When it comes homeschooling gifted children, there are a
number of considerations.
Probably the most common, is
the fact that, as a parent you just are uncertain as to
how to respond to the gifted child's unique development
and personality traits.
This also entails a difficulty
in your expectations of the child. Also, one of the
unique difficulties in parenting a gifted child stems
from the fact that many times, although the child is
gifted with advanced cognitive abilities, is still quite
on level par with other children of their age in the
areas of emotional and physical development.
Greater
challenges can even arise if you have a gifted child in
a family with more than one child. But aside, from all
the challenges, parenting a gifted child can be
extremely rewarding and joyful because it is truly a
very unique experience.
As any parent would ask... How can I best be helpful for
my gifted child? Well, first and foremost, do what you
do best as a parent and love and care for your child's
needs regardless of their specially abilities. Although
many of your gifted child's characteristics may be at an
advance level when compared to their age group, the
basis of parenting or homeschooling gifted children really isn't that much different.
- Keep available to your gifted
child many areas of opportunity to learn and be challenged.
- Encourage your child to remain
engaged in a broad range of activities and
skills beyond those which they are naturally gifted.
- Be supportive
- As your child gets older, speak
with them about their talents and some of
the challenges that they face and why they are special.
- Constantly teach and fine tune
their social skills so they remain comfortable socially.
- As a proud parent... don't push or
show off your child.
- Don't expect your child to be
‘gifted and talented' in everything.
- Above all... don't forget that your
gifted child is still very much a child. Still
needing all the love, caring, and support that any child
needs and thrives on.
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