Homeschooling a Gifted Child

Each family has their own reasons for choosing to homeschool, but for many parents of gifted kids, homeschooling is an excellent option. Public schools are stretched with tight budgets and overcrowded classrooms, and even those with gifted programs have likely had their budgets cut in recent years. Besides that, gifted programs in public schools are limited by what the school district considers appropriate materials to teach, and curious, intellectual children may want to explore something completely different. Instead of pushing a child in a certain direction, as happens in public school, homeschooling allows a gifted child to explore their interests in depth. As we all know, kids learn best when the material is interesting to them!

Whatever curriculum you choose, the basics will still need to be covered. Math, reading , spelling, writing, science, and history. These are the staples in any student’s life. But the manner in which you teach these subjects, and the speed at which a gifted child is able to master a lesson and move on to the next one, varies a great deal.

There are plenty of optional activities to help a gifted child excel. Things like extra science classes at a local museum, or foreign language classes, for example, can give a gifted child an edge. Homeschooling gives families the individual freedom to find ways for their gifted child to succeed.