers the diagnostic information needed to implement classroom programs and resources that suit the needs of Gifted and Talented kids.

"IQ assessments are also useful if a child has complex learning needs that could affect their classroom experience, "Karen said.

"For example, if a gifted child is a perfectionist who is also highly anxious, IQ and learning assessments can suggest strategies to help teachers and parents to understand and cater for that child's emotional and academic needs."

Did you find this information helpful?

Come back to Kids First Children's Services next week for the next article in our gifted and talented series - Choosing a School for My Gifted Child

 Kids First Children's Services can support your Gifted and Talented child

• Confident Little Kids classes for children aged 3-5 stimulate and challenge talented pre-schoolers

• After school education programs support gifted children with enrichment activities in English, Creative Writing, Maths and Selective Schools preparation.

• Kids First's Educational Psychologist, Karen Spitzer, provides IQ and learning assessments that identify Gifted and Talented children 

Call Kids First on 9938 5419 or visit www.kids-first.com.au

Some helpful websites:

GERRIC

NSW Association for Gifted and Talented Children

NSW Department of Education and Training - Selective Schools

NSW Department of Education and Training - Opportunity Classes

Catholic Schools Office - Diocese of Broken Bay - Gifted Education

 
This article was compiled using information from the following resources:
• Gifted Education Research Resource and Information Centre (GERRIC) - University of NSW
• NSW Department of Education and Training
• Catholic Schools Office - Diocese of Broken Bay - Gifted and Talented Parent Advisory Group

© Kids First Children's Services 2009