The term giftedness carries a variety of definitions.  It is evident, however, that all definitions have one commonality:  A gifted person is someone who shows, or has the potential for showing, an exceptional level of performance in one or more areas of expression.  Various areas of giftedness include the visual and performing arts, creative thinking, leadership, general intellectual ability, and specific academic ability.  Perfectionism, sensitivity, and intensity are three personality traits often associated with giftedness.  Gifted children come in all shapes and sizes.  Some are identified and some are not identified, and some gifted children overexert themselves, while others do not use their potential to the fullest.  It is important to realize that giftedness reveals itself in many different ways, and each and every difference needs to be noticed and appreciated.

     Giftedness can usually be observed in the first few years of a child's life.  You have the same basic needs as other children, but it is crucial to understand that you are different:  different from other children and different from each other.  You need to understand the differences you possess and embrace those differences.  Some children are gifted, in the same manner that some children have green eyes, and some children have brown hair.  You should be aware that it is neither superior nor inferior to be gifted.  It is what you do with your ability that is important.

     In order to strengthen gifted abilities, children must find interesting ways to stretch their higher level of expression.  It is imperative that gifted children have an outlet: a safe place to practice higher levels of expression and let their imagination run wild and free.  For this reason, the Smart KIDS webpage was developed.  As a generation of technology savy children, you can visit the Smart KIDS webpage to express your creativity, practice higher order thinking skills, exhibit your artistic abilities, employ enrichment activities, and convey your logical/mathmatical talents. 

     Smart KIDS is an excellent resource for gifted girls and gifted boys to use in their daily lives.  You are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of this webpage and it's links, not only to stretch your higher levels of expression, but also to experience some amusement and have a little fun!!!












References


NAGC Who Are The Gifted? Retrieved November 23, 2004, from 
     http://www.nagc.org/ParentInfo/index.html

Silverman, L. (1997).  What We Have Learned About Gifted Children 1979-1997. Retrieved
     November 23, 2004, from WWP Today:  West Windsor Plainsboro Web site:  
     http://homepages.wwptoday.com/advocates/reach/what_we_ve_learned_about_gifted.html

Tolan, S. (1990).  Helping Your Highly Gifted Child. (ERIC EC Digest #E477).
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