From the article: Top 10 Ways to Motivate Gifted Children
Some people think that gifted kids are those highly motivated, high achieving kids that stand out in the classroom. If only that were true! Motivating a less-than-enthusiastic kid to do homework is a very difficult task. One thing I've learned is that there is no single method that works to motivate every gifted child. Here are some ideas that might work for you. Share Your Idea
Unschool
- Liz is on the right track, but some specificity is in order. The problem isn't motivation, all kids are motivated to learn, but they may not want to learn what you or adult teachers think is important. The whole key lies within suggestion #1 & this will lead you to unschooling which prioritizes your child's interests or to a Free School which equally values student interests rather than arbitrary adult standards for learning. Check out Alternative Education Resource Organization for a plethora of schools which live student centered learning, rather than just talking about it as so many schools do...
- —Guest Zep
Chiming In
- I am from a different culture. So gifted/kids/programs were very new to me. I thought my child will be learning more there. To my horror I discovered he was adding 2 and 3 there at age 9. They group kids from 2-3 grades together. They color. They do Suzuki and a slew of other meaningless materials. My child told me of kids "in gifted" who sit next to him and do nothing, coping other's work, staring in space. Gifted teracher told us there are children in gifted who cannot handwrite in 3-4 grades. we are struggling with motivation at home. I tried so many ideas. Nothing works. And advise to tell child who want to be austronaut to do math is hopeless. Such child will then want to be a Disney Princess, or someone else with no responisibility/
- —Guest Julie
I'm not the only one?
- @GuestMelissa - You're in good company. I have a 10yr old son who has identical issues as your son! I also have a 1yr old whose needs sometimes overshadow everything else so then I feel guilty for overlooking the 10yr & it's a vicious cycle of blame, guilt, anger and frustration - for everybody. The only thing I can think of to do is NOT GIVE UP. Unfortunately, our society will not conform to our kids' styles so we have to help them learn skills to better adapt to the world for their own success. I'm hoping to continue to read and find/create tools (visuals) so that we can celebrate successes. In my career, I manage projects so I feel like I just need to adapt my tools into 10yr old friendly materials. Hope this helps..or at least gives you in comfort in knowing you are not alone! : )
- —Guest Sara
you can do it
- The key to motivating them is to make it meaningful and fun. Gifted kids are often working on material that is advanced however they are still in a child's body. Continue doing the advanced concepts, but do it in a child friendly manner. Yes, they are brilliant, but they are still kids.
- —Guest schoeberl
Pull them out of school
- School is torture for gifted kids, my husband and I hated it. We homeschooled ours with great results. Child led learning is very effective with these kids. Why on earth should a kid do totally pointless homework assignments? Why should they sit around bored out of their skulls finding ways to get into trouble? Don't even go there with most of the motivational devices, kids see right through the ploys and will lose respect for the adults. If something matters,and make sure it does, set clear actions and consequences.
- —Guest Liz
Let them do something cool!
- I am having the same problems with my 8-year-old gifted son. I am about to let him turn his room into a "laboratory" with black lights and cool posters should he complete all his handwriting assignments in one week. The "lab" will be fairly inexpensive, and we can add small things to the lab every time I need to reward him for completing his schoolwork. He has the belief that he can't do handwriting (as well as other strange beliefs), so being positive and helping him change these beliefs is also in the works. Will let you know how it works, but it may take some time....
- —Guest Rebecca Nieto
Ban toy music instruments
- You suggested getting toy musical instruments. I would suggest that these are impossible to tune properly and do more harm than good to musically gifted children and may actually turn them off music.
- —Guest Mark Ellis
My underachiever
- I wish there was some helpful insight under this subject. I often wonder why my son is in gifted. I know it is because he is a very smart 10 year old yet he lacks motivation. He does not need to study, fails to bring his homework home every night, yet does not fail to mention what happen in the school yard at recess. I am not sure how I can parent him better. I am lost when it comes to guidance, I often turn to the Internet for helpful resources. He is one of my four children so he does not have all of my attention. I would greatly appreciate some helpful insight if necessary.
- —Guest Melissa
