DUBAI // Up to 30 per cent of gifted children are not being identified in classrooms, an expert says.
This can often lead to these children being disruptive in class, or becoming reclusive. As a result, schools and parents have been urged do more to nurture an environment in which they can flourish.
Dr Martin Stephen, project leader for Gifted and Talented Education at Hartland International School, which opens in Nad Al Sheba in September, said it was vital these children were identified from an early age.
Although most gifted children are spotted either by parents or teachers, there are still about 30 per cent who are not, he said.
“Most, if not all, children are gifted at something and the key is to find out what that is,” Dr Stephen said.
He advised parents to expose their children to as many hobbies and topics as possible.
“What tends to happen is that parents push their children into things that they are interested in and not necessarily what their children want to do.
“If a child is gifted and is perhaps not getting the attention he or she deserves, or is not being challenged, then either they become disruptive or they go into their shell.
“Either way it is a symptom of them being bored and that needs to be addressed.”
In many cases a gifted child may hide his abilities to stay with friends in his class or to avoid being singled out.
“I’ve seen cases where a gifted child knows exactly how long to push things so they will perform poorly in class, but just as their teacher may become concerned, they will put the effort in and pass any tests or coursework they are assigned,” he said.
Mr Stephen, who has studied education systems from around the world, said some of the most useful were those that allowed gifted children to learn together.
“In Sweden, for example, they use what’s called a Dolphin room, where talented children can spend time together working on any projects they wish to,” he said.
It is an issue that schools in the UAE are aware of but admit that more could be done. Clive Pierrepont, director of communications for education provider Taaleem, said: “I believe every child is talented and gifted in some way, but the trick is to identify what they could potentially excel at.
“There was a study a while ago that said a majority of kindergarten children display gifted and talented characteristics. However, these decrease rapidly as they progress through formal education.
“Schools have a difficult balancing act in trying to encourage creativity, critical thinking and self-expression, while also preparing pupils for traditional exam-based pre-university qualifications.
“It is fair to say that children who cause disruption in class do need to be handled in a special way because, in many cases, they are more gifted than their peers.”
For parents, it can also be an issue between providing a challenge for their children and allowing them to be children.
“As a parent, I’m conscious of trying to encourage and push my daughter but, at the same time, I also don’t want her to miss out on the fun of growing up,” said a British mother of a 14-year-old girl.
“She loves playing the piano and it’s something that we are encouraging her with and, as long as she keeps enjoying it, that’s fine by us.
“We’re trying not to put any pressure or demands on her and let her develop her talent in her own time.”
nhanif@thenational.ae
