Early Gifts Recognizing and Nurturing Children's Talents

Early Gifts: Recognizing and Nurturing Children's Talentsoffers solid advice and guidance for parents of gifted and talented children of preschool and elementary school age. The book shows parents and educators ways to identify a child's area of talent; support and nurture that talent both at home and at school; and strategies parents can use to ensure their gifted child grows to be a happy, healthy adult. The authors, leading experts in the field of gifted and talented education, discuss how to recognize and nurture talent in preschool and elementary school-aged children. An introductory chapter provides a framework for understanding the major contributing factors to the development of talent, including the home, the school, outside programs, and the personality of the individual child. The following seven chapters each deal with a major area of talent. The talent areas discussed include: science, mathematics, language arts, musical talent, dramatic arts, performing arts, and sports. In each chapter and for each talent, early behaviors indicative of potential talent are presented. The authors of each chapter discuss how parents can create a home environment that both elicits and develops their child's special abilities through activities, games, and play.