High-potential talent development: how to foster talent

Today, we live in a world where academic degrees are highly valued. From a very young age, we are educated to learn certain contents, to progress through school grades, to meet academic goals, and to continue studying until achieving higher education. This way of educating is deeply normalized in our society, and its main goal is to achieve employment insertion. However, this often makes us neglect the learning of other types of knowledge that are highly beneficial for integration into society, such as the recognition and control of our emotions. In recent years, this has been addressed from the earliest educational stages, but it is even more necessary in certain cases such as giftedness.

How does emotional intelligence development work in gifted individuals? 

When we talk about people with high abilities, many imagine someone introverted, neurotic, or with a tendency to isolate themselves. These stereotypes come from old popular beliefs or even TV series, but they are far from reality. Every person is unique, and the way they perceive their feelings and relate to their environment varies completely. However, as numerous studies indicate, they are generally emotionally and physiologically sensitive individuals who experience their emotions much more intensely, often with a high degree of sensitivity and self-demand.  

About 90% of children with high abilities feel emotions very intensely, which also causes them to react intensely. They perceive details that most of us miss, which often exposes them to a sensory overload that heightens that sense of intensity.  

For proper development in gifted individuals, it is essential to pay special attention to emotional intelligence. If this is done correctly, we can positively strengthen the recognition and, most importantly, the control of certain emotions, such as tolerance to frustration, impulse control, and cooperation.  

A great way to achieve this is through games. This way, especially with younger children, we can capture their attention and help them learn to interact with their environment while having fun. 

Let’s look at some examples of games to foster development in gifted children in terms of socialization and emotional management 

• Creative activities. Allowing gifted children to let their imagination run free is one of the best decisions we can make. This can be achieved through construction games such as Legos, recyclable materials, or any age-appropriate resources for the child.  
• New technologies. Today, there are countless workshops and games where gifted children can thrive: robotics workshops, video game creation, blogs, apps... the possibilities are endless! These activities stimulate both creativity and independence, as children see what they are capable of creating. 
• Creative writing. This is an ideal opportunity for them to express themselves, either through invented stories or personal experiences. Such workshops allow children to learn how to express themselves and to translate their emotions and thoughts into writing.  

• Music. This is another wonderful activity that helps children express themselves freely and connect with others, especially through group dances or playing instruments in a band or orchestra. In any case, through music, they can express their emotions while also fostering creativity.  
• Board games. In recent years, board games have gained popularity because they perfectly combine fun and learning. We can use cooperative games where children must learn to communicate and organize themselves with others. Some examples include “Forbidden Island,” “Mission Complete,” or “Unlock.” 
• Logic games. Along the same lines as board games, logic games are another great ally for gifted children. Riddles, Legos, puzzles… any game that requires reasoning and analytical thinking to complete will be very useful for gifted development.  

Whatever technique we use to support children in their emotional and social development, it is essential that both families and teachers understand and accompany those emotions, which can often be intense and complex. It is important not to label them as dramatic or exaggerated. In many cases, they live more through their hearts and emotions than through reason. While it is important at any age to give them tools to fit in socially, it is even more critical in the development of gifted individuals.  

We should not focus solely on intellectual development — while it is indeed essential, it should not be the only area of focus. Only by balancing it can we achieve integral development.