Early Ahead: Do Young Gifted Resemble Older Children?

• Published in: Understanding our gifted Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 17 - 19
• Main Author: Gross, Miraca U. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Open Space Communications LLC 2011
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Academically Gifted; Age Differences; Child Development; Emotional Development; Friendship; High Achievement; Maturity (Individuals); Peer Acceptance; Social Development; Student Characteristics
• ISSN: 1040-1350

Children who are intellectually gifted are often emotionally mature for their ages. For a variety of reasons--including an unrewarding curriculum, preference for others of the same intellectual ability, or a feeling of social rejection--this maturity is sometimes masked at school. This can lead to what the author calls a "forced-choice" dilemma. Some gifted children feel they have to choose between working to their capacity in school and having friends. Should they "show" their excitement and interest in learning, at the risk of classmates rejecting them as "nerds," or should they pretend to be "just like everyone else" for the sake of peer acceptance? Gifted children thrive best academically and socially when they learn at their own level and pace, ideally in the company of at least "some" other students who share their abilities and interests. This article presents a list of the characteristics of young intellectually/academically gifted children and discusses how one can respond to help high abilities flourish into high achievement.