Precocious/ Gifted Children

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   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   There are children who are so aware at their young ages.   They have a perception that some adults do not have.   These children are often quite prodigious.  They are usually the A students, even though they may not be A students,  they have an intellectual curiosity and deepness.
   
   Many parents do not understand such children.   In fact, they find it difficult to fathom such children.   Many such children are often more acute and intelligent than their parents are in certain areas.   While a few parents encourage and motivate their gifted children to achieve great heights, others desperately want their children to be like the "average", "normal" child.    Many precocious children were often told to "stay in a child's place."   Well, there are children who do not like childish games and/or interfacing with other children. 
   
   These children actually prefer the company of either older children and/or adult because they are mature beyond their chronological ages.    It is shameful that precocious children are seldom understood by society who believe that they should conform to being a child.    Such children are rare gems who should be encouraged to be themselves.  What do YOU think?

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      msorenssonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Indeed they are different, and it takes a lot to be able to relate to them..it requires awareness that they are different...and lots of love and lots of patience and an understanding that they move to a different drummer...
      Oh..a minor thing..when one realizes that the child in front of you, despite the many many years of education on your part, is more intelligent/aware/in tune.. than both his parents combined, then one must be humble enough to admit it....

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         gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Amen to that.   However, many parents feel threatened by such children because they believe that as parents, they should know more than the child.    These parents operate from a position of authority.   To these parents, the parents are the leader and in the know while the child should just acquiesce to parental authority.      Many parents believe that their children are inferior to them, sad but true.

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            msorenssonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Oh.. there were so many times that I had to resist saying "Just do as I say, I'm your mother.." The temptation was there..it too had to be transcended..

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               gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               It is true.   The evolved and mature parent is often a more participatory parent because they portend that children are individualized human beings with their own desires and ideas.    Such a parent believes that the duty of a parent is to guide their children, not to mold them into the parental image.

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                  msorenssonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  The duty of the parent is to give the child all the love he or she can give and to give the child as much exposure to the world to the extent that it is possible so that the child, gifted or not will be freer to choose...
                  
                  It is the gift of choice that a parent must impart  the child and this can only be within the context of love with reason..
                  
                  A parent, no matter how much he or she loves the child cannot hand him or her Excalibur..he might hurt himself.or herself..

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                     msorenssonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     Oh..what I meant is that for the child to be  ready to wield a sword of great power, he must first learn how to use it...

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                        gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        +1.

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      Starmom41posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm delighted that I have TWO of them     and I agree with your viewpoints.

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   Diana Grantposted 11 years ago

   I think it is important to stretch the minds of gifted children as much as possible, by encouraging them to consider and discuss things with older people, or their intellectual equals.  Being gifted as a child can be a bit lonely, especially if they are expected to mix mainly with their own year group at school.  There have been four generations of gifted people in my family from my father down to my grandchildren.  Going by the statistics and measurements mentioned in your article, and the links you have referred to, it transpires that people who I thought of as quite normal actually have superior intelligence.
   
   I have made a point of telling the children in the family that being intelligent is a gift, and not something just to be smug or triumphant about; and that they should use their gift wisely, to help people who are less fortunate.
   
   The children are not discouraged from being individualistic, and their moral development is quite mature, but  they do lead quite sheltered lives and are not very street-wise. One of them used to say he was fed up having to pretend he was tough at senior school so that he wouldn't get teased for being a nerd.

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      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I do not believe that precocious/gifted children lead sheltered lives.  There are just some children who prefer intellectual activities to the typical games of children.     These children find that the normal, everyday children's activities to be quite puerile and unnerving to say the least.   They also find the average child to be quite, well..........undeveloped and backward.

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         Diana Grantposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I agree with what you are saying, but to my mind this does mean that they lead sheltered lives - because they are not running wild, smoking behind the bike sheds, or getting drunk in the park - they find that sort of thing a bit stupid and boring

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            SmartAndFunposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Heh heh. Not all of them. Some gifted kids who are not challenged academically will do those things trying to relieve the boredom, or for other reasons. Most gifted kids do not behave perfectly 100% of the time. Giftedness can present social/behavioral challenges for kids to struggle through.

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            gmwilliamsposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            Their lives aren't sheltered in the least.  They have higher intellectual aspirations than average children.  They are also more intellectually developed & mature.  They have more creative outlets such as writing, sketching, drawing, & even scientific pursuits.  To them, play is just stupid kid stuff suited for lower intellects.

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   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   I think any kid should be given the opportunity to spend time doing physical activities and being silly.  Because this is a quality mature people have, and parted of being well rounded and fully developed.  Bright people can enjoy climbing trees too.

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      SmartAndFunposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. I have two gifted kids that love the outdoors, running around in the rain, throwing rocks into the creek, feeding the ducks, making mud pies, etc. My son loves sports and is very good at them. Both my kids are crazy silly. Despite their exceptional brains they are just kids and want to have fun like everyone else. I would not put it past them to some day try out a little "running wild, smoking behind the bike sheds, or getting drunk in the park."

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