Since giftedness isn’t only a matter of nature, but of nurture as well, it’s important that you do things at home to foster your child’s precious gifts.
Speak to your child in an adult-like manner. Even infants can benefit from this; their speech and vocabulary will develop better if you don’t pepper your own speech with cutesy baby talk.
Read to your child – even if she can read on her own. Trying altering your voice for different characters. Get your child involved with the book, suggesting that she guess what’s going to happen next, or make up alternate endings.
Help him discover what interests him. Expose him to a wide range of things – art, music, sports, etc. – including the things that interest you. When he expresses an interest in a certain topic, do all you can to encourage that interest: check out books on the subject, see museum exhibits relating to it, look it up on the Internet.
Explain things. To a gifted child, “Just because” isn’t a suitable answer. They will ask many questions and possibly drive you a little bit crazy with their incessant “Why?” Try your best to explain why. If you aren’t sure of an answer, look it up and learn about it together.
Encourage creativity. Don’t worry about the mess; allow your child to finger-paint or make things from clay. Let her compose songs on the piano or guitar.
Raising a gifted child can be a challenge; there are many special needs to consider, and many things to watch for and be sensitive to. But gifted children are lively and entertaining, never ceasing to amaze parents and teachers with each new, sometimes profound, observation or discovery. If you are always conscientious about giving your exceptional child the best educational opportunities possible, it will pay off. Gifted education isn’t about molding the next great genius or Nobel Prize winner; it’s about producing a well-rounded adult with great potential that is, most importantly, comfortable with who she is