Main needs of children with High Abilities

These are the most frequent needs among children with High Abilities.

We speak of High Abilities in the child when he/she presents either an above average intellectual level, or a high capacity for understanding and mastery in one or more areas of knowledge. Thus, not all people with High Abilities have to be gifted (having an IQ above 130), although in practice many are.

Each of these characteristics are indicative when defining High Abilities and can be present all of them together in the child or only some of them, along with other personal traits.

The term High Abilities also refers to the potential of the individual to achieve a high performance in certain areas of knowledge or creativity, a potential that depending on the intellectual stimuli received and the education during their growth, can be exploited or not. For this reason, it is necessary to it is necessary to take into account that together with the High Abilities, it is necessary to consider the needs associated with these..

Needs of the child with High Abilities: what to take into account to educate and raise them?

As we have seen, High Abilities can take many different forms, because the way they are expressed depends on the type of activity in which a particular talent is shown. It is not the same to be exceptionally good at mental arithmetic as it is to show a great facility for memorizing certain subjects.

Thus, What defines High Abilities is the potential to learn, which leads us to consider the importance of education.This leads us to consider the importance of education. The educational needs of the child, as well as other needs, must be met by the school as well as by the social and family environment. The most important needs are highlighted below.

1. Understanding and affection

Just like any other child, children with High Abilities need the love and affection of their parents and above all to feel valued beyond their superior abilities.

The fact of having different abilities can make the child feel displaced or alone in their academic or social environment.That is why they should feel listened to, respected and loved in their closest family ties.

Some people with High Abilities may also present a high emotional sensitivity, which is why they require a high level of understanding on the part of their parents, who must also teach them to control and regulate their emotional responses.

2. Need to create a positive self-image

In the same way, it is important that the child understands from an early age what it is to have High Abilities and what are the advantages and disadvantages of it, so that he/she does not feel lost in being Highly Abile. so that he/she does not feel lost by being different from the rest of his/her peers.

In addition to that, another essential aspect that parents of a child with High Abilities must carry out is to not to pressure him/her in any area, especially when he/she is younger, andespecially when he is younger, and make him understand that although he has superior abilities to the rest, he is a normal person with successes and mistakes.

3. Need for a stimulating environment

Children with High Abilities are often prone to boredom in the school or educational environment.. That is why they are usually advanced to a higher grade.

Another of the measures that are usually taken to stimulate the student is the enrichment of the curriculum, that is to say, to include in the study plan new activities of diverse scopes, with which the child acquires a greater and more diverse learning.

Some of the measures that parents can take to stimulate the child are active, non-directive participation in play and helping the child to acquire study habits from the early stages of childhood.

4. Healthy social environment

In childhood and youth, children with High Abilities may have problems communicating and socializing with people their own age.. That is why during their physical, emotional and intellectual development, they need a social environment where they are respected and accepted by other children.

As in any other person, these children need to establish healthy friendships with other children their age, in order to develop normally.

In addition to that, meeting children who are different or from other social groups will also help them to understand diversity and adapt to different social contexts..

5. Age-appropriate treatment

Some parents of children with High Abilities have a tendency to be more severe with their children or demand from them an emotional maturity that does not correspond to their age.

It is important to remember that High Abilities are limited only to certain areas of knowledge or academic areas and that they are normal children who should be treated as such, through a parenting style adapted to their age.

6. Need for limits

It is common that some children with High Abilities are reluctant to obey the rules and limitations of their parents, due to their early level of understanding, reasoning and communication.due to their early level of understanding, reasoning and communication.

However, it is of great importance to establish clear limits on what they can and cannot do, from the first years of childhood.

Looking for psychological support?

If you are interested in having psychological help in parenting, please contact me. I am a psychologist expert in psychotherapy for all ages and neuropsychology, and I attend in person in my office in Malaga, and also online.

Bibliographical references:

• Álvarez González, B. (2000): Alumnos de altas capacidades. Identification and educational intervention. Madrid: Bruño.
• Garcia-Cepero, M.C & McCoach, D. B (2009). Educators' implicit theories of intelligence and beliefs about the identification of gifted students. Universitas Psychologica 8(2) 295 - 310.
• Heller, K.A.; Mönks, F.J.; Sternberg, R.J.; et al. (2000). International Handbook of Giftedness and Talent. Amsterdam: Pergamon.