• 
• 

Published on September 8, 2007

What to do next after discovering they are unique? The best way to treat the child, associate professor Maliwan Lubpairee, director at the Chulalongkorn University's Centre of Research and Development Innovation for the Gifted and Talented, said, is to discuss it with teachers and school executives to seek support for the setting up of a particular policy and curriculum for the child. The schools also have to collaborate with local universities or colleges to teach the gifted children subjects they are interested in.

Maliwan said yesterday at a seminar called "How to Be a Genius Child" that parents should let their children study with others in every subject taught in class but also let them study with experts in subjects they are very keen on because gifted children don't want to be treated differently.

Parents should also let them experience many different activities because they will then have a chance to find other activities they are interested in, said Maliwan.

Most gifted children don't only have a single special ability. "Let them try many things, and parents may find other talents," she added.

Dhanat Plewtianyingtha-wee, a five-year-old boy who is renowned for his abstract painting, showed another of his talents at the seminar. He played the violin beautifully along with his teacher.

Dhanu, Dhanat's father, said his son was also good at English. He is now learning French and Chinese with Dhanu and his wife, as well as beginning to play golf. The talented boy's abstract paintings are popular and sell in many countries in Europe as well as the United States and Australia, Dhanu said.

Krit Boonsirisate, a seven-year-old who enjoys mathematics, was another gifted child displayed at the seminar. He easily picked up mathematics when his mother taught him. "I only gave him some guidelines," Krit's mother Penprapa Boonsirisate said.

"Krit has also asked me to buy him a copy of the 'Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Maths', which I thought was too difficult for him. He has read most of it and explained some of it to me. He said some of it was very enjoyable," she said.

Another gifted child is Ajay Puri, 11, an Indian boy studying in an international school. He excels at many computer activities such as Microsoft Office, Macromedia Flash Player, Dreamweaver, Visual Basic and video conferencing via the Internet. The boy showed how to make a website.

It is very important for the support of any gifted child that parents and teachers keep observing them, because these are the early steps.

"These people are close to the children, so they have to observe them closely to seek their hidden talent. The talents will usually appear before the end of primary school," Maliwan said.

Dhanu said parents should find their children's talents as soon as possible and then support them in what they want, not force them to do anything they don't want to do.

 

Wannapa Phetdee

 The Nation