ABSTRACT
Studies of the family background and family characteristics of highly gifted children have emphasized the unusually warm, close and mutually supportive relationships enjoyed by these young people and their parents (Hollingworth, 1942; Sheldon, 1954; Bloom, 1985). I have had a matchless opportunity to observe, over a number of years, the interactions between these children, their parents and their siblings. As with the families of the highly successful scholars, sportsmen and musicians studied by Bloom (1985), the homes of the study families are child-centred; the parents are very much aware of the children’s hobbies and interests, and family life tends to be arranged around their music lessons, chess club involvement and other activities. However, the children are by no means over-indulged; in most of the families the children have specific household responsibilities, and a prompt and willing performance of these duties is seen as an important contribution to the smooth running of the family home. The children are viewed very much as individuals; although in the majority of families the exceptionally gifted child is unarguably more talented than his/her siblings, the abilities of each child in the family are valued and fostered. There seems to be very little sibling rivalry; the visitor to the home becomes quickly aware that these are families which recognize the unusual gifts of one member and joyfully foster these gifts, while working to optimize the abilities of all. As with the families of the gifted mathematicians and scientists studied by Goertzel and Goertzel (1962), the family climate is authoritative, rather than authoritarian; although the parents require high standards of behaviour, these rules are predicated on a belief that all family members, adults as well as children, should act with courtesy and consideration towards all persons with whom they interact. It may well be this training which has allowed the majority of the children to respond with tolerance and grace to the neglect and discourtesy shown them by the teachers and administrators responsible for their education!
