Kids' Questions About Being Special
Q. If I am gifted in one area does that mean I am gifted in all areas? (Ashley Campbell will be in 4th grade at Cullen Elementary in Glendora Unified School District. She is 9 years old.)
A. Thank you for your very good question. In all of my experiences working with gifted children I cannot think of a child who was gifted in every area of their development.
Usually gifted children have specific strengths in one area such as language arts or mathematics, and they are at grade level in other areas. What is really hard for very bright children is the areas of learning that are challenging for them, because if you learn quickly in one area but struggle in another, this can cause a great deal of frustration. Whereas children who are not gifted learn to struggle early as part of the learning process.
A. Thank you for your very good question. In all of my experiences working with gifted children I cannot think of a child who was gifted in every area of their development.
Usually gifted children have specific strengths in one area such as language arts or mathematics, and they are at grade level in other areas. What is really hard for very bright children is the areas of learning that are challenging for them, because if you learn quickly in one area but struggle in another, this can cause a great deal of frustration. Whereas children who are not gifted learn to struggle early as part of the learning process.
August 27, 2008 |
Barbara Klein, Ph.D., Ed.D.
Barbara Klein, Ph.D., Ed.D.
Dear Sophia,
I don't think you have to tell someone they are not your friend any more. But you have to know in your own heart that your friend has hurt or disappointed you. You do not need to play with them or let yourself get hurt by them again.