“Gifted and talented children are those identified by professionally qualified persons who by virtue of outstanding abilities are capable of high performance. These are children who require differentiated educational programs and/or services beyond those normally provided by the regular school program in order to realize their contribution to self and society”
Former U. S. Commissioner of Education Sidney P. Marland, Jr.
What Does Giftedness Mean?
Many parents say, “I know what giftedness is, but I can’t put it into words.” This generally is followed by reference to a particular child who seems to manifest gifted behaviors. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions of the term, all of which become deterrents to understanding and catering to the needs of children identified as gifted. Let’s study the following statement:
“Giftedness is that precious endowment of potentially outstanding abilities which allows a person to interact with the environment with remarkably high levels of achievement and creativity.”
This statement is the product of a small neighborhood group of parents who took a comprehensive view of the concept of giftedness before focusing on any attempt to define the gifted child. They thought, first, that within giftedness is a quality of innateness (or, as they said, “a gift conferred by nature”), and second, that one’s environment is the arena in which the gifts come into play and develop. Therefore, they reasoned that the “remarkably high levels of achievement and creativity” result from a continuous and functional interaction between a person’s inherent and acquired abilities and characteristics.
We often hear statements such as “She’s a born artist,” or “He’s a natural athlete,” or conversely, “Success never came easy for me; I had to learn the hard way,” or “He’s a self-made man.” Those who manifest giftedness obviously have some inherent or inborn factors plus the motivation and stamina to learn from and cope with the rigors of living.
We suggest that you wrestle with the term in your own way, looking at giftedness as a concept that demands the investment of time, money, and energy. This will help you discuss giftedness more meaningfully with other parents, school administrators, school board members, or anyone who needs to understand the dynamics of the term.
Children who have been diagnosed with gifted abilities in academics frequently report display a range of problems as a result of their abundant skills. Areas that include perfectionism, competitiveness, unrealistic expectations, social rejection, and confusion from mixed messages about their ability level and parental pressure often lead the child to feel inadequate and frustrated. Some gifted children encounter difficulties in finding and choosing friends, becoming comfortable making decisions and, eventually, a career. The developmental issues that most children face on a day to day basis are further compounded by the gifted due to the special needs and characteristics that come with being gifted. Once parents and teachers are aware of these challenges, they seem better able to understand and support these children. This article focuses on assisting parents and educators on the challenges these children face and what solution can be implemented to assist these children to be successful at home and in school.
