What should you tell your child about being gifted?
Whether identified as gifted, referred for an evaluation, or placed in a “gifted and talented program," children quickly form their own impressions. They may wonder if this makes them different or smarter or weirder or better than the other kids. They may worry that they will become less popular or will be teased or bullied. They might even want to stop being gifted altogether.
Understanding giftedness is not easy
Understanding giftedness is complicated for adults; it is even more challenging for a six-, eight- or ten-year-old child. They are too young to fully grasp what giftedness means or place it in a context that makes sense. Gifted children already know they are different. They have probably heard both compliments and criticism about their quirks, talents, and precocious behaviors. The "gifted” label can provide some validation for what they already know to be true, but it also might evoke confusion and anxiety.Your child needs your help
Children need their parents to provide a framework for understanding what being "gifted" means. The following are some possible explanations you might offer to your child:
1. Gifted is just a word.
It doesn’t mean that someone is better than anyone else. It was named a long time ago because people felt that it was a “gift” to be able to learn so easily. People might feel the same way about kids who run really fast or can slam dunk a basketball. You are so fortunate to be able to learn so quickly. But it doesn't make you a better person. People are special for all kinds of wonderful reasons. Being gifted does not make someone any more special than the next person.
It doesn’t mean that someone is better than anyone else. It was named a long time ago because people felt that it was a “gift” to be able to learn so easily. People might feel the same way about kids who run really fast or can slam dunk a basketball. You are so fortunate to be able to learn so quickly. But it doesn't make you a better person. People are special for all kinds of wonderful reasons. Being gifted does not make someone any more special than the next person.
2. Gifted is a word given to kids who have different learning needs.
Everyone is different. Just like some people are taller or shorter than others, or more or less athletic, some people need a different approach in school to make learning more interesting. Everyone learns at a different pace, just like people grow taller at different rates. Some people need their teachers to teach a little more slowly, and others do best when they can move quickly through the topic. You seem to need teaching that lets you move quickly or spend a lot of time exploring a topic in depth.
Everyone is different. Just like some people are taller or shorter than others, or more or less athletic, some people need a different approach in school to make learning more interesting. Everyone learns at a different pace, just like people grow taller at different rates. Some people need their teachers to teach a little more slowly, and others do best when they can move quickly through the topic. You seem to need teaching that lets you move quickly or spend a lot of time exploring a topic in depth.
3. You were found to be “gifted” because of some tests you took.
We asked the school to give you these tests because you complained about being bored – or seemed distracted – or started to lose interest in subjects you used to like. We knew that if the testing labeled you as “gifted,” we could ask the school to give you more interesting work. We didn't care if you were gifted or not. We didn't care what score you got on the test. The only reason for taking it was so the school could give you more choices and make school more interesting. (Note: it is never a good idea to tell a young child his or her IQ score.) Now that the school knows your test results, they can find more interesting school work that is more suited to what you need.
We asked the school to give you these tests because you complained about being bored – or seemed distracted – or started to lose interest in subjects you used to like. We knew that if the testing labeled you as “gifted,” we could ask the school to give you more interesting work. We didn't care if you were gifted or not. We didn't care what score you got on the test. The only reason for taking it was so the school could give you more choices and make school more interesting. (Note: it is never a good idea to tell a young child his or her IQ score.) Now that the school knows your test results, they can find more interesting school work that is more suited to what you need.
4. Giftedness is something that is a part of you.
Giftedness is just like your eye color or height. It doesn't come from how hard you work in school, and will not go away if you slack off. It is always there and gives you some great choices to do some really creative/intensive/interesting/(you fill in the blanks) things. You can't turn it on and off like a light switch. Being gifted affects how you see the world and think - not just how you perform in school. But if you work hard, you can achieve a lot. If you don’t, you will lose out on the opportunities your abilities have given you. Just like you can decide what clothes you wear or what haircut you get, only YOU can decide how to use your abilities.
Giftedness is just like your eye color or height. It doesn't come from how hard you work in school, and will not go away if you slack off. It is always there and gives you some great choices to do some really creative/intensive/interesting/(you fill in the blanks) things. You can't turn it on and off like a light switch. Being gifted affects how you see the world and think - not just how you perform in school. But if you work hard, you can achieve a lot. If you don’t, you will lose out on the opportunities your abilities have given you. Just like you can decide what clothes you wear or what haircut you get, only YOU can decide how to use your abilities.
5. You are a lot more than your giftedness.
Even though being gifted is a part of who you are, it is not everything. There is so much more to who you are, and so much we love about you. Your intelligence and talents are just one small piece, and we wouldn't love you any less than if you had different color eyes or hair. You have so many great qualities and interests, and we are so happy that we get to know them.
Even though being gifted is a part of who you are, it is not everything. There is so much more to who you are, and so much we love about you. Your intelligence and talents are just one small piece, and we wouldn't love you any less than if you had different color eyes or hair. You have so many great qualities and interests, and we are so happy that we get to know them.
6. Giftedness comes in all shapes and sizes.
Some kids are really gifted with math. Some are great writers. Some are born leaders. Others paint up a storm. Occasionally, a few gifted children are good at many things; most are not. You have subjects in school that come really easily to you, and interests that you love. We hope you continue to put a lot of energy into these things. But you still need to work hard in those areas that are not easy for you.
Some kids are really gifted with math. Some are great writers. Some are born leaders. Others paint up a storm. Occasionally, a few gifted children are good at many things; most are not. You have subjects in school that come really easily to you, and interests that you love. We hope you continue to put a lot of energy into these things. But you still need to work hard in those areas that are not easy for you.
7. Gifted children sometimes feel they are different from other kids.
Even if you like how easy school is, it can be uncomfortable when you feel like you are different from a lot of the other kids in your class. It’s normal to feel this way. We can help you to figure out what to say if other kids make comments about your interests. We also can help you find things you do have in common with some of the other kids, or help you find outside activities that school does not offer. Being a kid can be hard for everyone - even for some of the other kids who look like they have it easy. Friendships may become easier to find when you get older - but we will help you get through whatever is hard for you right now.
8. Giftedness is not an excuse.
Being gifted does not mean school should be easy. We know that some of your classes may be too basic for you, which is why we are trying to find opportunities inside and outside of school that will challenge you. We don't expect you to be perfect, but want you to try hard and put in your best effort. Success at anything takes hard work and and practice. Not everything you are going to do at school - or later in a job - is going to be interesting, so you have to learn to do the hard work even if you don't like it.
9. We love you no matter what
You don't have to be gifted or smart or talented or do well in school for us to love you. We love you for who you are and always will. You don't have to be perfect or prove anything or live up to your giftedness. You just need to figure out what interests you and let yourself delve into it. Of course, we would like you to put in effort in school - even when you don't like your classes. That's just life - sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, like chores at home. But we don't love you any more or less just because you are gifted. We love you because you are you!
Even if you like how easy school is, it can be uncomfortable when you feel like you are different from a lot of the other kids in your class. It’s normal to feel this way. We can help you to figure out what to say if other kids make comments about your interests. We also can help you find things you do have in common with some of the other kids, or help you find outside activities that school does not offer. Being a kid can be hard for everyone - even for some of the other kids who look like they have it easy. Friendships may become easier to find when you get older - but we will help you get through whatever is hard for you right now.
8. Giftedness is not an excuse.
Being gifted does not mean school should be easy. We know that some of your classes may be too basic for you, which is why we are trying to find opportunities inside and outside of school that will challenge you. We don't expect you to be perfect, but want you to try hard and put in your best effort. Success at anything takes hard work and and practice. Not everything you are going to do at school - or later in a job - is going to be interesting, so you have to learn to do the hard work even if you don't like it.
9. We love you no matter what
You don't have to be gifted or smart or talented or do well in school for us to love you. We love you for who you are and always will. You don't have to be perfect or prove anything or live up to your giftedness. You just need to figure out what interests you and let yourself delve into it. Of course, we would like you to put in effort in school - even when you don't like your classes. That's just life - sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, like chores at home. But we don't love you any more or less just because you are gifted. We love you because you are you!
What have you told your child about being gifted? Please share your ideas in the comments section below.
I had a hard time telling my daughter about her being gifted. I didn't want her to get too full of herself. But when we talked about it, she was more concerned about others not liking her. It is so amazing that these smart children can feel so badly about themselves. They have this intelligence, but are worried that other children will not like them because of it.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Thanks for your comments. I agree with you about how self-critical many of these kids can be. I hope your daughter eventually feels more comfortable with her gifted status. Good luck.
DeleteThese are great suggestions, Gail. Like the commenter above, many parents worry that their child will become arrogant, when, if fact, the children have other concerns or they can just feel relieved. I've heard, "Oh, that's what's wrong with me!" For some more ideas, here's a post I wrote on the topic! https://rainforestmind.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/how-to-tell-kids-about-being-gifted/
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paula. Just read your blog post, and I hope others do as well. It is such a great description of what to say, and offers important points about the problems that arise if you do NOT tell your kids about being gifted. Just like adults, gifted children need to understand why they are different and be able to put it in a context. Thanks again for sharing this.
DeleteAfter our son was accelerated from first to third grade, he acquired the label of "smart" from his classmates.
ReplyDeleteWe've continued to reiterate to him that he is not "smart", instead he is a faster learner than most students. We also remind him that the most important thing in school is that he is kind to others, humble, and is a hard worker.
Victoria, It sounds like you are trying hard to instill humility, compassion and tact, which is wonderful. There are many ways to be "smart" also. A child might be "smart" with how he completes a math assignment, but not about social interactions, or even with how to load a dishwasher. While being gifted is a label which has some relevance to school, social/emotional functioning, etc., there are many ways we all can be smart!
DeleteJust what I've been looking for!
ReplyDeleteThis was a great article. 💯📚
ReplyDelete