Parents and educators of "high potential" children often wonder how to help them express their talents.
Are Anna and Michele "genius kids"? How did they develop the skills just described so easily? Let's see their cases.
anna and michele
Michele is a 10-year-old boy who has been studying piano for a few months. Music has always been his favorite playmate, and his teacher reports that his progress is truly remarkable compared to the average student. He makes the exercises on the instrument seem much less tedious than usual.
Anna is just over four years old, but her parents have noticed that, simply by watching her older sister attend primary school, she has learned to read . She finds reading very enjoyable, as the stories she discovers in books fascinate her and spark her interest. Even observing the natural environment, plants, and animals fills her with curiosity, and her observations and questions often surprise the adults.
Kids gifted
Children like Anna and Michele, who display remarkable but very different abilities , are described with various expressions, often uttered with admiration, to emphasize their extraordinary skills , "with high cognitive potential." They are defined as " gifted " or "prodigious" children, or even ingenious, talented, highly intelligent , precocious, exceptional, excellent, creative children …
These are often generic and nonspecific expressions, or they refer only to certain aspects, but they aim to emphasize particular abilities that present a challenge for educators and parents. They raise the question of what is the right approach to supporting children's development in a way that ensures their psychophysical well-being and the realization of their potential. You can read more about supporting gifted children in different areas in this article about Ender's Game.
lack of resources
In Spain, attention to the educational needs of children and adolescents with above-average abilities, as scholars who deal with it have been pointing out for some time, is very incomplete and the process is still in its infancy.
Definition of "exceptional abilities"
First, it is important to try to clarify the terms used, which are often generic and imprecise. Cornoldi reminds us: “For example, ‘plus endowment’ is a generic term that translates the equally generic English ‘ gifted’ and means that a person possesses in some respect an extraordinary endowment .”
In principle, all aspects of human beings could be considered a potential manifestation of giftedness: intellectual, artistic, motor, etc. However, beyond some marginal uses, we usually speak of giftedness to refer to intelligence, talent, and creativity . As I have tried to illustrate in my studies, these are three distinct aspects that nonetheless share common elements.
Gifted children: how to recognize them?
Let's look at how to recognize and distinguish the characteristics of gifted children . A person who shows some specific skills that, however, generally do not concern all aspects of mental functioning can be defined as " talented ": an exceptional ability directed, for example, towards mechanics, visuospatial skills or calculation can represent a talent, if in other areas or fields there are no particular skills or if, on the contrary, there are weaknesses.
Divergent thinking
A remarkable ability to combine elements in new and unconventional ways, using what is called "divergent thinking," is, however, characteristic of people who define themselves as " creative. " Then there are some people with very high general cognitive abilities (when we talk about giftedness, we are generally referring to this case), who, as history teaches, can, in exceptional cases, converge into what is usually called "genius."
Some children and adolescents with superior intellectual abilities, in order to avoid amplifying their insecurities and being excluded from their peer group, for example at school, refrain from explicitly revealing or highlighting their abilities . In these cases, some scholars have referred to "underground" gifted individuals, characterized by their vulnerability, anxiety, and lack of full awareness of their talents.
Gifted Children: Testing and Assessment Tools
One of the characteristics of children with high intellectual potential is that they exhibit abilities that appear to be above average for their peers , and this aspect is also highlighted by the tests used by experts. Precocity is not a necessary characteristic, but it is certainly typical of giftedness and is an element that allows it to be recognized early on.
To get an idea of the precocity shown by children, experts use questionnaires sent to parents . Naturally, the questionnaire is only the beginning of a more complex study, which often also includes measuring cognitive abilities with an IQ test, which, however, certainly does not complete the assessment. Cornoldi adds: “The most reputable intelligence tests are very accurate, certainly more so than some of the medical tests we rely on, and they offer useful and important information.”
Beware of intelligence tests
The problem lies in understanding what information is being discussed and avoiding the extreme of denying its validity to the opposite extreme of relying on a number to understand a person. In particular, the primary number obtained from an intelligence test, the well-known IQ, is a rough and general indication of a much more complex profile . For example, it doesn't differentiate between general intelligence and talent, or between various forms of intelligence. Only an expert can help families understand what lies behind a complex intelligence assessment and grasp the limitations of any given evaluation.
each person is unique
One very important thing that educators and parents must keep in mind is that there is no single way to support and develop everyone's abilities or talents . The expert continues: "It can be confusing and perhaps even irritating to be told that there are no general rules and that advice must be tailored to the individual case. But that's the way it is, because every child is different not only in their innate abilities but also in their associated challenges."
For example, although giftedness is sometimes accompanied by emotional and relational frailty, which has also emerged from some studies, it is not appropriate to generalize.
They are not all the same
“It is often said,” Cornoldi adds, “that gifted children are very fragile, like magnificent crystal objects that can shatter into a thousand pieces, but this is an exaggeration. For example, a very large survey has shown that intellectually gifted children, on average, are better off emotionally and socially than other children .”
This does not mean that there cannot be cases with difficulties that require special attention, as is the case, for example, with those with so-called " twice-exceptionality ," who also combine a specific problem with giftedness , such as a specific learning or neurodevelopmental disorder. A recent inter-university conference proposed new guidelines to better support these children.
“Gardeners”, not “builders”
As we said, there are no paths that will work for everyone. It is possible, however, to give parents and educators some general advice, which can be explored in more depth with the help of experts. "The fundamental recommendation," Cesare Cornoldi reminds us, "is to cultivate talent (and prevent it from encountering obstacles in its development) according to the logic of the 'gardener,' without forcing or imposing improvements with the logic of the 'builder ,' in order to promote both psychological well-being and the enhancement of talent."
The metaphor of the "gardener" and the "builder," introduced by Alison Gopnik, contrasts two educational styles based on different principles. The first focuses on fostering growth by creating conditions that allow potential to be fully expressed , removing obstacles, and making small adjustments. The second involves a more active role for the educator , who actively cultivates children's talents through specialized courses, the study of artistic techniques, and similar activities, without waiting for specific requests.
Gifted children and problems to face
A "builder parent" tends to treat their child like a miniature adult and prefers to showcase their exceptional abilities. While reliable and precise data on the effects of parenting styles on giftedness is lacking, experts believe that the builder approach can put excessive pressure on children, undermining their peace of mind and overall psychological well-being . In contrast, the gardener model allows for the nurturing of abilities without imposing restrictions that risk hindering their optimal development.
Among the advice experts offer to parents of gifted children is to avoid comparisons with other children , maintain open and accessible communication , avoid excessive expectations, and not discourage the children. But, as emphasized, parents shouldn't even fear not being able to "measure up" to their child's intelligence and potential, because what children need most is to know they can count on their parents' love and support.