Your Child Is Talented

Talent and giftedness have always been regarded as an individual asset. And so it should be. Our specific innate capabilities should first be timely detected, then nurtured, properly developed and constantly improved. Now want you to look at the other side of the issue. Can talent turn into a burden? I guess there cannot be a straightforward answer. On the one hand, it may become a burden. When the talent is neglected and there is no opportunity to realize it. It is especially important in the academic environment. Gifted and talented students and pupils should have all conditions and opportunities for their progress. They should be treasured. Many modern researchers and scientists have worked on the teaching methods of talented students. Because they do need individual approach in their studies more than other students and the fire of their talent should be always sustained by educators. An important contribution in this area has been made by Jean Peterson, coordinator of school counselling at Purdue University.

She pointed out five significant social-emotional problems gifted students experience in a classroom. They are: underachievement, intensity, self-criticism and perfectionism, loneliness and low self-esteem, a strong sense of social justice. Jean worked out the teaching techniques for coping with these issues during the learning process. You can read her article devoted to this problem at http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/resources/socemoachieve/practicaladvice.htm. Her advice is valuable both for educators and parents. Talent is a delicate matter, besides experience, skills and knowledge, it includes desire to change the world and contribute to its development. Such desire does not appear instantly, but is growing gradually awaiting its time. Sometimes such time will never come. Everyday problems, bustle and crazy life rhythm take too much energy. Talent won’t turn on if the person is exhausted. No wonder that after a busy day an average student prefers to order a custom research paper, than spend a sleepless night with useless efforts to spot any relevant information on the net to complete his paper. Writing any type of paper (e.g. writing reflective essay) takes much time and concentration so the students choose the easiest way as most of us often do. Routine problems, bustle and busy life rhythm take too much energy, while the talent is peacefully sleeping. The greatest danger is that it may never awaken but you should do your best to revive it.

Once special tests help you to detect that your child is talented, start your work on developing their capabilities to the utmost. Scientists affirm that talent formation stops at the age of thirteen. Up to this moment you have to work wonders. Your first priority should be to stimulate your kid to make progress in their self-development without pushing them too hard. It is not easy, but being a good parent many things but never easy.