Raising Da Vincis

The definition of child prodigy implies accomplishment on par with adult professionals in a given field by an early age. No matter how talented, children need time and effort to acquire the skills to meet the definition (as opposed to savants, human calculators or the like, who need little or no work to develop the skill).

Other factors include:

• Concentration - the child must have an unusual ability to focus on a task.
• Enthusiasm and passion - the child must possess tremendous enthusiasm and passion for what they do.
• Self-confidence - the child must trust their own instincts.
• Opportunity and materials - the child must be given the time and materials (media, instruments) to practice and learn their skills.
• Education - the child needs the right education at the right time that does not hinder their development.

The term child prodigy is normally reserved for children who have by age 11 acquired or demonstrated skills in some discipline comparable to that of a skilled adult professional. It's this mastery of some field at an early age that distinguishes them from the merely gifted, talented or just plain smart kids most of us have come into contact with. Child prodigy is an extremely rare, even historical event.

This is the classic work by the psychologist Alice Miller. It's a small volume, but I know of no other work that has captured more cogently the pain and suffering inflicted by parents on gifted children.

Miller relates the plight of gifted children, drawing from her own experience, examples in literature, such as Hermann Hesse's Demian, and many stories from her own practice.

It's highly recommended for parents who want to raise self-confident gifted children, or gain insight into their own painful past. However, this is not a how-to book, or a textbook. It's a very personal book, and will require self-reflection on the part of the parent. This is so applicable for parents of gifted children because so many of them were gifted children themselves. If you're looking for a better way for your child on an emotional level, this is a fantastic place to start.

Naomi Aldort is a relatively famous child psychologist, whose theories and practice emphasize letting each child develop without our interference. Her theories are especially applicable to our interest on this website, as her eldest son, Oliver Aldort, is a child prodigy of the piano.

She has released numerous CDs and newsletters over the years, but her first book came out just recently. Check out the description and reviews on Amazon.com

Here is a link to some articles of hers that will challenge the way you think about parenting. Here is a link to her website.