Child development issues
Whether giftedness is innate or can be nurtured is a matter of much debate. To avoid stifling children's "talent," many parents are eager to find assessment methods. Dr. Chan Yan-wing points out that there is currently no unified view in society to define giftedness, but generally, the "Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Hong Kong" is used as an indicator, with a score above 130 considered gifted. "However, defining giftedness should not solely focus on intelligence; other aspects must also be considered. For example, if a child has a talent in music, art, or literature, intelligence assessments alone cannot reflect this."
Over-pushing hinders holistic development
Gifted assessments are generally for ages 5 to 15; doing them too early may not be accurate. Dr. Chan emphasised that assessment is not a necessity, and he has also seen many gifted cases develop emotional problems due to excessive pushing, requiring treatment.Child psychology counselling.
He stated that if parents discover their child has a special talent, they do not need to rush into assessments. Simply spending more time training them will be more helpful in unlocking their potential. "But note that child development requires comprehensiveness, and a balance must be struck in learning, routines, play, and social interaction. Because no matter how clever a child is, living happily and healthily is the most important thing."
Source: Next Magazine
