Politician says
'I would appreciate some feedback from those who have some experience with gifted children – either as family or in a professional capacity. What do you think?'
Please add a comment or feedback in the gifted-awareness-week-a-time-for-questions post so that the opportunity to have another voice in the mainstream is not lost into the depths of bloggosphere!
Have done, though children have never been 'officially' been tested as such and they not in primary yet. The changes in ECE is going to make it harder too to even pick up these children. I am getting really angry about it all.
I am happy that I have on to it people in the Playcentre who have gifted children themselves and can relate and picked it up in my children and they are the ones (more than one has mentioned it) that they think they are and are challenging them.
I think there is a preception out there that giftedness doesn't occur in families from 'certain' areas of society. (not so much on here, on this fourm I feel I belong and share common understandings)
You know Hails - from my studies thus far I have come to the conclusion that we actively TEACH prejudice to professionals - at least in psychology and counselling. Im doing child and adolescent psychology - giftedness isnt even 'on the radar' - but theres plenty of racial/socio-economic stereotyping linking the 'problems' of those on the lower-socio-economic rungs with 'family dysfunction' .... indeed it is the main focus of my Child and Adolescent paper to the extent that I have thrown away marks to 'let them have it with both barrels' so to speak .... I was disgusted.
I tried to discuss it on the forum with fellow students - and all but one defended the very skewed version of 'ethical behaviour' presented.
Of course it probably doesnt help that people throw about that 'studies show' that 'good food' yada yada yada supposedly 'increase' intelligence - and dont you know that poor people are uneducated and dont know how to feed their kids anyway?
LOL seriously, I had a special needs teacher try to educate me on how to feed my daughter - after all, I was poor, a high school drop out and a lone parent - it MUST be me causing all my daughters problems.
One of my goals once I qualify to administer cognitive assessments is to try and find a way to make them accessible to those who cant afford them .... and to have access to an assessor who wont be looking to find something 'wrong' with the child.
Hi Tiz Me,
hear you on the prejudice against the poor but
a. often see the 'coke is cheaper than milk' point raised -why anyone would buy coke as an alternative to milk or water is beyond my comprehension.
b. often wonder if the poor are not sometimes better off with food i.e. if you can't afford prepackaged rubbish then the kids are hopefully getting things made from scratch!
Fine balance I know and of course every situation is unique.
Not judging or stereotyping is very helpful to really understanding and helping individual people/families, at least in my work.
Well being a student I am well placed to comment on the subject of being poor LOL! The majority of our meals are homemade "frozen dinners' - made up in bulk and popped in the freezer in inidivual serving sizes (and I do snack sizes as well for those cold winter days after school) - spag. bol. , mac cheese, potato and vege bakes , honey mustard chicken on rice .... etc etc .... a months worth of dinners plus snacks for under $100 .... last much longer than that of course. Making them in bulk keeps the power bill down, a weeks worth doesnt take much longer than cooking a single meal - as well as solving the "I cant be bothered cooking tonight.
My grandsons lunch 1 ham & cream cheese sandwich as well as grapes every day - he alternates carrots sticks and dip or fresh pineapple and alternates a couple of cocktail savs or a 'baby cheese' (proper cheese not processed). And he drinks water. The cheeses are expensive so sometimes he has to settle for some slices off the block. He used to have dried fruit as well but the dental nurse advised against it - especially since he already has 6 adult teeth (how weird is THAT at 5 years old?)
In my experience, socio-economic class does not determine what goes in the shopping trolley - its more to do with time than anything else - ie those like myself who are at home a lot are more likely to make homecooked meals and make school lunches .... whereas the time poor lean towards loading up on convenience foods.
My youngest daughter on the other hand .... well she KNOWS how to cook, she's been taught "Crap in, Crap out" .... but she really is addicted to junk/convenience food I am sure - and I do wonder if that is an increasing problem in all socio-economic groups .... her older sister is very conscientious.
It seems to make sense to me to focus on who and how someone ACTUALLY is and the dynamics of individuals within relationships but it also seems to be the case that many of not most treat people according to their perceived "station"
Kids have a good diet. No coke in this house (sometimes lemonade, kids do need treats and nothing better than an ice-cream soda once in a while)
Milk always in fridge and they love their smoothies made with fruit, yoghurt and icecream.
I can make things stretch, fish and chips sometimes or MD's (though don't have a car so this is a REAL treat about every 2 months or so)
Their father I suspect was gifted, though he used to to 'get around the law' but anything he picks up, he can just do. He is really clever just clued onto the wrong things.
I was gifted in compassion and socially more advanced, didn't make school a whole lot of fun when you not on the same level as the other children. They thought I was strange, and I thought their concerns were petty. Also with reading and writing, thinking and joining up concepts.
I ended up an underachiever. Only picked up in me just before high school, in the last term. Then something done about it (extension class) when I was in 4th form. Too late for me to get anywhere. Could be why my self esteem was low and mangaged to get myself mix up and with a guy like their father. Who knows.
I just don't want my kids going though the same thing.
There are times where food is short. There are always scones or something I can whip up if need be. There is no reason to go hungry. I am on a low income but it is managable most of the time. There are times like when after hours are needed when we can get low on money for food, or when I had a placement and needed to pay for childcare and travel.
Going to be harder next year with no course related costs though.
I will pull my family out of this situation, but it doesn't mean anything when it comes to giftedness.
The local school has GKP running from it and it is in a low decial area. Decile 1. I am sure that it isn't going to be looked at in that way by them at least (presuming here a bit)
This makes it sound like I always have these things like soft drink. haven't had any for 2 months. It is a treat, usually in summer but I take the view if you offer them treats then they wont be able to control themselves when it is offered or they are able to get it, like when going to school or out with their friends.
My view could be wrong but seems to be working so far. They seem to like fruit better anyway. If offered kiwi fruit or pear they will take that over biscuits and chippies. They will prob eat about 5-7 lots of fruit and veges a day (in the form of smoothies, on porridge in mornings, as snacks, standing by the grape vine that our rental has or the strawberry patch etc)
