Is Identifying Your Child As Gifted Important?
At some point most parents of gifted kids will ask, “Does my gifted child really need a label?” In this audioblog episode, Collen tackles this question and looks at the pros and cons of giving your gifted child the “label.”
Does My Gifted Child Really Need A Label?
I understand the question. How often have we heard complaint that we label kids too much?
“Why can’t kids be kids?”
“Back in my day we didn’t have all these disorders.”
“I just want to appreciate him without some label telling me who he’s supposed to be.”
While these are certainly valid statements on some level, at some point most parents of gifted kids will ask, “Does my gifted child really need a label?”
Related: 100 Hints Your Child May Be Gifted
The Difference Between Labeling And Pathologizing A Gifted Child
To label a child means to identify them, in simplest terms. The salt and sugar in the cabinet each have a label that let you know what you’re working with, and a label for a child does the same thing. Pathologizing a child or a child’s behavior is akin to a diagnosis. Dismissing the wiggly kindergartner as having ADHD is pathologizing, whereas knowing that kindergartner is a wiggle worm is labeling.
Both have options for “treating” the behavior, be it medication or taking a short walk, but only one “blames” the behavior on a diagnosis or condition.
RLL Episode 115: Does My Gifted Child Really Need A Label?
In this audioblog episode, Collen tackles this question and looks at the pros and cons of giving your gifted child the “label.”
Prefer to read the original post? You’ll find it here:
Links and Resources from Today’s Show:
- Sponsor: Royal Fireworks Press
- Michael Clay Thompson Gifted Curriculum
- Royal Fireworks Online Learning Community
- Does My Gifted Child Really Need A Label?
- 100 Hints Your Child May Be Gifted
- Homeschooling Poppies – A Support Group For Parents
- Enough With The All Children Are Gifted
- 101 Reasons Eclectic Homeschooling Works for Gifted Kids
- Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism
- Success Strategies For Parenting Gifted Kids
- The Learner’s Lab | A Raising Lifelong Learners Community for Gifted / 2E families
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