Are your children highly able learners, with distinctive intellectual gifts and talents?
Giftedness in children takes multiple forms, many readily apparent in a wide range of settings, others on occasion hidden by hypersensitivity & idiosyncratic behaviour. Parents are nevertheless usually very perceptive and accurate in recognizing their children’s special abilities, and the challenges often associated with their distinctive capabilities.

A now classic definition by the Columbus Group notes that “Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened sensitivity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires
modifications in parenting, teaching and counselling in order for them to develop optimally.”

Gifted children regularly demonstrate some of the following traits,
among others:

· acquire & retain information rapidly,
· think abstractly and independently
· intense
· dislike routine & direction
· seek meaning
· ask awkward questions
· have high expectations of self & others, intolerant & perfectionist
· concentrate intently, resist interruption
· creative & inventive
· disruptive & impatient.

Such children thus often function across age ranges, with some academic skills and intellectual interests very highly developed for their age, others constrained by specific sensory or emotional issues. They may thus be quickly bored, readily distracted, somewhat disorganized, as well as gifted & talented beyond their age-peers in many dimensions. In some respects, they exceed societal & educational norms & expectations; in others, their path is frustrating & difficult.

Their distinctively complex characteristics typically challenge their families and their teachers to identify & provide appropriate programs & settings to encourage optimal individual development in multiple domains.

To learn more about giftedness we recommend that you explore the following websites:

Major online resources
www.davidsongifted.org/
www.sengifted.org/
www.hoagiesgifted.org/
www.gifteddevelopment.com/

Other useful sites
www3.bc.sympatico.ca/giftedcanada/amI.pdf
www.nicurriculum.org.uk/docs/inclusion_and_sen/gifted/General_Checklist.pdf
http://nswagtc.org.au/info/definitions/