Characteristics Commonly Found in Families That Produce Children with Highly Actualized Potential and Self-Esteem
- Parents accept their children as individuals, are loyal sources of support, and openly express acceptance.
- Parents set clear limits based on each child's ability to understand consequences; goals are clear; success is expected as a right of the child, not of the parent.
- Parental guidance is reasonable, realistic, and appropriate to each child.
- The family tends to be liberal and flexible, but not permissive.
- The family is aware of the environment and relates tot he environment in a caring, protective way. Children are helped to see their part in the natural order and to respect this unity.
- Parents are relatively self-assured and are on good terms with one another; they accept the responsibility for their own actions.
- Parents lead active lives outside the family and do not rely on their families as the sole or necessarily major source of gratification and esteem.
Excerpted From:
Excerpt from Growing Up Gifted: Developing the Potential of Children at Home and at School, by B. Clark, 2008 edition, p. 146.
© 2008, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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