Advanced readers fall on a long spectrum of capabilities of reading skills. All should be encouraged to learn at their own pace of capabilities. Here is a quick summary.
Set Goals: Advanced and gifted children can be very demanding, and their voracious appetite for reading can be distracting. It is helpful to set goals to make sure the bigger picture is not lost in the process of trying to meet daily demands. More can be achieved through reading than just academic needs, and setting goals can help ensure other needs are met.
Characteristics of Gifted Readers: Advanced and gifted children normally develop asynchronously, meaning that different skills develop at different speeds. Not only do they have more advanced skills than average readers, they generally develop in spurts, and are capable of learning at a faster pace and of understanding what they read at a deeper, more complex level. Capabilities with metacognition (thinking about thinking) need to be addressed.
Physical Effects: When very young children read, they can develop nearsighted vision, and can develop back issues due to poor reading posture.
Emotional & Intellectual Effects: Reading choices can have a positive effect on both the emotional and intellectual development of children, in addition to developing reading skills. Bibliotherapy, using reading to meet maturity and emotional needs, is a positive method for gifted children.
Reading Strategies: Variety plus complexity plus quality equals academic achievement. Be realistic and balance academic needs with emotional needs. When there is asynchronous development between emotional maturity and intellectual capabilities, balance can be achieved by combining fiction read at an emotional level and non-fiction read at an academic level. Additional balance can be achieved between visual development and reading skills by including books with great artwork (picture books, Caldecott Award winners).
Encourage Self Reliance: Ultimately, a child needs to learn to be responsible for their reading choices - appropriateness, variety, challenge. Adults need to help train their child how to take on these responsibilities and make good choices for themselves. Adults also need to provide opportunities for children to take responsibility at school and at home.
Parent and Teacher Collaboration: Both need to work together to develop a strategy and approach for developing reading skills through school and home activities. Parents can take the initiative to develop reading portfolios. Teachers can provide opportunities for kids to accelerate their learning in the classroom.
Book Clubs: At school or at home, book clubs help children develop a variety of social, communication, and reading skills, as well as emotional support by developing relationships with peer readers.
Book Awards: Award-winning books from across the world can provide interesting, high quality book choices that are hidden treasures!
