{"id":34985,"date":"2021-09-30T17:45:43","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T16:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/?p=34985"},"modified":"2023-04-11T16:20:46","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T15:20:46","slug":"what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Say About Their High Learning Potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Describing Your Child\u2019s Abilities to Others, Their School \u2013 and Themselves! <\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For some reason, it can be particularly uncomfortable to talk about your own child\u2019s strengths, particularly when these abilities seem to make them stand out from the crowd. However, it is likely that a young person with high learning potential will already sense that they don\u2019t quite fit in with their peers and an explanation of \u2018why\u2019 could be just what is needed to reassure and motivate them.<\/p>\n

Research[A] suggests that at least three-quarters of adolescents later revealed to be gifted were already aware that they were \u2018different\u2019; experts[B] agree that danger lies in children making up their own explanations for why this is. Potential Plus UK echoes this, with many children with high learning potential who they support, finding great comfort and focus when their abilities are revealed.<\/p>\n

If you notice your child is becoming negatively affected by feeling different, this is a good time to talk to them about their strong abilities and the complexities these can bring. This knowledge allows a high potential learner and their family to seek out friends who are not<\/em> \u2018different\u2019 to them and to ask for appropriate support and meaningful challenge at school, for example.<\/p>\n

Choose your Words\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

What do you say? \u201cBright\u201d? \u201cAble\u201d? \u201cClever\u201d? \u201cSmart\u201d? Find words or phrases that fit your family culture and show love and encouragement for your \u2018bright spark\u2019 \u2013 but not pressure. Also, avoid nicknames that have negative connotations.<\/p>\n

Although many schools have a \u201cGifted and Talented\u201d policy or register, be careful with the word \u2018gifted\u2019. In a study[C], children whose parents told them that they were \u2018gifted\u2019 actually had lower self-image, higher anxiety and increased behavioural issues. It might be the parental expectations in this group were stressfully high and did not allow for natural setbacks along the way. However, since 2013, Potential Plus UK has also raised concerns about the term \u2018gifted\u2019, feeling it can be misinterpreted and often conjures up unfortunate negative stigma. The charity now uses the term having \u2018high learning potential\u2019 to describe those with the possibility of achieving highly when given the correct support along the way.<\/p>\n

How to Say it <\/strong><\/p>\n

Be optimistic and positive! Don\u2019t burden your child with any high expectations, but do acknowledge that they will meet setbacks and, like anyone else, need support with both their strengths and weaknesses in order to reach their potential.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t feel the need to apologise to other parents for your child\u2019s talents, but then again don\u2019t be arrogant either. Being proud is good, but \u2018showing off\u2019 can alienate others and doesn\u2019t help prepare a young high potential learner for inevitable setbacks.<\/p>\n

For more background discussion, see advice sheet PA521 What to Tell Children about their High Learning Potential<\/a> (free to members in the Family Member Resources Area)<\/p>\n

Talking to Other Parents <\/strong><\/p>\n

Helpful phrases when talking to other adults about your child\u2019s unconventional passions might be:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s his thing at the moment!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe just so loves [dinosaurs \/ the periodic table]… What can you do?!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t it great to see your child really enjoying something?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so glad he has discovered [the solar system] because he\u2019s just so happy now in the evenings. Your son is like that with his football cards, isn\u2019t he?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

By drawing a comparison to the more mainstream interests of others, friends\u2019 parents may be more accepting of slightly unusual or intellectual obsessions. Also, finding common ground can be key and helps to demonstrate you are not a \u2018pushy parent\u2019 \u2013 a label so many are desperate to avoid. It would be hard for another parent or carer not to share joy in seeing a child find something they really get a buzz from.<\/p>\n

Given the right circumstances, share some of the challenges and meltdowns you face when you misplace a Rubik\u2019s Cube<\/em> or Top Trumps<\/em> set, for example. When others realise you, too, are human and share similar stresses, they can understand the world of a high learning potential family is challenging and not simply full of benefits, like they may have imagined.<\/p>\n

With the right people, you could even reach out by saying \u201cThey are all such little individuals aren’t they? It’s such a shame, though, because he\u2019s been so picked on for loving maths equations that he now feels wrong and upset for being so fascinated\u2026<\/em>\u201d. \u00a0Or ask straight out for advice such as \u201cWhat do you do when your son refuses to come off the games console at bedtime, because I have the same problem trying to get my daughter to stop reading?\u201d These insights may bring their support and friendship.<\/p>\n

Talking to the School <\/strong><\/p>\n

It is often a good idea to tell your child\u2019s teacher (or the Headteacher \/ SENDCo) that you have noticed your child has certain abilities, before then asking what terminology they would prefer you to use to describe this. Does the school refer to \u2018gifted\u2019, \u2018talented\u2019 or \u2018more\/most able\u2019 children? Would they consider suggesting \u2018extra provision\u2019 or an \u2018individual education plan\u2019 (IEP), for your child, for example? Don\u2019t go in straight away with your own definitions or list of demands; people rarely respond well to that.<\/p>\n

If the school hasn\u2019t picked up on the traits of high learning potential that you see, ask how you can all move forwards. Would they be willing to carry out a review or take on the views of an independent assessment? That way you can all use the same statistics and vocabulary to talk about your child\u2019s profile of abilities.<\/p>\n

Talking About an Assessment <\/strong><\/p>\n

If you decide to go down the route of a professional assessment (such as by Potential Plus UK, https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/families\/assessments-for-children\/<\/a> or an independent Educational Psychologist), what will you tell your child if the results show that they are a high potential learner?<\/p>\n

Describe having some fascinating insights into how their individual brain works, rather than focusing solely on any single area of strength or weakness.<\/p>\n

Lower results in any area (from maths techniques to memory processing speed) should be lovingly accepted, calmly explained and supported in the future while you also appropriately celebrate higher scoring areas. Help your child to set reasonable aspirations for weaving all of these aspects together (with support across the board, as appropriate).<\/p>\n

Following an assessment that shows high learning potential, it is important to find the right words to talk not just to your child, but also to their social and educational support network, so that everyone understands what it means and what recommendations have been given.<\/p>\n


\nIn Summary <\/strong><\/p>\n

Be factual-yet-tactful and proud-yet-humble when talking about your child\u2019s high learning potential. Explain that this might be why they can feel different to their peers, but that there are still opportunities to make like-minded friends.<\/p>\n

Also explain that although they may understand some subjects more quickly and deeply than their classmates, there will be other areas, (possibly such as motivation, resilience or an individual special need), in which they may lag behind and will need support.<\/p>\n

In this way, you will help them to be a good communicator with strong self-awareness, making their first independent steps towards reaching their potential.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]References <\/strong><\/p>\n

[A] Manaster, G.J., Chan, J.C., Watt, C., Wiehe, J. (1994) Gifted Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Their Giftedness: A Partial Replication\u00a0 <\/em>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/001698629403800404<\/a><\/p>\n

[B] Webb, J.T., Meckstroth, E.A., Tolan, S.S. (1994) Guiding the Gifted Child: A Practical Source for Parents and Teachers<\/em><\/p>\n

[C] Cornell, D.G. (1989) Child Adjustment and Parent Use of the Term “Gifted”\u00a0 <\/em>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/001698628903300202<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black” border_width=”2″][vc_single_image image=”34988″ img_size=”full” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_separator color=”black” border_width=”2″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]About the author:<\/strong>\u00a0Gillie Ithell is a writer and editor for Potential Plus UK with a B.A. in Modern Languages & Communication and further qualifications in mental health. Having worked internationally as content manager of classic board games and \u2018edutainment\u2019 software, Gillie now writes to inspire others like herself; on a daily journey with High Learning Potential.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Describing Your Child\u2019s Abilities to Others, Their School \u2013 and Themselves! [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For some reason, it can be particularly uncomfortable to talk about your own child\u2019s strengths, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1001684,"featured_media":34990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[196,40,799],"tags":[42],"class_list":["post-34985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-focus","category-high-learning-potential","category-skillsbuilder","tag-high-learning-potential"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat to Say About Their High Learning Potential - Potential Plus UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What to say to help a young person with high learning potential (gifted, more able) to understand themselves and to help others to understand them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What to Say About Their High Learning Potential - Potential Plus UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What to say to help a young person with high learning potential (gifted, more able) to understand themselves and to help others to understand them.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Potential Plus UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-09-30T16:45:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-11T15:20:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pexels-alex-green-5691872_960.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"643\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Geraldine Glover\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Geraldine Glover\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/\",\"name\":\"What to Say About Their High Learning Potential - Potential Plus UK\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pexels-alex-green-5691872_960.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-30T16:45:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-11T15:20:46+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#\/schema\/person\/5a752d6f665d00798a1ec249bc7e564f\"},\"description\":\"What to say to help a young person with high learning potential (gifted, more able) to understand themselves and to help others to understand them.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pexels-alex-green-5691872_960.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pexels-alex-green-5691872_960.jpg\",\"width\":960,\"height\":643,\"caption\":\"young child playing chess\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What to Say About Their High Learning Potential\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/\",\"name\":\"Potential Plus UK\",\"description\":\"Discover, Nurture, Succeed\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#\/schema\/person\/5a752d6f665d00798a1ec249bc7e564f\",\"name\":\"Geraldine Glover\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d839df56a7b8dc7bd15b5be674eeb6d04df321fa0c0fe07584f9f6f40dd0e3d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d839df56a7b8dc7bd15b5be674eeb6d04df321fa0c0fe07584f9f6f40dd0e3d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Geraldine Glover\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/author\/ppadmingg\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What to Say About Their High Learning Potential - Potential Plus UK","description":"What to say to help a young person with high learning potential (gifted, more able) to understand themselves and to help others to understand them.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"What to Say About Their High Learning Potential - Potential Plus UK","og_description":"What to say to help a young person with high learning potential (gifted, more able) to understand themselves and to help others to understand them.","og_url":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/","og_site_name":"Potential Plus UK","article_published_time":"2021-09-30T16:45:43+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-04-11T15:20:46+00:00","og_image":[{"width":960,"height":643,"url":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pexels-alex-green-5691872_960.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Geraldine Glover","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Geraldine Glover","Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/","url":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/","name":"What to Say About Their High Learning Potential - Potential Plus UK","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pexels-alex-green-5691872_960.jpg","datePublished":"2021-09-30T16:45:43+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-11T15:20:46+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#\/schema\/person\/5a752d6f665d00798a1ec249bc7e564f"},"description":"What to say to help a young person with high learning potential (gifted, more able) to understand themselves and to help others to understand them.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pexels-alex-green-5691872_960.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/pexels-alex-green-5691872_960.jpg","width":960,"height":643,"caption":"young child playing chess"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/09\/30\/what-to-say-about-their-high-learning-potential\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What to Say About Their High Learning Potential"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/","name":"Potential Plus UK","description":"Discover, Nurture, Succeed","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#\/schema\/person\/5a752d6f665d00798a1ec249bc7e564f","name":"Geraldine Glover","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d839df56a7b8dc7bd15b5be674eeb6d04df321fa0c0fe07584f9f6f40dd0e3d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d839df56a7b8dc7bd15b5be674eeb6d04df321fa0c0fe07584f9f6f40dd0e3d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Geraldine Glover"},"url":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/author\/ppadmingg\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1001684"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34985"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34985\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}