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Many people believe that highly intelligent children are destined to become doctors, lawyers and scientists. Contrary to popular belief, this is not at all true. Gifted students often fail to do well because they are exceptionally intelligent. It is important to understand the needs of gifted children and their unique learning requirements. Enrichment activities for bright children can provide mental stimulation and give exceptional students a greater chance of utilizing their giftedness.

The most common problem that gifted children face is that adults place far too much importance on being smart. As a result, many people think that intelligent people do not have to work hard to achieve success and that everything just comes to them naturally. In lower grades work is easy for gifted children however, as they age and move into higher grades, they may not have learned the study skills that are necessary for academic success.

There is also an impact on the child who is told that he is so smart that he does not have to study. He/she has never had to place any effort studying before so they simply cannot accept the fact that they have to work and give up.

Highly intelligent students fall through the cracks in the education system all of the time because their test scores may show below average to average results. Rather than encouraging the child to do better, he/she may receive negative feedback in its place. This leads to a lack of desire to learn the materials and the student feels discouraged and inept. The results can be devastating to the child and he/she may suffer from depression, develop behavioural problems and display aggressive behaviours toward classmates that do perform well.

A students IQ is only part of the overall formula that is needed for a child's success. Motivation, social competence, and support from family and educators are key to the gifted child's success. Also, these students need intellectual and academic stimulation that teach them how to work hard and be successful.

Highly intelligent children are not challenged in the regular school system and can easily speed through the work than those with average IQ's. There is a need for greater intellectual stimulation. Students such as these can be placed in an accelerated program. Although they are doing the same work as the other students, a curriculum for upper levels can be used. Enrichment is another approach that can be used. Students can learn information that falls outside of the regular school program and they can perform research on their own and be assigned different projects.

When a child skips one or two grades, there are many social issues that come into play. A child can feel inferior when it comes to social events, such as playing sports. The other students will be older and more physically capable of doing sports and activities that the gifted student may not be able to do. The older students recognize the size and age difference of the gifted student and they may shun or tease him.

Because of such difficulties, it may be easier for the student to remain with his peers and just receive different forms of enrichment. A class can be offered in accelerated courses of interest for gifted children in the school where he/she attends.

What highly gifted students need the most are mentors that can guide them on their path to learning. When these students are challenged and given the proper guidance then they are destined to be successful.

Learn more about this author, Ms. C. Jones.
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