My response is a little different from the others you've received. I'd suggest that you try to avoid getting into the role of being responsible for entertainment. Because a child is gifted does not mean it is your full time responsibility to engage their brain (or to assign a computer or TV to complete that task.) I see being bored full time in school as something that is problematic and should be fixed, but I don't think we need to carry that over into suggesting it is a parent's job at home to make sure the child is never bored. Some boredom is important in learning to self entertain.
Assuming you are providing a loving environment with some open ended toys (blocks, puppets, etc.) it should not be your job to constantly entertain and when you take on that role it has a way of over time lessening and lessening a child's ability to self engage and self entertain - which really are vital skills for learning.
So, my suggestion would be of course to provide some attentive time playing games or reading but once that is done offer for the child to join you in your world (yard work, sorting laundry or whatever.) If they aren't interested I'd offer an expression of confidence that they will find something to do. They may be cranky for a bit, but in time they will learn ways to make up their own games and they will feel more confident and better if they have this ability.
I am glad I read through the posts b/c I too was going to post something similar. I 100% agree with PTP on this one. Parenting is also letting your child be bored. Granted, my DD (2 1/2) can entertain herself for hours on end through imaginary play. We still don't know exactly when that kid wakes up in the morning because she will sit in her room and play with whatever until we come and get her. And she doesn't have a room full of toys. She is allowed to have a few stuffed animals on her bed and that is all that is in there. Maybe I got the strange child that would have naturally been able to do things on her own but I like to think I had a hand in that by not always looking to have another activity ready for her to do. She has areas around the house such as crayons and a tablet at the kitchen table to draw on and her playroom upstairs and her dogs that follow her around. When she wants to draw she goes into the kitchen and draws for a while. When she wants to taunt her dogs she grabs a ball and the game is on. And yes there are times I need to entertain her but they are few and far in between.
To tie back into what PTP wrote, we always include her in our world. She loves to help bake and cook. Laundry is a love for her. She is even getting good with picking up the living room. And this type of activities has really helped her to go on and explore the rest of her world. There has been many a conversation with whatever stuffed animal about helping her make cookies or put dishes up, basically reinforcing the routines we already set in place.
LOL ... okay I read to PTP post and clicked quote. Now that I read through the rest I certainly don't think my response is directed towards you Hoosier. I get what you are asking and please disregard my input b/c it really has nothing to do with your situation. Other then maybe if what you are trying to distract her from is stuff she might be able to be involved in such as cleaning the house, cooking, etc. Just a thought.
