How can talent be nurtured?
Every child has a unique talent to share with the world. Discovering your child’s gift can be one of the most rewarding aspects of parenting. It can also be one of the more strenuous aspects of parenting, as sometimes you have to work to develop those gifts. If your child has begun displaying a special talent or interest in a specific activity, this post will help you develop a plan for nurturing their talent. If you’re unsure where your child’s talent lies, this post may also help you identify and draw out your child’s gift.
Talent developed?
Raw talent in a young person is exciting to see. It may appear as a glimpse of something extraordinary–a beautifully exececuted 8-count in an otherwise ordinary ballet recital, an exceptionally consistent tennis rally, or race ready sprinting technique in a neighborhood game of tag. But if it is not nurtured, raw talent will remain an inconsistent flash of greatness. Neither you nor your child will be able to harness that greatness to draw it out on demand. Other children who work harder but have less talent will eventually surpass your child. Your child’s talent may then turn into a source of frustration, as they struggle to produce what they know they possess.
Every parent wants to see their child reach their full potential. But how do you measure that potential? How do you know how much potential they possess? Nobody wants to be an overbearing parent, pushing their child into burnout. At the same time, your child needs your help in order to maximize his or her gift.
How do I find my child’s potential?
Finding your child’s potential involves a great deal of observation. If your child is very young, you likely invest time in playing with them on a daily basis. You may observe that your child has a knack for categorizing toys by size, shape or color. Or you may see that your child has quick reflexes. As they grow, you can help develop these gifts by feeding them more of whatever activity they seem to enjoy.
When you consistently provide new challenges to meet your child’s needs at each stage of their development, you will find that their potential is constantly growing. You will naturally see where they get stuck, and what it takes to help them get unstuck.
How can I improve my child’s ability?
If your child is already at an age where they are playing organized sports, take the time to watch your child play. You may need to do a little bit of research to better understand the game your child is playing and to know what skills make a player excel. You can help your child develop those skills by practicing with them in your spare time.
The key here is awareness. Expand your awareness of both your child’s level and the level required to excel. Then you will know how to measure his or her ability, and you will know what it will take to reach their potential.
How early can you tell if a child is gifted?
The answer to this question is “as soon as the child is conceived,” because every child is gifted! However, if you are looking for signs that your child is advanced, early signs of an exceptionally gifted child may appear as early as 3 years old. But unless your 3-year old is playing John Coltrane on the piano or reading scripture from your King James Bible, is it really necessary to label a child at such a young age? I think we would all do well to simply enjoy and nurture our children as they grow. Regardless whether or not your child is advanced, you want to continually provide challenges at every stage of development. As they may begin to exceed your ability to challenge them, you can begin to seek out resources to meet their needs.
How to identify a gifted child
Again, I think the right terminology to use here is “advanced,” rather than “gifted,” as every child possesses unique gifts and talents. But to identify whether or not your child possesses an advanced ability with his or her gift, you can see different traits begin to manifest.
Early signs of a gifted child:
- Very alert early on (even as infants)
- Strong desire to explore and understand environment
- Reach milestones like walking, talking and reading, earlier than usual
- May begin talking late, but begin talking in complete sentences
- More active than typical, but purposeful, not hopping from one activity to another
- Ask questions based on keen observations
- Masters activities and games very quickly; once mastered, is easily bored until the next challenge
What is the difference between a bright child and a gifted child?
Still, all of the above traits may exist in a child who is not considered “gifted,” but rather is an exceptionally “bright” child. From a psychology standpoint, the differences between a “bright” and “gifted” child tend to separate them socially.
Gifted children may be so advanced that they struggle to relate to their peers, whereas bright children relate well to others while excelling in studies and/or extracurricular activities. A gifted child may prefer to spend time around adults, because their IQ is more closely aligned with adults than children.
At the point where socialization becomes an important part of their growth is when it may be necessary to identify whether or not your child is considered “gifted.” If you see your child displaying advanced learning ability while struggling to relate to other children, you may need to seek out programs where they can meet and relate to other gifted children.
How to help your child reach their potential, while you reach yours
Again, the takeaway in all of this is awareness. Observe your child as he or she plays. Pay attention to their need for stimulation and challenge. As they grow, you will be more aware of how they are developing. And, in turn, you will naturally nurture their gifts. In the most rewarding way, you will help your child reach and even exceed their potential. You may even notice that in the process, you, too, will be reaching and perhaps exceeding your potential as a parent and teacher.