Just an observation...why do so many of us think being labeled "gifted" is taboo? I get that society might not be ready for an in-depth discussion about exactly what it means to be gifted. Lord forbid we hurt anyone's feelings because they aren't "gifted" (unfortunate that they all don't realize it is not a bed of roses...). But why do many of us struggle with sharing this news with our own children? One doesn't need to make a big deal out of it, but I think our kids would benefit from knowing that they are gifted.
Our DD knows she is gifted, she knows she is profoundly gifted according to some piece of paper. She knows she thinks differently and sees the world differently than most kids her age, which was very unnerving for her until she found out she was gifted and there were a lot of other kids "just like" her. She now realizes that some of her intensities are because she is gifted, not because she was "bad". She went from having a somewhat negative self-esteem issue because she didn't fit in, to accepting who she was and being at peace with it (for the most part).
One thing we did tell her is that being gifted does not mean she will succeed. She is full of potential, but it is up to her to utilize her gifts. No one else can do that for her. The star athlete did not get there by sitting on the couch, the concert pianist did not get there by practicing once a week. We all have to make choices and she will have a lot of them in the coming years. I don't think there is anything to lose in telling your child they are gifted. Use it as a teaching moment. Being gifted is just part of who they are, what they do with it is up to them (with a lot of guidance along the way, of course!)
Wouldn't it be nice if we could someday get to a place where the label is just another piece of information. Sort of like an eye exam....once you know the prescription you can get the right glasses. Hopefully someday, once you know your IQ you can get the right education....
