education
Gifted & Talented?
How to know when your child should be placed in a G&T program ›› By Thomas John Ferraro, Ph. D.
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potting giftedness early is important. If your child is truly gifted and you don’t spot her talent, she is at risk for bullying and social ostracism for being considered ‘quirky.’ However, knowing if your kid is gifted or not is not as easy task. You may find it surprising but most gifted kids are never identified as such. My first experience with a gifted child was early in my psychology career as a psychological tester for a large preschool. A teacher came to my office and asked me to test one of her students who was making trouble in class and seemed hyperactive and unhappy. Later that week when the 4-year-old arrived in my office he sat down, crossed his legs like an adult, looked me straight in the eye, and asked, “Well Dr. Ferraro, what would you like to talk about today?” Here before me was a 30-year-old mind in a 4-year-old body. It turned out his IQ was 145, which was in the top 1 percent of intelligence. So I learned early on that giftedness can not only be a problem for teachers and peers, but it is often misdiagnosed as an illness. Here are 10 of the more common traits of the young gifted child: 1. Frequently very sensitive, overactive, and moody 2. Asks many questions 3. Highly focused and even obsessed when she finds something that interests her 4. Can be critical and skeptical
5. Develops a large storehouse of knowledge 6. A very fast learner, which can at times produce laziness since he never has to work very hard to get by 7. Curious and inquisitive 8. Playful, possesses a good sense of humor, and is creative 9. Has a well-developed aesthetic sense and appreciates beauty and nature 10. Develops a high ethical sense and gets angry when she sees injustice If your child has five or more of these traits: • Observe what he is interested in over time and support this interest with information, material things, and lessons • Make sure you give her a ‘romance phase’ in her hobbies and keep the hobby or sport fun for the first few years • Ask the teacher or coach if he seems exceptional to them • As she begins to excel in her hobby, sport, or art form, be prepared to support her emotionally by listening and safeguarding her from the pressure that will come The parents’ ability to identify and support the child’s talent is just as important as the child’s gifts. Research now tells us that it is only when the young prodigy is surrounded by ongoing parental support that the gifts can grow. And the very first step in this process is early identification.
Thomas John Ferraro, Ph.D., an internationally noted sports psychologist and journalist, has worked with some of the world’s elite young athletes and their families. Dr. Ferraro publishes widely in the area of giftedness and how to manage it. He has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the London Times.
Fairf ieldParent 13