Homeschooling the Gifted Child:
An Introduction
by Lisa Rivero

Homeschooling is an increasingly common and accepted choice for the education of gifted children. Some gifted children homeschool for only a year or two to take a break from formal classroom education, to rekindle their love of learning or to concentrate on a particular avenue of study. Other gifted children successfully homeschool for most or all of their elementary and secondary school years.

What makes homeschooling such a good fit for the gifted child? Gifted children have intellectual, social and emotional needs that differ in important ways from the needs of most children. They learn faster, more deeply, often with more emotion, sometimes with complex learning styles. Their drive to make sense of their world is intense and relentless; however, if this drive is ignored, stifled or ridiculed, they may shut down and appear to have no interest in learning. Many parents and teachers find that gifted children can form deep and meaningful relationships with the adults who facilitate their learning, and that these relationships are an intricate and important part of the learning process.

Homeschooling accommodates these needs by allowing children to learn at an individual pace and in a way that works for them. For the gifted child, this may mean working several years ahead of agemates in one or more — but not necessarily all — subject areas. Homeschooled children can focus on a single topic as long as they need to satisfy their curiosity and need to learn with depth and breadth. When a child responds to subject matter with joy, fear or sadness, homeschooling offers the time for these emotions to be acknowledged, understood and addressed. Gifted children who are educated at home need not hide nor be ashamed of their intensity.

Perhaps most important, homeschooling allows gifted children to know and accept themselves, and allows parents and children to develop a strong, healthy and lifelong relationship in a culture that often forces families to spend too many hours apart from one another. When homeschooling works — and it is not the right fit for every gifted children — parents truly enjoy getting to know and being with their children, and children develop a natural respect for their parents who learn alongside them.

Whether you are already homeschooling, thinking of homeschooling or just want to learn more, please click the Next button to find out more. Joyful learning!