FAQS: Frequently asked questions about giftedness

Dear Reader,
The Karg Foundation receives a lot of questions on
the subject of giftedness—FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)—far
more often indeed than it did ten years ago.
And this is a good thing! Many people involved in the
educational processes of children have come to realize
that giftedness can also be a fundamental personality trait
of children and adolescents. Early childhood education
centers (Kitas), schools, and specialized guidance and
counseling services should not only acknowledge gifted
children, but also provide them with relevant diagnostic,
guidance, and support services, recognizing their giftedness
and helping them to develop their personalities and
abilities. It is a fundamental human right to be supported
and encouraged in accordance with one’s individual talents
— and supporting gifted students is a requirement of
the German educational system. Gifted people may also
be growing up in places where we would initially not expect
them. Assuming with an open mind that cognitive abilities
and talents can be found in any kind of environment not
only benefits all children and adolescents but the entire
educational system as well!
The Karg Foundation wants to answer the questions
you may have not only as educational and psychological
professionals in educational institutions or working as
educational providers, policy makers, or in training and
further education institutes, but as parents and gifted
people also: What is giftedness? How can it be identified?
Who can provide advice for gifted children and their families?
How can they be supported in the best possible way?
Further information on giftedness can be found at the
Karg Foundation’s giftedness resource portal (Karg Fachportal
Hochbegabung: www.fachportal-hochbegabung.de).
We would like to express our warmest gratitude to
the authors of this publication, Prof. Dr. Franzis Preckel
(University of Trier), Prof. Dr. Miriam Vock (University of
Potsdam), and Dipl.-Psych. Christine Koop (Karg Foundation).
For over 30 years, the Karg Foundation has been
working to improve both the communication of information
and the professional qualifications of the educational
and counseling systems in gifted education. Your questions
are and always have been our top priority. After all, by asking
your first question, you are already making a decision: for
a better future for the gifted child.
I hope that reading these pages is both enjoyable and
informative for you!
Dr. Ingmar Ahl
Executive Board
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