6 Ways to Motivate Gifted Children

Motivating Gifted Children

Every parent has high hopes and aspirations for their child, and educational success is usually high on the list. For parents of gifted children, where academics and learning may come easy, maintaining focus and motivation can be extremely difficult.

How do you know if your child is gifted? A few common signs that your child may be headed to the top of the class are: impeccable memory, ability to retain and recite information, independently reading and writing without formal instruction, consistently receiving high scores on school assignments, understanding elaborate and complex issues, and showing an interest in various activities. To help better determine if your child is gifted, parents can turn to formal testing through the state level, contact psychology departments at colleges and universities, or reach out to local psychologists that specialize in the study of gifted children.

Once you have determined that your child is gifted, the real challenge is keeping your child driven and an active participant in the classroom. Many factors may be at play – from the pace of learning to a lack of individual attention – but the key is to keep the child motivated and goal oriented.

Here are a few tips to help keep your gifted child from checking out of the classroom: