I came across this article that I feel is definitely worth reading - http://thisundeservedlife.
If you don't have time to read the whole article, I have included some of the keys points that caught my interest. Some worthwhile reminders:
- Giftedness has more to do with how a brain works than what a brain holds.
- Recognizing giftedness in one child does not negate the abilities or gifts in another. Gifted is a category, in some cases a diagnosis. It relates to IQ score and asynchronous development, not competition and elitism.
- Do not, under any circumstance, utter the phrase, “Every child is gifted”. Yes, every child is A gift, and yes, all children have gifts, but no, not every child is gifted.
- Giftedness does not make a child better or worse than the neurotypical kid next to them. It’s just how their brain works, and it’s who they are.
- Because the pool of gifted people is so small and characterized by being so far removed from the intellectual norm, they’re all vastly different from one another. There are characteristics that can be recognized as typical, but remember that you are dealing with an atypical group. They don’t travel in pods or have a secret handshake. They can struggle. They can have learning disabilities, mood or personality disorders, sensory issues, physical disabilities, or none of the above. Some gifted kids get along fine in life and others wage internal battles. Some gifted kids get all A’s and some fail classes. Some love museums and some are so overwhelmed by anxiety that they can’t bear to visit one. Giftedness doesn’t look like a stereotype.
- Take in their creativity and ability to think outside of the box. Note their intense emotions and, while they can prove mercurial at times, how they inspire change and empathy and passion. Drink in their humor, their sarcasm, the language that far exceeds their years.
- Let yourself appreciate just how beautiful and unique and cool they are the next time you find yourself face to face with a gifted kid in the wild.
