Gifted children typically display three defining traits: high intelligence, strong motivation, and well-developed creativity. Yet experts note that these indicators are not fixed destinies. Professor Alexander Savenkov, a recognized educator and psychologist who serves as a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Education and leads the Institute of Pedagogy and Educational Psychology at the Moscow City Pedagogical University, argues that these facets can be nurtured and expanded through thoughtful approaches in schooling and home life.
He explains that while intelligence has a substantial inherited component, it is possible to elevate a child’s overall performance by focusing on motivation and creative capacity. Intelligence may increase only modestly, but creative potential and drive can be cultivated through activities that appeal to a child’s curiosity. For instance, engaging a child in frequent research projects and problem-solving tasks taps into their desire to discover and understand new information, which in turn enhances both creativity and motivation. The key, according to the expert, is to create opportunities that invite exploration and sustained inquiry.
Nevertheless, expanding creativity presents a greater challenge. The professor notes that genuine creative growth relies on a constant, nearby influence from a trusted adult who models creative thinking and adaptive problem-solving. This reference adult serves as a behavioral blueprint, guiding the child’s imaginative processes and helping them see how ideas can be transformed into new realities. In practice, this means adults should encourage experimentation, tolerate missteps, and provide thoughtful feedback that prompts further exploration rather than immediate correction.
Creativity cannot be simply taught as a set of steps; it spreads through a social dynamic. It behaves like a contagious idea, spreading when a child observes and interacts with an adult who embodies creative thinking and a supportive attitude toward risk-taking. When the adult is someone meaningful to the child, this influence becomes a living model from which the child can borrow strategies for thinking differently and approaching challenges with novel solutions.
For parents and educators, the practical takeaway is clear: nurture environments where inquiry is valued, where problems are posed as puzzles to solve, and where the child feels safe to experiment. By balancing structure with freedom to explore, adults can help gifted children sustain motivation and gradually broaden their creative horizons. This approach also aligns with broader educational goals that aim to prevent narrowing track assignments for highly capable students, instead encouraging a flexible path that grows with the learner’s evolving talents.
In summary, recognizing giftedness involves more than tallying test scores or labels. It requires understanding that intelligence is partly inherited while motivation and creativity can be actively developed through supportive relationships, meaningful tasks, and an atmosphere that prizes curiosity. With the right conditions, gifted children can reach higher levels of achievement while maintaining a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.
As interest in how to diagnose giftedness and support bright students grows, researchers and practitioners emphasize the importance of avoiding early segregation into specialized programs. The goal is to foster inclusive environments that cultivate talent across diverse settings, ensuring that gifted children receive challenge without losing the broad educational experience that benefits all learners.
Rising fascination with gadgets among children is often discussed in this context. A strong, healthy curiosity about technology can be steered into constructive avenues—project-based work, STEM explorations, and creative applications—that channel that enthusiasm into meaningful skill development rather than distraction. The underlying message remains the same: nurturing giftedness is about guiding a child’s natural interests with thoughtful mentorship and opportunities to think deeply, while keeping education engaging, accessible, and relevant.