Page 14 - IFV_Issue 7_2022
P. 14

Today’s Child




            but the gifted child is the one who asks all the questions. They
            can be bored or overwhelmed by a cut-and-dried curriculum,
            and their giftedness becomes apparent when you delve into
            their insight, their thirst for knowledge (not just facts, but the
            ‘how’ and ‘why’ of everything), and their deep sensitivity.


            Q: Why do so many parents/teachers become
            frustrated with gifted kids?
            NK: It is a paradigm shift for parents and teachers to be open
            to debate and accept that a child can know more than they
            do. But gifted children just want an opportunity to be heard
            and to express their views. In addition, gifted children are
            incredibly justice-driven and will act out if they believe they
            are being treated unfairly.
              As a parent or teacher, you need to realise that the child may
            well be more intelligent in some areas, but they rely on us for
            wisdom. The wisdom guides them to engage respectfully, be
            open to other opinions, and feel that a healthy debate is safe.
              Gifted kids want to learn actively – not just be bombarded
            with  meaningless  information.  They  want  to  theorise,
            question, and go down the rabbit hole.


            Q: What are some of the challenges faced by gifted
            kids?
            NK: One of the biggest challenges is that they are often
            overwhelmed by anxiety. They overthink everything and can
            be in a perpetual state of panic as a result.
              The  anxiety  can  lead  to  poor  performance  at  school  for
            many reasons. Sometimes the child ‘who just refuses to do
            the work’ is such a perfectionist that the fear that it won’t be
            perfect paralyzes them – so they just don’t bother.
              They also loathe repetition – for them, it is soul-destroying.
            When faced with 20 long division problems, there is a strong
            possibility that they won’t bother even if they could easily do
            them if they wanted to. This is often the root of poor academic
            performance – boredom, and disinterest.
              When your brain works in hyperdrive, it goes beyond
            intelligence. Gifted kids have heightened senses that can
            easily be overwhelmed. Bright lights, noises, and a scratchy
            shirt can lead to a severe sensory overload.

            Q: So in conclusion . . .
            NK: My goal is to teach the world about these incredible little
            humans who are so often misunderstood. I want to be their
            voice and their advocate. And I want to reach their parents
            and families. As a mother of a gifted child and having worked
            with parents for many years, I realise how challenging it can
            be, especially when dealing with anxiety, overexcitabilities,
            insomnia, and social challenges. Moms and dads need as
            much support and understanding as their children do.


              Look out for more from Nicola in forthcoming editions of
            the magazine.


             12  •  Issue 7  2022  •  The Villager
   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19