“All children are gifted,” she says. [ParentDish's Advice Mama Susan] Stiffelman cites the work of Harvard Professor Howard Gardner and his theory of multiple intelligences, telling us that “each child has at least one area of inherent talent that deserves attention and nourishment.”
Kottmeyer disagrees. “Howard Gardner’s theories say that all children have strengths, domains in which they are more able than in other areas,” she says. “Gifted, by most definitions, refers to intellectual abilities in the top 2.5 percent. Saying all kids are gifted is like saying all kids are tall; it can’t be true. Not all kids are in the top 2.5 percent of height. Not all kids are gifted.”
All children are gifted?! All children (like all human beings) are unique, but not gifted according to the definition of gifted. This mindset is why school districts do not focus on gifted education like they should.
As a parent, it frustrating to continuously fight that battle. But we can’t give up- our gifted children are too important.
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