gifted children get favored more

There is always room for improvement. My oldest is also gifted in school, she's in 4th grade and reads at an 8th grade level. I have 5 of my own children & 2 more that came with my man, so 7 all together. My oldest is 9 & so is my man's oldest. His daughter is 4 months older than my daughter, and her reading skills are below average to the point where my 1st grade son can read better than her. She feels frustrated about it and acts out saying that reading is stupid, you know, the usual. I try to find the gift in all of them and tell them to help one another out in the areas that they are good in so that everyone can get better at things. Siblings are always going to compete with one another on some level no matter what you do, it's natural. I just try to put a spin on it so that they are working together. I'm good at reading & your good at math, so I'll help you with this & you help me with that. Teach them to be teachers!

I think that is the best thing you can do. Where one excels in one way, the others will excel in another. Each child is equally special. I would just be careful about family members saying stuff in front of the other kids to much about your oldest one. it can hurt them and make them feel that they aren't good enough and that isn't a good thing. I think your doing a great job though at telling them that each one is special and they all have their differences that they are good at. keep it up and God bless

Family members seem to be so proud of gifted or academically intelligent kids but little did they know that there are different kinds of intelligence. You are right that every child is unique and there are areas in where they would soon excel. I admire you for bringing up a child who does not only excel in her class but had developed intra and interpersonal skills that would soon make her a better person. Just continue what you are doing and I know, your other children wouuld understand what you want to imply to them.