It is essential to motivate a gifted child to nurture his extraordinary talent. Read on to find tips for motivating a gifted child and make sure that you draw a line between motivation and persuasion. Do gifted children need motivation? Is it possible that a gifted child suffers from learning disabilities and underachieves in school? What causes lack of motivation in a gifted child? How can parents motivate an underachieving gifted child? In this article you will find ways and means of motivating a gifted underachieving child. There is a lot that parents can do to encourage such children who may have an interest in subjects other than pure academics. The key here is to help and encourage the child pursue subjects of her special interest be it drawing, music or dance. In this articleNurturing Special Interests Opportunities to Explore Connect Schoolwork and Special Interest of the Child Motivation is Not the Same as School Achievement Praise Challenges Tips for Motivating a Gifted Child Here is how to motivate an underachieving gifted child: Nurturing Special Interests - Gifted does not imply that a child will necessarily excel in academics. The gifted child may love and be passionate about things outside academics like music, dance, animal or just about anything else. It is essential for parents to become aware of the childs interests and provide ample opportunities for her to pursue her passion in addition to academics. Opportunities to Explore - It can be extremely frustrating for a child who is interested in music to keep concentrating on studies all the time. Unless the child is allowed to pursue music and learn more about it, over a period of time this can de-motivate her. Hence along-with studies such a child must be given opportunities to learn music by participating in community programs or by taking formal music lessons. Connect Schoolwork and Special Interest of the Child - A child aspiring to be a writer may not realize the link between school curriculum and her own goals. It is important that such a child knows and understands the importance of learning the language in which she would like to write to achieve her dreams of becoming a writer. Parents must highlight this fact to the child and make her see the connection between the two. Once the child realizes the connection she is bound to become self motivated and start taking interest herself. Motivation is Not the Same as School Achievement – Being gifted is not only about excelling in school. Many gifted children do not feel motivated to do well in school. However, if asked to work in a field in which they are passionate about, such children become self motivated and do remarkably well. Continuing with the above example, a child with unique language abilities who aspires to be writers will have the ability to participate in and win writing competitions with ease although she may be only an average performer in school. Praise - Most of what gifted children do come to them without much difficulty. They do not realize the extent of personal effort they have put in to achieve the results. Parents take achievement for granted and do not praise the child adequate for their performance. Praise is something that works extremely well to motivate both gifted and normal children. Hence to help a child succeed, parents must continuously praise each and every effort taken by the child however small or big it may be. Challenges - Challenges excite gifted children. Parents must use their imagination and creativity to make dull tasks challenging for the gifted child. For example linking schoolwork to the subject in which the child is gifted is an effective approach to motivate the child to do her homework. It is important for parents and teachers of a gifted child understand that unless intellectually challenged such children tend to get bored easily and may become lazy over a period of time. Motivation is a key to the success of the gifted child. Therefore, parents should always motivate their gifted child and give him a scope to polish his talent as much as you can. Motivation is as important as talent identification for giving child a bright future.
It is essential to motivate a gifted child to nurture his extraordinary talent. Read on to find tips for motivating a gifted child and make sure that you draw a line between motivation and persuasion. Do gifted children need motivation? Is it possible that a gifted child suffers from learning disabilities and underachieves in school? What causes lack of motivation in a gifted child? How can parents motivate an underachieving gifted child? In this article you will find ways and means of motivating a gifted underachieving child. There is a lot that parents can do to encourage such children who may have an interest in subjects other than pure academics. The key here is to help and encourage the child pursue subjects of her special interest be it drawing, music or dance.
Tips for Motivating a Gifted Child
Here is how to motivate an underachieving gifted child:
Nurturing Special Interests -
Gifted does not imply that a child will necessarily excel in academics. The gifted child may love and be passionate about things outside academics like music, dance, animal or just about anything else. It is essential for parents to become aware of the child's interests and provide ample opportunities for her to pursue her passion in addition to academics.
Opportunities to Explore -
It can be extremely frustrating for a child who is interested in music to keep concentrating on studies all the time. Unless the child is allowed to pursue music and learn more about it, over a period of time this can de-motivate her. Hence along-with studies such a child must be given opportunities to learn music by participating in community programs or by taking formal music lessons.
Connect Schoolwork and Special Interest of the Child -
A child aspiring to be a writer may not realize the link between school curriculum and her own goals. It is important that such a child knows and understands the importance of learning the language in which she would like to write to achieve her dreams of becoming a writer. Parents must highlight this fact to the child and make her see the connection between the two. Once the child realizes the connection she is bound to become self motivated and start taking interest herself.
Motivation is Not the Same as School Achievement –
Being gifted is not only about excelling in school. Many gifted children do not feel motivated to do well in school. However, if asked to work in a field in which they are passionate about, such children become self motivated and do remarkably well. Continuing with the above example, a child with unique language abilities who aspires to be writers will have the ability to participate in and win writing competitions with ease although she may be only an average performer in school.
Praise -
Most of what gifted children do come to them without much difficulty. They do not realize the extent of personal effort they have put in to achieve the results. Parents take achievement for granted and do not praise the child adequate for their performance. Praise is something that works extremely well to motivate both gifted and normal children. Hence to help a child succeed, parents must continuously praise each and every effort taken by the child however small or big it may be.
Challenges -
Challenges excite gifted children. Parents must use their imagination and creativity to make dull tasks challenging for the gifted child. For example linking schoolwork to the subject in which the child is gifted is an effective approach to motivate the child to do her
homework. It is important for parents and teachers of a gifted child understand that unless intellectually challenged such children tend to get bored easily and may become lazy over a period of time.
Motivation is a key to the success of the gifted child. Therefore, parents should always motivate their gifted child and give him a scope to polish his talent as much as you can. Motivation is as important as talent identification for giving child a bright future.
