Having a gifted child is not a problem, it is an opportunity

Many people tend to think that have a gifted child it's a problem. On the other hand, it is an extraordinary opportunity to educate him well, guide and develop all his abilities, form his personality so that he is happy and make him see that he has a great talent, mainly, in the service of others.

What kind of school should a gifted child go to?

Many parents think it is detrimental to learning that a gifted child attends a "normal" school. But it does not have to be like that. What hurts the most Gifted child is that the classroom is not treated individually to meet their needs.


All children are offered an individual learning to develop their skills to the fullest. In the case of gifted children, as they are not a problem for the teacher because they follow the rhythm of the class, they are not their priority. Therefore, most are treated unfairly in the classroom.

It is not harmful to go to a center for "normal" children as long as the teacher has the resources to deal with their needs. The problem is that most centers lack these resources. The ideal thing would be to not have to take him to a different school because the difference they may have with respect to other children also educates them, makes them grow as people and helps them to integrate within a society. Growing up and educating with children with their own abilities limits their development and what seems to be a rich education is a poor education on a personal and social development level.


The solution would be to be able to locate each child according to their intellectual and learning development, not by age or academic year. This would imply a change in the educational system that escapes the possibilities of the schools.

As an alternative to this, parents can and must fight to have their center offer them educational reinforcements to attend to the advanced needs of their children and avoid, in this way, their boredom.

Obstacles faced by gifted children

The speed with which they learn or adapt to the "normal" rhythm They are your own obstacles. To this we must add the loneliness to have no partners with whom to do the tasks, support or exchange questions and another problem may be the lack of understanding, sometimes, by the rest.

Given this, it is important that parents and teachers know children very well, know their needs, understand them and give them the opportunity to learn. Teachers must offer new content and learning techniques, as well as other times for problem solving or different evaluation systems. And parents, to the extent of their possibilities and resources, should provide interesting extracurricular activities in terms of learning, without forgetting, above all, the need for children to develop as a person and within a social group. Therefore, not only do all activities aimed at enhancing their cognitive level have to go, but have them serve to grow as people and make them happy.


What to do when a gifted child is detected?

When the clues to recognize a gifted child have paid off, the next step would be to seek help at the school, resort to associations or professionals specialized in this field to advise them on activities or camps where they can be with other children with the same capabilities.

As far as the family is concerned, they do not have to treat them differently, but each one as they are, bearing in mind that the treatment varies according to how each child is. The important thing is that the parents are the role model to be able to develop as a person and that the school offers them more specific help.

Tips for considering opportunities for gifted children

- We must never stop the abilities of our children, especially if they are gifted. If they ask complex questions, we must give them an answer. These children, in addition, need to be more reasoned things, seek more arguments.

- The gifted child will feel great satisfaction and he will look better when he experiences solving problems, inventing things, and helping others in their jobs.

- Gifted children need to be motivated and stimulated not only in the intellectual aspect for its high capacity, but in different activities such as sports and social relations. They need to learn to deal with others, to respect the concerns of their peers and not to think they are "the best". It is never advised to do a cult of intelligence, because like him, everyone has strengths. Also our gifted son should know that he has weaker aspects.

- Parents should never make comparisons of "degrees of intelligence" among our children.

- In the classroom they should be given the opportunity to follow their rhythm, not the one of his companions. And in the family that does not follow the rhythm of his brothers, but his own.

Conchita Requero
Advice: María Campo Martínez. Director of Educational Centers Kimba.

More information in the bookPilar Martín Lobo, Smart Children: a guide to develop their talents and high abilities.

You may also like:

- Motivation guide for children with high abilities

- Gifted, test to detect high capacity

- The 8 intelligences of children, games to enhance them

- Intelligence, is it inherited?

- Activities that stimulate the baby's intelligence

Video: Gifted children


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