Parents have the most remarkable amount of insight and wisdom about their children's unique talents and gifts. There are standardized and psychological tests available for verification and quantification; however, ultimately, a parent's knowing lends the greatest knowledge about a child's giftedness. Giftedness, like people, comes in many variations including but not limited to emotional, intellectual, logical, creative, musical, Nature-based and spiritual. What connects these diverse talents is the realization that a gifted child is, does, feels, sees, senses and experiences - MORE. There may be neurological, environmental, genetic and spiritual evidence to support gifted children's intensity, yet the relevant factor is a super awareness that transcends social and financial elements.

Gifted children offer their parents a joy beyond imagining. Moments of jaw dropping awe at relevations of every kind; hours of conversation that never dulls; and companionship that rivals any adult interaction are just a few of the wonders of parenting and/or educating a gifted child. Gifted children can also have challenging traits and temperments that may often be hard to understand and often isolating for both parent and child. Gifted families can experience loneliness and social issues that can create depression and feelings of frustration.

We all need and deserve people around us with whom we can speak with soul knowing and understanding. We need affirmed and blessed. We need kindness and inspiration. When gifted people seek and find gifted others, there is a spiritual homecoming that soothes and enlivens. Genuine laughter, camaraderie and fellowship replace negativity and misunderstanding.

If you've wondered about identifying giftedness, here are some questions that may help:

Does your child or do (did) you ...

• have an adult consciousness at an early age, even during toddlerhood?

• have a capacity for empathy far exceeding his/her peers or caregivers?

• weep or awe at the experience of beauty?

• understand and remember complex ideas and information after only being shown once?

• have the ability to feel the greatest highs and deepest lows, with little in between?

• communicate on emotional and/or intellectual levels exceeding his age or average academic range?

• have asynchronous development - has real, workable solutions for global warming at age 3 but unable to read until he/she is 9?

• display heightened sensitivity to sights, sounds, tastes, textures, smells and feelings?

• have a highly in-tune or developed sixth sense?

• relate to children of ages older and younger, but not often equal to his/her own age?

• as an infant does or did your child have to be in-arms and nursed almost 24 hours a day?

• balk at structured learning; demanding and seeking personal interests and self-education?

• have a heightened sense of connection to, protection of and stewardship for the environment, wildlife and the Earth?

• have a profoundly strong sense of justice and injustice?

Does your child or do you also sometimes ...

• feel socially isolated or alienated because of his/her giftedness?

• obsess and focus on minutia?

• regularly suffer from anxiety that manifests in physical ailments, sleeplessness, hyperactivity and/or aggressiveness?

• need to be heard at any cost?

• require an often exhausting amount of verbal and emotional input from his/her parents?

• have allergies, some simple and others possibly life threatening?

• have oft-crippling perfectionism that keeps him/her from feeling happy and free about the learning process?

• disregard authority knowing that he/she is the more intelligent person?

If you have an immediate, instinctive - gut - response to any or most of these questions, then you are probably parenting and possibly educating a gifted child or children, and are gifted yourself.

You may already know that your child is gifted due to standard or psychological testing. However, if you've always homeschooled, you may not have had access to or interest in gifted testing but you KNOW your child is gifted.

It is important for both you and your child to have available a community and resources to offer support, positive ideas and an open forum within which everyone can be themselves. For further resources to explore, understand and embrace giftedness, please visit Gifted Children for internet links, books and additional information.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or would like help in finding a gifted resource.

© Copyright Paula Vaughan
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