Cultivating talent in your child
In conversation with Dr.Dhanapala - Reg.
Clinical Psychologist (SLMC), (PRBV, Aus), (BPS, UK), MSocSci (Hons,
NZ), Post Grad Dip Psych (Psych. Hons, Aus), BSocSc, (Psych. Hons, NZ),
BSc (Psych, NZ), MAPS.
With increasing amounts of research being put into what makes a
gifted and talented child, experts have identified that the family unit
plays an immense role. Children expect their parents to show in some
form, guidance and support in what they do in their day to day
activities.
Parents who spend time with their children are more able to tune in
to their child's interests and respond by offering appropriate
educational enrichment opportunities. "Parents, as children's first
teachers should ensure their child's developing mind is nurtured by
loving interactions, secure and predictable environments and hands-on
experiences which invite exploration and allow their children to learn
and grow," said Dr.Dhanapala.
She went onto say, "The key elements of child development are
cognitive, emotional, social and physical development. Most parents tend
to focus more on the cognitive and physical development. All areas of
child development can be enhanced through play activities, but
unfortunately, in today's society, our children seem to be provided with
fewer opportunities to play."
In the early years parents allowed their children the freedom to self
discover by exposing them to a variety of interesting explorations and
by encouraging them to learn about a wide variety of subjects such as
art, nature, music, history, and sports. However, with time and the
progression of technology and society itself you find that such
aesthetics are not seemingly given enough importance.
"There are many ways parents can enhance their child's development.
Frequent, simple, hands-on experiences, which include talking, touching,
listening, tasting, smelling, playing, singing, looking and running
leads to building young children's brains because infants and young
children are primed to learn from birth, the key is to provide a variety
of interesting experiences over time. Exposing your child to new things
helps the brain strengthen old connections and form new connections,"
Dr. Dhanapala added.
The constant dependency on additional help in the form of multiple
caregivers providing inconsistent and/or inadequate levels of support is
yet another reason which leads to poor development and reduced ability
to form secure and stable attachments for your child. Home stimulation
and support of interests are vital to the development of talents.
Dr.Dhanapala explained that arts engage a variety of the brain's
areas that help children learn emotion, cognition and memory and provide
them with a new set of skills for self-expression, motor skills,
communication skills and social skills.
Art goes beyond verbal language to communicate feelings that might
not otherwise be expressed. The process of creating art allows the child
to explore, discover and experiment with different mediums, exposing
them to healthy recreational habits.
It is of fundamental importance that parents involve themselves in
the learning process of their children. It is also important that they
direct their children into avenues such as the arts, music and physical
activity that will enrich them in to more holistic beings. |