Do you think gifted children are born 'gifted' or just given opportunities?

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   MummyDearestposted 12 years ago

   Do you think gifted children are born 'gifted' or just given opportunities?
   
   These days we hear of many child prodigies but I was wondering are they really born intelligent or are they just more exposed to better toys, computers...etc?
   
   

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2. 60

   fpherj48posted 12 years ago

   Child prodigies....."giften children," are clearly and most assuredly BORN as such.  What is involved here is I.Q.....Genetics....DNA.....Brain power....(however you wish to present it.)  This is a very intricate and complex subject .....But consider this:  An "EXCEPTIONAL CHILD"....in either direction, be it "genius & beyond" or a child with an issue of lower intelligence or mental limitations.(any child above or below "average")......your question asks the possibilities that "gifted" can  happen ( or occur) based upon environment, exposure to inanimate objects (technological & otherwise), upbringing, education.......etc....... To be sure, "GIFTED" as it is described & understood in Science/Pediatrics/Child Psychology......is precisely that....A GIFT, so to speak.  Extreme intelligence presents itself and is noted at very young ages and increases in evidence progressively.  Surely, the better the opportunities offered from the child's world around him, the better and more positive.  This would apply also to a mentally average or below, child.  Certainly it is advisable and benficial for this child to have any and all "opportunities to reach his/her full potential.  However, it is the aforementioned IQ....genius OR lack thereof.....that prevails.  Simply stated:  You can afford  a child of an average or below intelligence all the props, training, education, knowledge etc......he will absorb and retain only what his BRAIN is capable of.  Conversely, you may deny access and/or encouragement of all these from a Child Prodigy (genius) but in no way will you detract from the child's inborn high level of intelligence or discourage his/her "GIFTS."  I hope I have presented this clearly and well enough to be easily understood.  Thank you for the question.

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3. 60

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   I think it can be both.  Certain children are gifted at birth with great combinations from both parents, DNA, genetics, all play a roll.  On the other hand you can have a child who is exposed to culture and challenging education, this child will do well also.

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4. 71

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Well, to talk about the question presented we must first recognize how much is biological and how much of us is cognitive. Basically nurture vs. nature. Psychologists believe after the famous twin study, that we are 80% biological and 20% cognitive. We are mostly born the way we are, however, as we grow we can morph how we are.
   Witht his study and concept in mind it is easier to say that we are born with the necessary brain functions for being intelligent.

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5. 47

   MummyDearestposted 12 years ago

   Thank you all for your views. I asked this question as a new parent wondering this about my son. He has shown that he is advance for his age as told to me by people in the teaching field of preschoolers. As any parent, this is of course good to hear about but I also fear, could this be a bias view from my side because I want to believe so? To be honest,I am lost with this and if it proves that my child is advance for his age, then what should I do?
   
   My child is coming to 2 by end Dec. So far he knows A-Z, count till 20 and recognize numbers till 100, shapes and world capitals of over 20 countries and where they are on the map and can read and spell few words.
   
   Now I can't claim that I thought him all that..ABC and 123s were all thought through youtube on a program call Starfall.
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qffb3c38 … sults_main
   
   And then he started getting bored because he knew the ABCs and we got him the world map and he will pick the country he wants to learn about.
   
   Even when I was pregnant I was advised by a friend who is an experienced Montessori teacher to let my son develop at his own pace and never to set a 'yardstick' and compare him or have expectations of what he should achieve at whatever age he is. So i just let him be what he wants to be...
   
   This got me thinking..was it because he got the opportunity to watch this program and also parents these days would have more guidance from people who are well educated in the field of Child education and psychology?
   
   Both me and my husband are no genius..we are just ordinary people so I wondered? Are the children today getting smarter perhaps..The human race is evolving?

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