Labeling a Child as Gifted

Does labeling a child as “gifted” do more harm than good? This is a very interesting question that could be answered in more than one way. In my opinion I disagree, but many people in the world today highly suggest that it does cause more harm.

There are very few child prodigies in this world today. It is very rare to see a child that masters a skill right when they start compared to a person trying to do that same thing for many years but still is not as good as the child. Still today, many people wonder how these children are placed with these special abilities.

Fist of all, a child prodigy is a child that has a special ability to do something that a normal child is incapable of. Normally this consists of playing an instrument or excelling in school at a young age. There are some cases where the student is not very good in school but can play an instrument as good as a professional that is getting paid for playing. Those kids are usually popular and noticed when they are younger, but when they get older they just fit in. The only main exception that I know of is Shirley Temple, who went on from being a child star actor to being a senator and an ambassador. Then there are also kids that are brilliant in school but are not much of an artist. Those children make it somewhere in life very fast because they go through school very fast and get a high paying job by the time they are a teenager.

Finally, I would like to go back to the question asked at the beginning. It is a great question that could lead to many debates. If someone were to ask me that question I would respond, “Yes and no, because calling a kid gifted could make them think that they are gifted and do not have to do anything for the rest of their life it will just come to them. On the other side it could higher their self esteem making them work harder knowing that they have the ability to change the world someday or getting a good job (not saying that anyone else can’t).” What do you think?

In conclusion, child prodigies could make it or break it depending on whether they really wanted to be a math genius or be able to play a violin just as good as a professional. If they want to pursue a career of playing an instrument and they are extremely good, then great, do it. But if you were dragged into it because your parents wanted you to, then I would suggest you go into some other type of career. Child prodigies will always be considered talented during their childhood and possibly be remembered by other people for years to come as they grow up.