Super-intelligent children and teenagers, how to cultivate their gift (and raise them happy)

They can “get lost” during their school career because their talents are not recognized or valued, sometimes they are even branded as problematic. Yet they are children and teenagers with an edge, with higher than normal intelligence: to recognize them, but above all to respond to their needs and to encourage their peaceful growth, the new book by the psychiatrist and psychotherapist is in bookstores Federica Mormando«Children and young people with high potential, grow with them. A guide for parents» (Red!).

Recognize special intelligence

From the definition of the different types of intelligence to the tests to measure it, the volume aims to provide parents with the tools to recognize the high cognitive potential of your children even beyond their IQ because, as Mormando explains, «there are types of intelligence that classic tests are unable to measure and which are not necessarily connected to IQ. Creativity, intuition, artistic gifts are also forms of hyper-endowment, furthermore even the classic intelligence tests must be well interpreted to have real value.” But how do you recognize a child with above-average abilities? «These children they are quick to learn, they find non-trivial solutions, they are precocious in abstract thinking which can manifest itself well before the age of six – replies the expert -. Often then they learn to read already around the age of three and without much external help, they tend to feel more comfortable with those who are older than them; they also have an intelligent curiosity, which does not mean always asking why but wanting to look beyond. A typical clue? They are bored at school because they don’t receive the stimuli they need. So it happens that they get confused and distracted, many then prefer to be alone.”

The risks of the “gift of intelligence”

The result is that many gifted children are diagnosed with non-existent pathologies, from ADHD to high-functioning autistic syndromes, which create anxiety for them and their parents. «Unfortunately, personality is often confused with illness, but this transmits to children a sick image of themselves, which damages them – underlines Mormando -. These children also run other risks if there is not the right approach to their needs: some, accustomed to understanding everything immediately and easily, become discouraged and abandon when faced with challenges that are little more complex; others always remain on the surface, because everything seems easy to them, or on the contrary they become passionate about something that becomes all-encompassing for them. As Above average intelligence is not always associated with success, at school and in life». To prevent this from happening, parents need to be trained so that they can accompany their children without anxiety and with competence, love and patience: the book offers suggestions and examples that dispel preconceptions and strengthen the ability to formulate personal and objective judgments. Even if, as Mormando concludes, «the school should do a lot. Trained teachers should and could offer ideas that can be interesting even to those who are more gifted; Furthermore, in some cases, “skipping” one or two classes may be favored».