Why Give "Gifts" to the Gifted?: Investing in a National Resource Book

This book demonstrates the importance of identifying gifted children as early as possible and implementing proper strategies to allow them to flourish. The study follows the development of fifteen children with phenomenal IQ (160+) and analyses the methods employed to cope with them. These methods include accelerated and enriched programmes, ability grouping and special guidance. The author convincingly shows that the lack of such measures can have devastating effects on gifted children, among which boredom, lack of stimulation and problems socialising. There's a worrisome lack of support for adapted educational programmes for the gifted as opposed to those with cognitive conditions. It's unfair and revolting to see that many intellectually gifted children are abandoned and end up deeply dissatisfied and depressed. All teachers should be aware of this phenomenon and its implications, and they should do everything to provide, along with parents, a suitable environment for these special children.