Hi! Thanks for adding me, I've seen your name around for many years now, glad to get to know you a bit better.
I think the gifted/talented thing is a double edged sword. I think you label a kid as that, you risk teaching them exactly the wrong thing: That its innate talent alone that dictates success. Rather,it's mostly about hard work and trying and grit. Tell a young kid they are talented without the right other tools, and when they hit the inevitable challenge/wall/failure, they will internalize it as not being "good enough" as opposed to something to work through.
I try to do that with my kids (3 girls, 9 - 7 - 5) - we tell them they worked hard, as opposed that "they're smart". Although we do tell them that too on occasion.
I gather you're in South Africa, yes? I'm planning a trip (solo) there come October/November. A few days in Capetown, than doing an 18 day self-drive safari through a number of parks and Lesotho and eSwazi. My friend who is a zoologist is organizing a trip with his friends and he'll be guiding. Plus we'll drink wine. :-)
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Date: Wednesday, 24 April 2019 20:54 (UTC)I think the gifted/talented thing is a double edged sword. I think you label a kid as that, you risk teaching them exactly the wrong thing: That its innate talent alone that dictates success. Rather,it's mostly about hard work and trying and grit. Tell a young kid they are talented without the right other tools, and when they hit the inevitable challenge/wall/failure, they will internalize it as not being "good enough" as opposed to something to work through.
I try to do that with my kids (3 girls, 9 - 7 - 5) - we tell them they worked hard, as opposed that "they're smart". Although we do tell them that too on occasion.
I gather you're in South Africa, yes? I'm planning a trip (solo) there come October/November. A few days in Capetown, than doing an 18 day self-drive safari through a number of parks and Lesotho and eSwazi. My friend who is a zoologist is organizing a trip with his friends and he'll be guiding. Plus we'll drink wine. :-)