Parents of gifted kids and students are often worried that their children will get bored from learning and get discouraged from learning more. Many at-home age-appropriate, yet advanced enough for a gifted child. These ideas will encourage them to keep learning in a fun and satisfying way without being too rigid and overly-structured.
Developmental Differences
Always remember that there are varying aspects of a child’s development that may arise at different times. For instance, your child may intellectually be able to build things with blocks, but still lack the fine motor skills needed to try to do so.
Sometimes it is easy for people to forget that their gifted toddler or preschooler remains only their biological age. Parents of a gifted three-year-old who is reading at a third-grade level, for instance, can “forget” that their child is only three years old.
No matter how smart these young gifted children are, they haven't compared to exploring all the world has got to offer and should not be able to fully comprehend a number of the topics they're ready to examine. No matter how intellectually gifted a child is, they're going to still need playtime for his or her social and emotional development. The years before children attend school are often an exciting time for adults as they study their child's interests and skills.
Subjects Children Can Explore
At-home activities are an excellent way to reinforce concepts being learned at school (or where your child will encounter once enrolled), but it’s also a great opportunity to show your child the way to captivate their mind. Some people may discover the special interest that your child may have on a certain subject. Allow the child to explore new topics and talk to them about it. Look for websites that can provide additional information that can help you.
Art Projects
Adults tend to focus on academic subjects in quantifying or identifying gifted kids. They often forget other areas of exploration like art. Parents can use crayons and coloring books to assist their children to explore this creative side of life by keeping craft supplies available for art exploration.
Music Exploration
Music is a non-academic subject that some people may not consider as a skill exhibited by a musically gifted child. All it takes to explore music is a catchy playlist and speakers, alongside some pots, pans, lids, and spoons.
Language, Letters, and Reading
There are gifted kids that love learning language, especially kids gifted verbally. They'll be fascinated with letters and words, asking to read at any time, or they'll even teach themselves to read. However, even those children who aren't hooked on the language subject may enjoy exploring this area. Videos that have letters or words are great tools to stimulate further learning. You may also want to explore games and apps that are designed to develop language skills.
Numbers and Math
A child gifted in math may have a natural love for basic math problems, numbers, or patterns. Even children who are not gifted with math can still enjoy learning more about numbers. Magnetic and foam numbers are good resources for learning, as are several puzzles and books.
Simple household objects like kitchen utensils or office supplies also can be utilized in counting and pattern-making activities. For preschoolers, you'll even integrate math into pretend play; have your child be the cashier once you play as the buyer.
Exploring Science
Whether it's biology, botany, astronomy, physics, or chemistry, each branch of science offers much to look for intellectual stimulation. There are many simple principles that even children can understand just like how they can understand the law of gravity. All it takes to urge a gifted kid’s thinking is to ask questions that illustrate a number of these simple principles, such as, “Why does a ball go down once we throw it in the air?”
Botany is often explored by simple nature walks. Astronomy is explored by watching the moon and the stars, particularly over days to watch the changes in the sky. Chemistry is a straightforward subject. Just bake a cake or cookies with a child and mention the changes baking creates within the ingredients. A visit to the doctor for a check-up or an illness is often a springboard to discussing how the body works.
