Catholic Schools in Maitland-Newcastle believe that supporting a child’s growth is a shared commitment between families and schools. To help you nurture your high potential and gifted child, our dedicated High Potential and Gifted Education Team has developed a guide designed to support student learning and development both in the classroom and beyond.
Understand and Support How Your Gifted Child Learns and Thinks
- Recognise that gifted children often learn and think differently from their age peers.
- Acknowledge and affirm what they know and can do and show that you value their abilities.
- Listen to their internal dialogue, both positive and negative, and nurture their intellectual curiosity.
- Encourage their questions, investigations, and willingness to take intellectual risks.
- Engage in their learning at home through shared discussions, explorations, and problem-solving.
Create a Supportive and Balanced Environment
- Foster a home culture where giftedness is accepted, understood, and respected.
- Support their growth in all areas, not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and physically.
- Avoid placing excessive focus on outcomes. Instead, prioritise effort, curiosity, and emotional wellbeing.
Teach Resilience and Coping Skills
- Help them understand that challenges, setbacks, and failures are natural parts of learning and growth.
- Promote resilience by teaching skills such as time management, emotional regulation, and stress management.
Respond Constructively to Their Vulnerabilities
- Be attentive to challenges such as peer relationships, self-doubt, and heightened self-awareness.
- Accept and support their individual ways of processing and responding to the world around them.
- Understand that they may perceive threats or stressors that are not apparent to others.
- Make your home a safe space where they feel secure, accepted, and free to express themselves.
Promote Emotional Understanding and Support
- Acknowledge their heightened emotional sensitivity and uneven developmental patterns (asynchronous development).
- Practise empathy and patience, especially when dealing with perfectionism or intense interests.
Celebrate Their Uniqueness
- Avoid comparisons with siblings or peers, which can lead to resentment or pressure.
- Support the development of a healthy self-identity, recognising that giftedness is just one part of who they are.
Be Active Advocates
- Collaborate closely with your child’s school to ensure their educational needs are recognised and supported.
- Seek out resources, connect with other families, attend relevant workshops, or access professional guidance to help advocate effectively.
Who to Contact for More Guidance
If you’re seeking further support, please:
- Contact your school’s Gifted Education Mentor (GEM)
- Maree Karaka Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education within the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
Further Reading and Useful Links
Explore these resources for more information:
- Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Schools – High Potential and Gifted Education
- National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
- GERRIC – UNSW Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Centre
- Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT)
Final Thought
Giftedness is not just about academic achievement – it’s about nurturing the whole child. Together, with understanding and strong partnerships between home and school, we can help our children thrive.
“Every child deserves to be known, to belong, to grow.”
– Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle
