Have you ever met the person who seems to think like you?
You might use the same style of music for a particular purpose or you might do the same type of research over a holiday destination or a style of running shoe. Or you might approach new hobbies with the same level of fervour. I met someone a few years ago who expressed ‘I finally have met someone like me’ after years of feeling like no one else thought like them and they were too different.
But have you ever considered what it means to be like-minded as a child and there are limits to who they can interact with based on school, community groups, and family?
In schools, we talk about grouping gifted students with like-minded peers. This might mean that a student who is highly perceptive with mathematics is grouped with similar students, but they may not remain with that group when it comes to other skills or domains. But there are some kids who find their like-mindedness with older students or adults. You might notice your child holding long and engaging conversations over very specific things with a surprising audience, yet the other person isn’t ‘faking’ their engagement, they are genuinely enjoying themselves.
Sometimes gifted children have specific interests that parents or siblings may not share. For a young person, finding another person who thinks like them is validating and helps them feel that they are not different; rather they are normal with a different group of people. As the adult, we sometimes need to become that like-minded peer. We need to continue to encourage our gifted students in their diverse passions because we cannot know what their future holds – only that we can help spur them on their path!
Further reading on supporting your gifted child: https://www.aaegt.net.au/supporting-your-gifted-child-an-information-sheet-for-parents
Mrs Millie Pettett
Coordinator of Learning Innovation – Middle Years and G & T
