In our practice of meeting the needs of gifted and twice-exceptional learners, our “prescription” for the perfect summer is “Take two genuine interests, explore them thoroughly, and call us in September.”
When parents actively help their children explore their interests and delve deeply into their passions, everyone in the family ends up having a rewarding summer. Whether the passion is marine biology or engineering, art or writing, programs can be found or designed to address every child’s interests. For the parent whose child happens to be interested in something offered at a nearby gifted summer camp, this can be easy to arrange. For the parent who lives far from such resources or for whom high program fees are prohibitive, or whose child has unusual interests, planning a summer of enrichment can be a bit more challenging. It is our view, however, that parents can give no greater gift than helping their child design and implement a summer of exploring the child’s genuine interests, utilizing talents, accomplishing something of value, and building self-esteem.
Benefits of Engagement
The benefits for children of a summer engaged in enrichment in their interest areas are manifold: intellectual stimulation, increased motivation to achieve, enhanced marketability to colleges, the chance of finding passions or a future career, validation of self, increased self-esteem, increased happiness, and social connectedness. Intellectually, students who work on something they are interested in at their pace of learning are stimulated at a level rarely possible during the academic year. The opportunity to study something of intrinsic interest and challenge is the most thrilling intellectual experience possible. Kindling an intrinsic motivation can lead to a transfer of motivation and stronger desire to achieve throughout the school year.
Over the summers through high school, students can build a résumé showing the pursuit of interests and achievement, positioning the student well for college applications. Selective colleges are far more interested in applicants who have pursued their genuine interests over the years than in those who engage only in what is required and valued at school. Children may even find their true calling in life by exploring future career interests.
Perhaps the greatest benefits of an enrichment-focused summer are in the emotional area. By valuing children’s interests, we show that we truly care about them for who they are, not who we think they should be. By taking their interests seriously, we validate their unique sense of self. Knowing that they have their parents’ support can give students a sense of security and help them fulfill their dreams, helping them to become the individuals they really want to be. Furthermore, children who spend their summers pursuing personally meaningful goals are often happier and more cheerful than children who just “hang out.” Children who pursue their interests during the summer typically come into frequent contact with peers or mentors in their interest area. Relationships with others who share their interests can be deeply fulfilling in a way that interactions with school-year classmates and video-game buddies often are not.
Tips for Parents
Summer is almost upon us. How can parents go about designing an enrichment-focused summer program for their children?
Begin with a careful assessment of their genuine interests. In a non-judgmental way, directly ask what they want to learn more about, from anthropology to zoology, archery to yoga, animation to video film making. Making a list of various hobbies and fields of interest and discussing them with children can be helpful. Parents can reflect on how their children choose to spend free time, the books that absorb their interest, the kinds of exhibits that engage them in museums, and any other clues to what intrigues them. Even interests that on the surface don’t appear to lend themselves to productive enrichment can provide valuable clues.
Once parents have a better understanding of their children’s interests, what should they do with these insights?
- Embrace them. Don’t try to re-channel your child into something you consider to be more impressive or marketable, or something that you wish you might have done but didn’t.
- Start searching for opportunities for your child to delve deeply into exploring his or her interests. Discourage your child from following friends to a camp that may interest the friends but might not be a good fit for your child.
- Don’t limit yourself to organized camp programs; often the best opportunities are the ones you initiate together.
- Don’t be shy about asking experts in a field for their advice; professionals can recommend teachers, opportunities, or internships.
- Check local high schools and colleges for courses your child (or you and your child) can audit.
- Plan family vacations around your child’s interests, such as dinosaur digs or museum visits.
- Enlist the help of your local children’s librarian. Find books and magazines, from National Geographic to MIT’s Technology Review, and search for conferences and events.
- Learn about local special interest clubs and organizations that offer events and information.
- Be involved. Accompany your child to events, help practice, read and discuss books, and be an active partner in exploring interests.
If you follow this “prescription” for the perfect summer, your gifted child will begin the school year with renewed energy, enthusiasm for learning, and one step closer to achieving the joy of true fulfillment. And you’ll have quite an interesting ride along the way!
