FAQS: Frequently asked questions about giftedness

How can support be provided
at the Kita?
Early life experiences and learning are especially
important. Children never learn as easily and quickly as
they do in the early years. This insight has also led to a
steady increase in the importance of the Kita as an educational
institution in recent years.
In many cases, gifted children develop particularly
intense learning demands at an early age, some of which
they assert persistently while still in the Kita setting. Thus,
Kitas are important places of support for gifted children,
where they can experience a variety of learning opportunities
that provide an important basis for the further development
of their individual abilities and talents. Compared
to schools, an advantage of Kitas is that they are very
flexible when it comes to the composition of (small)
groups and in choosing and structuring topics for children.
Based on their experience and their knowledge of many
different children, Kita educators can often easily recognize
when children exhibit interests and abilities that are unusual
for their age—and they can offer these children
targeted stimulation and support. Providing group spaces
with ample resources, including materials that may not be
considered “age appropriate” (e.g., books for beginning
readers, microscopes for children, more challenging board
games) can support gifted development. Because of the
mixture of ages in Kita groups, the younger children can
be particularly supported by including them early on in
activities for older children, for example, in activities and
programs intended for preschool children.
An in-depth look at the topic of “support in the Kita”
is provided in the Karg Foundation’s special edition “Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) about giftedness in early
childhood”.
https://www.fachportal-hochbegabung.de/
faqs-early-childhood/
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