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Different Types of Giftedness in Children - Part I

By Andrew Loh

Giftedness in children seems to be a rare case. Not all children are gifted while giftedness comes naturally to some children. No one knows how giftedness is thrust upon by the nature only on some children. Heredity, genetics and a host of other factors play an important role. Giftedness in children may come in many forms. In the past, intelligence among children was measured by Gardiner's multiple intelligence theory. In fact, this theory was in wider circulation for many decades. His multiple intelligence theory is closely linked to giftedness among children. However, recent classification of giftedness takes into consideration a number of other factors apart from just academic intelligence. Following two articles deal with different types of giftedness among children and in what manner they affect children's academic and personal achievements.

Humanities Gifted

This classification of child giftedness deals with everything that relates to social skills and inter-personal relationship. Often, experts also link linguistic abilities with this classification. Social skills on a personal level might include the following:

• Smiling at others and trying to capture their attention.

• Making eye contact to establish a true personal relationship.

• Asking pertinent questions and answering questions that other people ask them.

• Giving respect to others and their views.

• Giving compliments and acknowledging them in the normal course of conversation.

Note: These simple social interactions are just enough to induce many developmental outcomes that include peer and societal acceptance.

Another amazing ability is the giftedness of acquiring linguistic skills or spoken language skills. These children possess a highly refined skill for audition and vocal sounds. They always think in terms of words spoken and written. These children are often very good in essay writing, debates, arguments, editing, and communication. Most of the linguistic children are:

• Voracious readers.

• Like to tell stories and jokes.

• They can easily spell, write and read.

• Enjoy interacting with others.

• Good in debating and sensible arguments.

Tips to develop humanities gifted children

• Organize meetings, play dates and week end parties to help children to interact with other children.

• Allow them to mingle and interact with other children and teachers.

• Train them in the art of positive mannerism and social etiquette.

• Make them understand how other people treat them and in what manner they are likely to form a positive opinion about your children.

• Train children in the art of positive conservation and extended interaction.

• Provide them plenty of word games, crossword and puzzle sets, thematic books and magazines.

Science and Math Gifted

Children who are endowed with science and math giftedness are unique and special. The biggest advantage with these children is their ability to think in a conceptual manner. They are very lucid, clear and precise in their thinking process. Science and math gifted skills may include the following:

• Show an extremely high level of curiosity on everything they see or observe.

• Try to find out why things and events happen or occur.

• Natural tendency to like subjects that relate to biology, physics, math and chemistry.

• Try to find out practical answers to any difficult questions.

• Excellent reasoning and logical abilities.

Note: Science and math gifted children are more likely to succeed in their classroom especially in the practical and laboratory classes. They are also excellent in designing and creating science projects.

Tips to develop math and science gifted children

• Provide children early facilities and tools for scientific exploration.

• Bring home science project kits and ask them to build science models.

• Facilitate early counting skills by using puzzles, board games and other play sets.

• Enhance mental computation skills by teaching them the basics of math and science.

• Play board games like chess and checkers to teach them logic and critical thinking.

• Play role-playing science conversation games. For example, you can ask them. questions about flowers, nature, universe, astronomy, stars, planets, animals and plants.

Musically Gifted

Children who are gifted in music display a tendency for different sounds even as babies or young toddlers. When you introduce some form of sounds, them may just stop doing everything and start focusing on the origin of those sound bites. They tend to show a keen interest to listen to the sound when compared to the ones that do not possess this gift. When they become children, they display their amazing abilities to imitate and mimic sounds, rhythms and noises that emanate from the nature. They have what the composers call “the perfect pitch”.

Musical skills may include the following:

• An inclination to follow musical and sound bytes.

• When such children become adults, they try to play some musical instruments especially the piano.

• Good memory for tunes and chords.

• Excellent voice and great ability to repeat different musical notes.

• Supple fingers that are so much required to play some musical instruments.

Tips to develop music giftedness in children

• If you notice musical giftedness in children, make sure that you learn how to develop it further. Read books, magazines and approach a music teacher.

• Bring home play musical instruments that emit different sounds, musical notes and nursery rhymes.

• Allow the child to play the instruments and feel the sound and chords that come out of the play set.

• When your children become old, start music classes that deal with a particular instrument.

• Introduce in gradual manner, the basics of music and use a piano because it allows the child to experience the magic of sounds in their various forms.

• Play light music on your stereo system when your children are in the home.

• Discuss about popular nursery rhymes and musical pieces.

Continue to read Different Types of Giftedness in Children - Part II

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