Intermediate
Age & Stage of Development
3rd-5th Grade
Ages 8 to 11
Now is the time for your child’s personality to truly blossom. They may be craving more independence, but make no mistake, they still need their family as much as ever. This is a time of heightened emotional intensity, which can lead to hurt feelings. Increasingly they become aware of their differences, as they are advancing rapidly. Enjoy this time because middle school is coming… and that can be especially tumultuous for gifted children.
Is my intermediate school child gifted?
Click or hover over the boxes below to learn more!
Adroit
dianoetic
Dreamer
linguistic
Skeptical
Persistent
Laser-focused
swamped
Ingenuity
Witty
Empath
Unique
Self-directing
Stickler
Uneasy
Curious
Source: Adapted from “Traits” by Dr. Barbara Clark.
Questions & Answers:
Intermediate Gifted Kids
Click on each question below to find out more!
When you say intermediate, what age group are you specifically referring?
Intermediate elementary refers to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.
Can you tell me a little about intermediate gifted kids?
My intermediate child has not been identified as gifted, what should I do?
What are some social & emotional traits at this age?
During this time period, you may see more intensity of feelings. Intensity if a characteristic of giftedness that can be a good or bad thing. Disappointments and frustrations may hit your child harder. Anxiety may rear its ugly head causing your child’s stress feel more like distress. Your child may want to be more independent at this time. He/she may become more aware of differences, especially academically. Some of the attitudes and feelings typically developing kids experience in middle school, may be see in gifted children during this time period. Puberty is happening earlier than every before. Hormonal fluctuations mess with them physically and emotionally. They may start to ask questions about being gifted and what it means. They may not like feeling different. This is an important time for them to find intellectual peers.
What are some of the parenting challenges and opportunities at this age?
What are qualifications pertaining to working with gifted preschool kids?
Check out my About Page to learn about my background!
How will K5 Gifted and Academy help me as a parent and my gifted child?
As a K5 Gifted community, we want to offer support to you. You may or may not have found other parents whom you can relate and share concerns and victories, joys, and frustrations. This community is a safe place for you. You may need materials and activities for your child, without a hit and miss system online or in stores. You may feel like your child is getting great general education curricula in the school system but is not getting the challenge needed in logic or advanced math, or reasoning skills through pattern blocks. Maybe, you as a parent need a better understanding of the way may is being taught in schools so you can help at home. Your child needs a very strong foundation in fractions. Success in fractions is a major indicator in the success in high school algebra, that your child will probably take in middle school. Once conceptual understanding of basis skills is missed, there is not a time that classes go back and reteach those skills. Don’t let your child have gaps in their learning because they crave advancement.
As a parent what can I do for my gifted child?
As a parent, you can be there for them. You can’t and shouldn’t be your child’s best friend. You are going to always be the parent. Be available as your child experiences those intense feelings. You may hear about social issues and conflicts with friends. Be an advocate in the school system, but instead of handling problems for your child, teach your change to handle conflict. If you see that big problems are occurring that your child can’t handle, seek help from the classroom teacher, school counselor, or principal. Be a team member and let the school know that you want to support them as they support the learning and social emotional needs of your gifted child.
How You can help as a parent
Quick Takeaways
- Watch for signs that your child is struggling. Is your child sleeping too much or not enough? Is your child isolating himself/herself? Is your child over-scheduled and not allowing enough down time. First, talk to your child. If you need help, talk to your child’s gifted teacher or school counselor. Since your child is experiencing puberty at a younger age, make sure to keep the lines of communication open. Since your child has an insatiable curiosity and may be able to read and get answers to questions he/she may have, try not to be shocked at questions. Answer as honestly and openly as you can if you want your child to continuing to talk to you about “uncomfortable” topics for you.
- Your child may no longer like probing questions, but be available and find shared activities where you can spend time together and be available in case your child does want to talk.
- Be calm and consistent with consequences. Do listen actively, but don’t allow your child to argue or be disrespectful. Your gifted child may be a great debater, but he/she is a child.
- Seek support for you and your child. Other gifted parents can be a great support network. Gifted children can benefit from the interaction of other gifted children.
- Advocate for your child for the gifted services and support he/she needs. Be a team player and model an appropriate and respectful way to communicate to get needs met.