Strange Plants

Gumboots and Umbrellas

GTCASA’s (Gifted and Talented Children’s Association, South Australia) response to the GAW theme was to meet as a like-minded group of children and parents at Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens to participate in a self-guided trail entitled ‘Strange Plants’. Right until the last minute it was not known if this event would proceed due to weeks of rain. Dawn broke to leaden skies and heavy rain. Despite the gloom, it was decided to go ahead with the event and lo and behold, at 2pm the clouds cleared. For the couple of hours while groups of children and their parents were map reading, racing to be the first to find the next strange plant or exclaiming with their like-minded buddies over the weirdness of it all, the sun shone. To conclude the afternoon, a dry gazebo was located for the sharing of afternoon tea and conversation.

Take these children out of this context and place them in the classroom. Many are thriving, but just as many are underachieving. The reasons for this underachievement can be complex. Sometimes it comes down to the fact that they are lacking educational provisions or they wish to ‘dumb down’ for peer acceptance or they cannot find kindred spirits or like-minded classmates; classmates who share their interests and understand how they think.

At GTCASA we understand the dilemma of children finding like minds. The Saturday Club provides opportunities for gifted South Australian children to connect. Expanding on the concept further, parents of gifted children need to find their like minds too; the other adults with whom they can share the joys and frustrations of raising a gifted child.

NB: Please note that this article only represents the views of the author(s), and is not necessarily representative of the views of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented.