Kids’ Interests Can Be Both Strengths and Potential Problems

One of the themes of this blog will be that kids with deep interests can be both wonderful and hard to live with. Another thread I’ll keep coming back to is the relationship between deep interests and giftedness. So, it’s no wonder that this post from the ByrdSeed blog caught my attention: 10 Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted.

The first item on the author’s list is:

1. Be aware that strengths and potential problems can be flip sides of the same coin.
   

   Strength: diverse interests and abilities; versatility.  Potential Problem: may appear disorganized or scattered; frustrated over lack of time… (read more)

Well, that sounds familiar — some kids like that are very near to my heart! (See, for instance, this web page from Ethan’s Dinosaurs.) Although the list item is about diverse interests rather that deep interests, I’ve know lots of kids who get really interested in a topic, then develop another passionate interest after a month or two without completely giving up on the first one. (See Ethan’s Dinosaurs again.)

I guess my point is that the strength — the ability to develop and sustain passionate interests — can make life challenging for kids, parents, and teachers. One of the things I’ll be thinking and blogging about is how adults can meet — and enjoy living with — that challenge.

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Thanks to the chain of TwitterFolk who turned me on to this post, with @marciamarcia the most recent Tweeter.