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Home › Articles › Your Children › Gifted, But Different

Gifted, But Different

How to Parent a Gifted Child

By Anne Leverette-Sanderlin

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Leanne Register, an Atlanta, Ga., housewife with a master's degree in literature, found herself hiding her beloved romance books from her 6-year-old daughter who read at a high school level. "Jody would want me to explain sexual things that she just didn't need to know about at 6," says Register. "You just don't expect a 6-year-old to use such terms. I found it difficult to change the subject and remind myself this was the same child that had gotten in trouble in class for passing a note and talking to another child."

Culyer advises parents to be aware of the unique development patterns present in gifted children because it can help them and their child to adjust expectations of academic knowledge and maturity levels. Until a parent can get their child into a program or school there are some things that they can do together, including:

  • Compare and contrast things such as two people or animals.
  • Have your child group things differently and tell you what is different and similar.
  • While watching television or reading a book ask your child to tell you what may happen.
  • Ask your child about what could happen in certain situations.
  • Create your own story.
  • Use cooking to teach measurement.
  • Let the child set up a store with real coins to introduce money and math.

A child should be tested to provide deeper understanding for the parents and to help them provide a better education to their child. The results of testing show if the child will benefit from advanced classes and activities. The only problem with testing at the preschool level, according to the National Association for Gifted Children, is that it may be less reliable than for older students.

The Role of the Preschool Teacher
Educators and psychologists agree that learning occurs when there is a match between the child and the challenge of new learning material. "It is up to the teacher to challenge the student and not allow them to hide their skills to fit in with their class," says Hubbard. "A parent should tell a teacher that a child has a fluent reading ability and work with the teacher. It is hard to observe advanced intellectual abilities in a class with 25 students."

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