Page 41 - Kyalami issue 3 2022
P. 41

Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible  Design  26
                                                                          3.0  Folder (Inner)
                                                                                           TODAY'S CHILD






                         PARENTING THE




                               GIFTED CHILD





                        If you have children who don't seem


                        to fit into the 'norm', the good news


                                    is that you are not alone



















                          icola Killops is mom   We asked Nicola to           Radford House was founded
                          to James, a twice-     elaborate more on her own    in 1995 and is one of very
                    Nexceptional 18-year-old,    experiences.                 few schools in South Africa
                    and she lives in Johannesburg.                            that caters specifically for
                    Nicola specialised in gifted   Bev Hermanson: You         gifted education. Initially, I
                    education and taught at the   mentioned that your son is   was terrified, wondering how
                    Radford House School for     twice-exceptional. What does   on earth I was equipped to
                    gifted children for many years.   that mean?              take on such a responsibility
                    She recently left teaching                                and offer anything of value
                    and is now a writer, focusing   Nicola Killops: Twice-    to kids with such advanced
                    on supporting parents and    exceptional refers to a person   intelligence. But I soon realised
                    teachers of children who     that is intellectually gifted but   that they were there to teach
                    are ‘different’, according to   also has learning challenges   me just as much as I was there
                    mainstream views.            like ADHD, dyslexia, sensory   to teach them.
                                                 processing issues, or autism.
                    Through a series of articles,
                    Nicola hopes to reach those   Therefore, they are referred to   BH: How did this tie in
                    moms and dads who need to    as ‘twice-exceptional’, or 2e, as   with your own parenting
                    hear that their experiences   they have exceptional abilities   experience?
                    with having children who     and disabilities at the same   NK: At the time, I was having
                    possibly don’t fit into the   time.                       a tough time finding a way
                    ‘norm’ are not alone. There   BH: How did you come to     for my 9-year-old son to
                    may be an explanation for    discover so much about       find his place in the world.
                    their experience as a family.   gifted children?          I knew he was incredibly
                    With understanding and                                    bright, but because of his
                    information, they can set their   NK: In 2013, I began an   severe dyslexia and high
                    children on a path where they   incredible journey of discovery   functioning autism, the
                    are understood, nurtured, and   when I left the government   school system had focused
                    allowed to be everything they   school system and joined   so much on his challenges
                    can be.                      the staff at Radford House.   that there was no space for









                                                                                  Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2022  39
   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46