It’s always best to have a professional confirm whether your son or daughter is a gifted child. When one child is identified as gifted, it’s important for the structure of the family to clearly recognize the abilities of the gifted child, but also and just as clearly to see the abilities of the siblings as well.
It’s a similar situation to having a child with athletic abilities, while the other child or children are average in the same abilities. Families who value academic and cognitive abilities more so than other human abilities have a tendency to communicate and display bias. While children reach different levels of abilities, every child has some special interest that requires attention and development.
Nurturing A Gifted Child
Healthy growth of self-esteem and intellect amongst all family members takes care, and it’s not essential that each child experiences the same. There are times when modeling democratic principles and being fair that mistakes are made. Families will eliminate unique activities that are beneficial for the gifted child.
These types of activities, although of no interest to the other siblings, shouldn’t be eliminated as a way to treat every child equally. A large part of the problems that evolves by siblings of gifted children are just like the ones found in any family.
Siblings Of A Gifted Child
Some reports and studies have shown that it can be advantageous for some siblings to have a gifted brother or sister. Siblings with an older gifted sibling show less signs of anxiety, and exhibit fewer behavioral problems. Parents generally see the younger sibling as being well behaved with social competence.
Reports and studies have shown that families who have a gifted child will have distinct problems, but they’ll also have unique assets. There’s no evidence of any long term effects when it comes to sibling rivalry when one child is deemed gifted.
Parents of gifted children should practice the following, to ensure a positive relationship between siblings:
Parents should teach their children that “fair” doesn’t necessarily mean “the same.”
Parents should expect their kids to get along, as well as, respect and like each other.
Parents should provide individual fun time alone with each child with plenty of hugs.
Parents should treasure and recognize each child for their own qualities and who they are.
Parents should be careful to not seem like one child is favored more than another.
Parents should also be careful not to seem like one child is more privileged than another.
It can be more challenging for parents not to display favoritism to the gifted child than it is for the children to have resentment or feel less adequate to their gifted sibling. That’s why it’s important for parents to try not to be too indifferent with the children. It’s important that each child’s abilities or special talents are promoted at their level.
Families with gifted children will have unique problems, but they will also have unique assets. And no long-term effects have been found when one child is labeled “gifted.”