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Art of Acceleration Ezine
How the Preschool Years Set the Tone for Gifts & Talents!
I confess! The preschool years are my favorite period in child development. And not just for the obvious reasons such as the freshness of their spirit or the smiles that are so infectious…but because the evolution into a future spectacular human being begins here!
The possibilities are staggering; backed by mountains of scientific evidence, the stories of “prodigies” and of the mega successful folk whose talent began to emerge during this time in their development. It’s a given! What parents do to bolster gifts and talents during the preschool years will make all the difference in how they develop over the course of time.
Sarah was talkative, forming complete sentences at 1.5 years and had displayed an extensive vocabulary by age 3. Jonathan was the quite the opposite. He barely spoke a word until he was nearly 3 years old but showed an insatiable curiosity of his environment. Two preschoolers who exhibited very different characteristics had parents who intervened for different reasons.
Sarah’s parents began to guide her education because potential gifts were identified. Jonathan’s parents began working with him out of fear that he was autistic or “slow” in his development. The result interestingly was that both families eventually experienced similar outcomes. Sarah was placed on the gifted track early in her K-12 experience and Jonathan started college quite early after completing secondary education in a few years.
But that is the beauty of the preschool mind! It is nearly impossible to accurately predict what unique and brilliant qualities will emerge in their personalities so early on and it is equally difficult to measure how parental efforts will come to fruition. It is also partly due to this extreme malleability of the preschooler’s brain that many psychologists tend to not administer I.Q. tests during this time with few exceptions (research the U.K.’s youngest mensa member: a 2 year-old with an I.Q. of 156). However many parents have come to recognize this time as a marvelous window of opportunity to set wonderful things into motion.
As human beings we certainly possess a natural penchant for boxing every known phenomena and labeling it. However with children, particular children this young, we now possess substantial evidence (scientific research and experience) that supports taking a more subtle approach to supporting gifts and talents. As a parent whose children have benefited from the more natural, fluid course of development…here are some things to consider when working with your own preschooler:
- Develop the healthy attitude that your preschooler is a unique expression of a human being who need not be compared to other children. Acquire the attitude that you look forward to discovering his/her distinctive talents naturally and enthusiastically.
- Reject, if you can, the intention to create a gifted child…or a “genius”. This intention tends to generate cut-throat pressure for both you and your child and introduces fear into your child’s orientation of learning. A home environment where children are constantly demanded or expected to display “gifted” behavior…or achieve under any and all circumstances can create psychological problems. You may get the behavior you demand but it may come at a great cost for your child which may include “depression” or “anxiety” disorders, etc.
- Being the astute parent that you are, you realize that your child’s mind is developing at a rapid pace at this age. Engage your little one in activities that combines “learning” with “fun”. The wonderful paradox, as any child psychologist will tell you, is that young children learn best through play! So get in touch with your playful side and teach, teach, teach! Keep it light and start out just a few minutes a day.
- Though many families have a different take on taking in television shows…programs such as the ones created by the Children’s Television Workshop (yep! I’m dating myself) have produced solid, teaching shows for preschoolers as a result of good research. In other words, many youngsters learn from taking in shows such as Sesame Street (in fact the “Mozart of Mathematics” Terence Tao got his start from solely watching Sesame Street) or any other show that incorporate learning with fun. Also be mindful that these programs should just be considered a “tool” in your education arsenal. They should not be relied upon to completely do your job as parent.
- Introduce other resources playfully…computer programs (Jumpstart is a good one!); colorful workbooks; arts and crafts; entertaining manipulatives and family trips to places in your community make up a wonderful start of a learning system at home.
- For academics, be sure to use a checklist, such as the one found here at Family Education.Com [click here to see checklist] and check off learned skill sets as your preschooler advances.
- As the child matures, be sure to keep abreast of national standards by referring to educational workbooks; the curriculum standards of your child’s school (as a basis) and also those of the most progressive states in the country. Feel free to research educational groups that influence national standards such as The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Websites like Education.Com contain a listing of such groups.
- Introduce different resources as needed and increase grade levels as your child’s mind requires (or as you intuit that your child is ready for higher content). Time is of the essence with fast learners and their minds should be given access to what it needs…when it needs it! It is utterly ridiculous that a process has to occur before a child is given access to higher-level content. Know that “genius” requires freedom in which to flourish and though the school system can’t grant that particular “freedom” the home should! Again, just be sure that it’s all done in a spirit of inspiration and encouragement.
- Make your child’s development of gifts a family effort and leave the opinions of others out your experience. No one is as familiar with your child as you are and for some children, “moments of brilliance” can be fleeting in the early years. This leaves you, as the constant presence, often times the only witness to your child’s true capabilities. If working with your child is joyful to you both and your child is progressing along happily without restrictions…continue to listen to your inner guidance! More than likely you’re doing something right!
Finally, be respectful and patient with school authorities. Remember they are charged with educating the masses and it is nearly inconceivable for them to really know your child thoroughly. So don’t take it personally if they don’t share the opinion you hold of your child and don’t invest so much of your energy trying to convince them. Your child would be better off if you focused on including their “gifted development” as a part of your parenting process. Before you know it, your child will be thriving so brilliantly the opinions of others will become highly irrelevant.
At least that was what occurred in our family. Only one of our kids was labeled as gifted and even he was overlooked by educators until he became an international news sensation when he started college at age 13 due to parental involvement!
Your journey from preschool onward can be most exciting if you allow it. And as one who now witnesses how my children has “grown into their gifts”…from one parent to another…be resolved to seeing your child’s talents through no matter the obstacles; until such a time that your child is capable of taking complete ownership of them.
As always...to your child's success!
Michelle Brown-Stafford, Gifted-Spirit.Com
"Prodigy Mom" & Parental Involvement Coach!
