Page 141 - DEDU506_SPECIAL_EDUCATION_ENGLISH

Kulwinder Pal, Lovely Professional University Unit 19: Gifted Children: Definition, Types, Characteristics

Unit 19: Gifted Children: Definition, Types, Notes
Characteristics

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
19.1 Meaning and Definition of Gifted Children
19.2 Types of Gifted Children
19.3 Characteristics of Gifted Children
19.4 Summary
19.5 Keywords
19.6 Review Questions
19.7 Further Readings

Objectives

The objectives of this unit can be summarized as below:
• to describe the meaning and definition of gifted children.
• to explain about the characteristics of gifted children.
• to know about the types of gifted children.

Introduction

If a child shows the best of any one of ability is known as gifted child. The giftedness refers to mental
ability of a child. Parent often wonders if their child is gifted when they see evidence of advanced
abilities. They can begin to get a sense of their child's giftedness by looking at lists of characterizes a
child not have to have all of the traits to be gifted. A high I.Q. score is often a good indication that
child is gifted. In this unit there is discussion about identification problems of gifted children.

19.1 Meaning and Definition of Gifted Children

The term 'giftedness' has been defined by the psychologists in various ways. They have stated the
term with help of intelligent quotient, social potentialities or social efficiency and also statistically.
Some of the important definitions of 'giftedness' have been stated as follows:
According to W.B. Kolesnik: "The term gifted has been applied to every child who, in his group, is
superior in some ability which may make him an outstanding contribution to the welfare and quality
living in our society"
According to Prem Pasricha: "The gifted child is the one who exhibits superiority in intelligence or
the one who is in possession of special abilities of high order in the field which are not necessarily
associated with high intelligent quotient".
According to Havighurst: "The talented or gifted child is one who shows constantly remarkable
performance or outstanding behaviour in any worthwhile endeavour".
According to Terman and Vitty: The gifted children that Terman and Witty studied is, "Superior in
physical development, educational achievement, intelligent and social personality".
According to Simption and Lucking: "The gifted children are those who possess a superior central

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 135