The educational journey
The best thing we can do for our gifted kids is to ensure they are in a learning environment where they feel they belong and where they are supported to develop their skills - social and emotional as well as academic - and explore their talents. If this isn’t the case for your child right now, you may want to explore options to get them that support and find an environment where they can thrive.
Know that it’s good to get in early. Growing up with a sense of being understood, potentially with an identity as neurodivergent, helps our tamariki to go on to explore and extend their gifts at school and outside it, rather than to hide them or feel confused by them, which often leads to significant distress.
Five steps parents can take
1. Talk to your teacher about what they are noticing
As a parent, your first step is to talk with your child’s ECE or school teacher about what they are noticing about your child and their qualities. Do keep in mind though that not many of our teachers have had the chance to learn about gifted kids and their needs, so you may need to share what you are learning with them.
2. Ask what support there is for gifted kids at school
Ask your child’s teacher how they provide for gifted children at your ECE or school. What does it involve in the regular classroom? Are there additional classes or activities? If you are happy with what the ECE or school is offering and it works for your child, that is terrific.
Here are some tips on what to look for in a high-quality school-based programme.
3. Can your school start a gifted programme?
If your school doesn’t have a specific programme for gifted learners , you could talk with them about starting one up. Schools are required by the Government’s National Administration Guidelines to identify their gifted and talented students and to develop classroom and school-wide programmes to meet their needs.
This can be a hard ask as few schools have teachers or leaders who are experienced in gifted education. Our MindPlus YourSchool programme is designed to make it easy for schools anywhere in New Zealand to provide a world-class specialist gifted education programme for half a day a week. Our website has information here for schools and teachers about this programme. You may want to share the link with your school to let them know that there is support out there.
4. Can your school support your child to access MindPlus?
If your school isn’t keen to run its own programme, our other MindPlus programmes can help.
Depending on where you live, your child can attend our “one day school or participate in MindPlus Online (at home or at school).
5. Can your school support your child to access Clubs?
Clubs is another exciting opportunity for gifted students to extend their passions with like-minded peers which school can support. You could share this link with your child’s teacher or school so they can learn more about it.
Note that, even if your school is not supportive, you can still help your child to access and enjoy Clubs at home. You can learn more here.
6. Keep checking in with your child
Keep talking in an open and relaxed way with your child about the options as you learn more.
Some kids may be happy with how things are at school, combined with the opportunities you give them at home to extend and challenge their thinking and explore their passions. You will have a good sense of how they feel at school. They may not want or need more at this stage - that is just fine!
Do bear in mind though that being gifted is a journey and what support your child needs will change as their brain grows and develops. Be prepared to revisit what is working throughout their time in the education system.