GIFTED CHILDREN NEED GUIDANCE
GIFTED CHILDREN NEED GUIDANCE
GIFTEDNESS THE CONCEPT:
It will be quite interesting to look at the development of this concept till date. If we trace back to good old days we find before 1900: giftedness was ascribed to child prodigies and to the other highly accomplished adults. The on set of an era of intelligence tests gave it a face-lift. Giftedness was taken as an index of high IQ. It was defined as the ability to make good scores in academics.
By the middle and late 1960's, the virtues of social sensitivity and leadership were brought in its fold. The talents such as those associated with drama, art and music were also attributed to giftedness. Dehaan and Havinghurst (1961) have highlighted the manifestation of giftedness in more than one of the following areas: intellectual ability. Creative thinking, scientific ability, social leadership, mechanical skills and talent in fine arts. What is included and excluded from the purview of giftedness may also be read in the words of theses authors,' any ability that is both constructive and complex would be included, such as finger dexterity; a useful ability, important to a person in combined with other abilities into something more complex'.
Of course the definition of giftedness has gone beyond the IQ score and includes various talents and abilities. In this context, Kirk (1970) writes:
"With giftedness showing itself in so many different ways, perhaps we can think of it in more general terms for practical purposes as superb ability to deal with facts, ideas or relationships whether this ability comes from a high IQ or less defined creativity".
Characteristics:-
A bright child usually has a cluster of superior abilities based on his intellectual ability. For example, he probably achieves well in reading, language, and in areas requiring abstract thinking or verbal ability. The interests of gifted children run more towards reading and other intellectual pursuits than to those of average children. In such areas as social characteristics, physical characteristics health, the gifted child is above average as well.'
DeHaan and Havighurst (1961, p.20)
Gifted children have been the subject of study of many research scholars and administrators like Paul Witty and Vernon, etc. Mayer (1982, p.79) has made a review of these authors' writings. He has made a list of salient features of gifted children under the captions of background and physical, emotional, intellectual, educational, social, moral, ethical and occupational temperaments. We may spell out these points as follows.
Background:-
Of course it is not a pre-condition for being gifted children. However, most of them have parents who educated. They could also be gifted in one-way or the other. It is said that they give birth to gifted in one-way or the other. It is said that they give birth to gifted children. They could be gifted as their parents are or may have another gift. They are secure at their work places with good income. They have jobs held in high esteem in the society. They children in these families do not have to think about money matters. They get what they need to study well, play well and do well in other activities. It is a culture full of guidance for them. It helps them in their studies. They feel to work on their hobbies and have good pastimes. Their needs are satisfied that boosts their self-concept with high self-esteem. It has its very positive impact on their all-round growth and development.
Physical characteristics:-
It may not be as a rule but gifted children are seen to be smart and shout in body.
Of course boys are marked handsome and girls beautiful. They attract others by their features. They are noted to have learnt how to sit, walk and talk at ease at an early age as compared to others. They might have been seen to cut their teeth easy and early. It is seen they are free from any kind of sensory problems. They keep it. They do not suffer from aliments day in, day out. Yes, they may not grow much in their muscle power but usually have a good physical health.
Emotional maturity:
By all means they are children oh high IQ.in their conduct we mark them mature in the expressions of their feelings. They have control over their emotions and love and affection, anger and hate. They laugh and weep appropriate to the situation. They are kind and sympathetic as the situation warrants. They perceive their their style they have a humane touch. This as an index of their high EQ that shows their emotional maturity. They have sound mental health. They are adjustment friendly with what comes in their way. They could be strain and stress free children.
Intelluctual development:
In IQ they are far ahead of other children of their age group. In IQ, they keep this rising curve for more than other children who are not gifted. They love to learn abstract things.they have a knack of problem solving. To have self-study is their second nature. They could be bookworms. They love deep learning rather surface learning. They learn by insight and learning by trail and error or by conditioning could only be incidental to it. Their intellectual development is well seen in their ability to learn many things. What they learn they retain it and are able to recall and use it to make the best use of it learning more.
Educational achievements:
They are quick to learn what they learn. Their rate of learning is quite fast. They are able to understand well what they learn. They have no problem in abstract learning. They have good memory. It makes them able to score well at studies. It ignites intrinsic motivation to keep doing well at studies. They make a good record of their achievements in other activities too. They could keep top ranks.
Socialization:
They are the children who know how to make friends. They grow social by nature. Others like to have them as friends. They are very much mixing type of children. They love to keep company of others. They could be seen quite well in interaction with all the people around them. They may the natural choice of their friends as their leaders. Of course their socialization is never found a miss in their life.
Moral and ethical developments:
They are the children of values in life. They are known for their decency in life. They are well mannered. They are ideal loving. They live by them. They are known for high morals. They observe ethics of life in their day-to-day conduct of life. Of course we take them as custodians of moral and ethical values in our culture. They are character of fine living both in thoughts and actions.
Occupational temperaments:
We could say children who are gifted worship the work of their choice. They like to be work by head and heart. Of course they do not search for an easygoing work. They make a choice of work they could take it as a challenge to do. They could be seen as skilful workers for skilful jobs. They may not be fixated at one work for life. They find it life on wheels to be enjoyed.
IN CONCLUSION:
We may say gifted children are assets of the society. It depends and relies upon them. in schools they are in the making of leaders for the days to come in all walks of life. They are fine persons. They are keen learners. They are hardworking people. They are groomed as law-abiding citizens of the country. They are children with a difference. They have outstanding potentials that they need guidance or need be given guidance to use them at their best. They should see and unfold their treasure within. Let us not expect they could do without guidance, let us give them guidance that they need.
There could be the other side of the profile of gifted children too. They as human beings could not be taken for granted free from all kinds of weakness that we might have. Each gifted child could be prone to have one or the other. All the more, for their giftedness they could become eyesore of others. Out of jealousy, they may find nothing worthwhile in them. When they can't be their equal rivals they may turn to be their betes noirs. It should not happen lest we should lose their performance. This makes a case for guidance in schools for all the children and not for the gifted ones only. Agony of Childbirth Kids Bikes Now Come In Up To Six Colours Do you want a baby boy or girl? Everything You Need To Know About Kids Bikes Why Your Child Should Use Bikes Without Pedals Three Accessories A Children Bike Must Have How To Get Childrens Bikes Ready For Christmas Childrens Book Author Abe Rossi Will Soon Be Releasing His First Book Titled inventors Beware Parental Voted Favorable Christmas Toy For Children : Razor Rip-Rider 360 Drifting Ride-on How Children Can Benefit From Nursery Rhymes Best Gift for Sweet Sixteen Fostering the Rising Stars: Child Acting and Modeling Classes at JRP Long Island Nurturing the Future Vocalists: Children Singing Classes in JRP Long Island