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Today’s Child

incredibly bright, but because of his severe dyslexia and high
functioning autism, the school system had focused so much on
his challenges that there was no space for his incredible mind.
So, I spent years researching and discovering ways to nurture
his intellect while the system was obsessed with him grasping
phonics.

Q: What was the first thing you discovered when you
began teaching gifted kids?
NK: I was probably only one day into my new job when I realised
that gifted children are not always what the world expects.
When one hears the term, it conjures images of prodigies and
mini scientists who get 100% for every test and read their first
copy of the Lord of the Rings at age three.
While those children do exist, there is so much more to what
constitutes a gifted child. And what I didn’t realise was that I was
about to embark on an eight-year journey that would ignite a
flame in me, making me most passionate about the parts that
the world just didn’t get. My insight as a mom also made me
understand the challenges of parenting a gifted child and how
isolating it can be.

Q: Why did you stop teaching?
NK: Last year, I took a massive leap and decided to leave the
classroom - not because I was no longer passionate about
gifted children and their journey, but because I wanted to
reach beyond my classroom through my writing. I want to
reach parents who are raising gifted children and struggling to
find an ally when raising a challenging, misunderstood child.
Many parents are dealing with the challenges and haven’t yet
discovered that their child is gifted because it is so much more
complex than many realise.
So, my writing is for the moms and dads (and teachers) of the
Q: How did you come to discover so much about gifted children that many may think are just that little bit odd. Those
children? who feel that no one understands their child, or can’t understand
NK: In 2013, I began an incredible journey of discovery when why the child becomes so overstimulated, is incredibly justice-
I left the government school system and joined the staff at driven and despises school because they are just so bored.
Radford House. Radford House was founded in 1995 and is one
of very few schools in South Africa that caters specifically for Q: Are you a gifted education specialist?
gifted education. Initially, I was terrified, wondering how on NK: I am not a doctor or a psychologist – I am just a mom and a
earth I was equipped to take on such a responsibility and offer teacher. So, my writings are based on my experiences, and not
anything of value to kids with such advanced intelligence. But I clinical trials or academic research – but what I know, I learnt
soon realised that they were there to teach me just as much as on the ground. That is where I believe the magic happens. So
I was there to teach them. yes, I believe that my experience does make me a specialist.

Q: How did this tie in with your own parenting Q: What is the one thing you wish everyone knew
experience? about gifted kids?
NK: At the time, I was having a tough time finding a way for NK: Being gifted does not necessarily make a child an academic.
my 9-year-old son to find his place in the world. I knew he was Bright children are often academic and know all the answers,

The Villager • Issue 7 2022 • 11