Too Much Too Soon?
Just read an article that included an attention grabbing heading of "Too Much Too Soon". The article had several statistics that require recognition and contemplation. Statistics that show and evident social emotional need. As a mom who has had to fight for her child's right to acceleration, I am a little concerned about this information, and how it may be interpretted though.
Is this study evidence that children shouldn't be allowed to do too much too soon?
That sounds like an argument against acceleration--something that has been very positive for many gifted students. But before anyone jumps on that band waggon, can we look for an alternative cause for the apparent increase in emotional need?
The statistics:
In 2010, 7% of these children were extremely concerned about things that in the past hadn’t concerned them. By 2015, that figure had risen to 30%. How does an increased use of internet and an increased availability of information accessible at an early age play into this time line? We know Gifted children internalize world problems, it is possible that they are now more aware? In 2010, 28% of children had experienced no fun at all during the previous week playing with other children. By 2015, that figure had risen to 40%. What are other possibilities for disccontent? We know that statistically creative play is lower, does this contribute toward the perception of fun? In 2010, 10% of children felt they were lonely a lot. By 2015, that percentage had doubled to 20% of high learning potential children. Ah...loneliness. A GT trait--feeling set apart. In the group, but not realy a part of it. Does the increased use of video games contribute to this? If it is easier to withdraw, is it also easier therefore to feel alone? The youngest child reporting emotional health issues was four years old. Again--awareness? 58% of children recognised that ‘people seem to accept lower expectations of me than I do of myself’ Unfortunately, I have never heard a GT student say other wise.
and 27% said they felt strongly or extremely strongly that ‘If I fail at school I am a failure as a person.’” Soapbox alert! How many people/studies have to say that we are emphasizing the wrong things in school before we collectively get this? Standardized tests and the structure of school lend themselves to celebrating only certain types of learners while we ignore any genius in a child that will not fit into our educational box. When will we stop trying to mold children into carbon copies and start allowing them to grow in their own individual strengths? Again--I am good at STEM subjects and aced the school game--but does that make me a more valuable player than the highly intuitive person who has a beautiful way of reflecting the world to us in a way that inspires postitive change?
Just something to think about before we jump to conclusions. Let us consider the big picture. There is a book that this all came from. Maybe I should read it...
