Mind Path Consulting Services consultant, trainer and educational psychologist Dr Inderbir Sandhu
Q: Some gifted children have committed suicide, turned to prostitution, or found themselves homeless. Why does this happen?
A: This typically occurs among gifted teens and adults who experienced a childhood marked by social challenges. While some exhibit asynchronous or uneven development without negative effects, others may have felt different growing up or just never found their niche.
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The other side of child geniuses: Parents’ pivotal role in ensuring gifted children do well in life Gifted individuals may endure de- depression as they struggle with what is meaningful and try to make sense of the world. With their heightened sensitivity, they grapple to understand the concepts of death, freedom, isolation and meaninglessness. This could lead them to experiencing Red by social challenges. we exhibit asynchronous or development without negative mers may have felt different por just never found their dividuals may endure de they struggle with what is and try to make sense of With their heightened sen- w grapple to understand the death, freedom, isolation glessness feelings of alienation, disillusionment and emptiness, resulting in despair.
Q: Could increased publicity do more damage than good for these children?
A: Those who are gifted are known about much more by the public when something goes wrong, especially if they had earlier been highlighted, usually in the media, due to their abilities. They are the ones who tend to collapse under pressure, turning to prostitution or choosing to be homeless out of rebellion, or never talking to their families again. Expectations become so high that they just explode.
Q: Do the parents of these children put too much pressure on them?
A: Some do, some don’t. The ones who push their children to the limit may not know any better. Unfortunately, too much pressure from parents has also been frequently cited as a cause of un- derachievement.In contrast, with reasonably high ex- pectations and, at the same time, being given freedom, personal autonomy, support, encouragement and indepen- dence, gifted children are likely to de-nigh that they just explode. They become so
Q. Do the parents of these children put too much pressure on them?
A: Some do, some don’t. The ones who push their children to the limit may not know any better, Unfortunately, too. much pressure from parents has also been frequently cited as a cause of un- derachievement.In contrast, with reasonably high ex pectations and, at the same time, being given freedom, personal autonomy. support, encouragement and indepen- lead them to experiencing dence, gifted children are likely to develop their talents or abilities in a pos- itive way.The issue is in finding a balance be- tween providing these children with what they need to bring out the best in them, and keeping them grounded and preparing them for the future. It is about not expecting something in re- turn or moulding them for parents’ own need for glory.
Q: How can parents learn to deal with the matter?
A: The Internet is an extensive resource for parents of gifted children. Support groups are an important platform, where parents can share their experience and vent their frustrations due to the difficulties involved in raising gifted children, be it at school or home, or in society.
In Malaysia, parents are lucky to have. a very supportive group, the National Association for Gifted Children, which has come a long way to provide help and support to parents of gifted children. Parents can also seek help from counsellors and psychologists, who are familiar with the nature of gifted children.suppor groups are an important platform where parents can share their experi ence and vent their frustrations due to the difficulties involved in raising gift- ed children, be it at school or home, or in society.
In Malaysia, parents are lucky to have a very supportive group, the National Association for Gifted Children, which has come a long way to provide help and support to parents of gifted children.
Parents can also seek help from counsellors and psychologists, who are familiar with the nature of gifted children.
