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Homeschooling the Gifted Child

A Gift of Time and Experience

By Teri Brown

Jennifer Nielson of Portland, Ore., agrees. She and her husband had their daughter tested at an early age because of her advanced academic development. After exploring their options they, too, chose homeschool.

"We felt that even a school for highly gifted kids would still have many of the same limitations found in a typical school such as large classes, learning in between the bells, busy work, time wasted by numerous transitions, etc.," says Nielson. "As parents we wanted her to be in an environment that would actively engage and challenge her at her various levels while still providing for ample time to explore non-academic interests, play with friends and just be a kid. Homeschooling was the only option that really seemed to fulfill that goal."

Tamra Orr, author of A Parent's Guide to Home Schooling (Mars Publishing, 2002), believes that homeschooling can be one of the wisest options available for gifted children.

"Parents who pull their gifted children from school recognize their child needs a better, more personal education than what they can possibly receive in school," says Orr. "They want to foster and nurture that gift, not let it get lost or buried within the public school system."

Orr says that the most necessary requirement for homeschooling your gifted child is confidence in yourself and in your child.

"Immerse yourself in people and information and start asking questions. You are about to give your gifted child the best gift possible!" says Orr.