Unleashing Genius: Self-Directed Learning

Genius is a term thrown around loosely and wrongly applied quite often to gifted children.  Not all gifted children are geniuses despite a certain number attained on a standardized IQ test. Gifted children have a higher innate ability to understand complex ideas and learn more rapidly than most but being gifted does not ensure success academically, socially or vocationally and it does not always equate with genius. Many gifted children and adults struggle throughout life because of their intense way of experiencing the world without ever finding their true passion.  This is a sad reality for many gifted individuals as they never truly tap into their potential. Parents and educators may have a skewed sense of what it means to be gifted and what it means to be a genius.  A genius will rarely be the child who performs well in school and does what he is told. In my experience, genius is apathetic to conformity which is pervasive in a school setting. If you truly have a divergent thinker with extremely advanced intellectual prowess then that child may unleash his extraordinary abilities if provided the right environment in which to flourish. Through finding passions and following them with extreme self determination, a child may demonstrate prodigious nature. The intense focus, determination and ability to devour new information, synthesize it and produce something novel is part of the personality of a genius. The relentless need to create new ideas, implement them, trash them and continue producing is another trait inherent to the genius child. Geniuses are creative, relentless and prolific. They tend to excel acutely in their specialty areas and in the rest of life they may seem awkward and uncomfortable in common social situations. It makes sense. Nothing about them is common and their minds are always churning. The mundane aspects of daily life are not always survived well as idle moments can be intolerable.  When taken away from their passion, irritability and disquietude surface.

Genius is somewhat elusive and yet it is palpable. The energy emanating from a genius child is undeniably brilliant. Children with extremely high intellectual abilities are often voracious learners with insatiable minds. These children should not be in traditional school or their innate love of learning will get squashed and their divergent thinking and peculiar proclivities could get pathologized or, worse yet, medicated.  I know from experience.  Self directed learning for this specific type of child is necessary for some, if not most, of their young life. These exceptional children may benefit from having mentors in their area of specialty as well as unrestricted access to advanced materials from which to learn. The creative mind rejects forced structure and rote, mechanical learning.  Without freedom to let their minds wander, their true personalities never develop optimally.  

Historically, a certain number on an IQ test equated to the label of genius but presently many believe that the term genius is reserved for those uniquely creative intellectuals who also produce something of value to society as measured by that societies' standards. Meaningful contribution is mandatory. Geniuses espouse drive and passion that is unwavering. Dedication and relentless determination coupled with high intellect and creative energy are what fuel the desire to innovate and invent. Geniuses tend to be prolific in their chosen field(s) of interest but may not appear well rounded as they prefer to focus their time and energy in specialty areas.  Many of the great minds that we consider geniuses showed fierce dedication to their own self study and were demonstrably passionate which, at times, trumped their need to interact socially with the world.  

Creativity, abstract thinking, imagination, passion and unyielding perfectionistic drive are integral parts that make up the genius personae. If boxed in, a genius child may need to rebel to satiate their need for novel thought. These children gain nothing be being forced to follow someone else's direction whether in school, at home or otherwise. Providing such a child with freedom and the tools necessary to engage in self-education and open ended productivity is indispensable for emotional and intellectual development. Freedom must reign when your mind needs to linger in the abstract. Traditional notions of parenting and education do not apply and one must adapt to support the intense need of child whose brain is on fire. I am at my most helpful when I am simply there to listen to my son's theories and brainstorm with him. On occasion, he lets me in to fully experience the layers of his creative intellect. When he does, it is magical and otherworldly.  

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