haven’t heard too much on that subject, are “indigo children” seen as a subcategory of gifted or is this more along the spectrum of asperger’s and autism?
here’s what they are.. hard to say if they are fake or not
Indigo Children are a New Age concept developed in the 1970s by Nancy Ann Tappe describing children who are alleged to possess special traits or abilities. This idea gained popular interest with the publication of a series of books in the late 1990s and the release of several films in the following decade. A variety of books, conferences and related materials have been created surrounding the idea of Indigo Children, which have been criticized by some as a means of making money from credulous parents.
Beliefs about Indigo Children range from their being the next stage in human evolution, possessing paranormal abilities such as telepathy, and lacking communication skills to the belief that they are simply more empathetic and creative than their non-Indigo peers. There are no scientific studies that give credibility to the existence or traits of Indigo children.
Because many children labeled “Indigo” are candidates for pharmaceutical treatment for ADHD, skeptics suggest that the phenomenon is due to parents preferring to believe that their children are special, rather than having a psychiatric diagnosis which implies damage or imperfection. The list of traits used to describe the children has come under criticism for being vague enough to be applied to almost anyone. Some feel that subscribers to this belief are victims of the Forer effect.[citation needed]
The term Indigo Children originates with parapsychologist and self-described synesthete and psychic, Nancy Ann Tappe who developed the concept in the 1970’s. Tappe published the book Understanding Your Life Through Color in 1982 describing the concept,[1] stating that during the mid 1960s she began noticing that many children were being born with “indigo” auras[2] (in other publications Tappe has said the color indigo came from the “life colors” of the children which she acquired through her synesthesia[3]). The idea of Indigo Children was later popularized by the 1998 book The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived, written by husband and wife self-help lecturers Lee Carroll and Jan Tober.[4] The promotion of the concept by Tober and Carroll brought greater attention and exposure to the topic, and their book became the authoritative source on indigo children. They describe the goal of indigo children to be a remaking of the world into one lacking war, trash and processed food.
In 2002, an international conference on Indigo Children was held in Hawaii, drawing 600 attendees, with subsequent conferences the following years in Florida and Oregon. The concept was popularized and spread further by a feature film and documentary released in 2005, both directed by James Twyman, a New Age writer.[5]
[edit] Characteristics
Descriptions of Indigo Children include the belief that they are empathetic, curious, possess a clear sense of self-definition and purpose, strong-willed, independent, often perceived by friends or family as being weird, and also exhibit a strong inclination towards spiritual matters (e.g. God) from early childhood. Indigo Children have also been described as having a strong feeling of entitlement, or “deserving to be here.” Other alleged traits include a high intelligence quotient, an inherent intuitive ability, and resistance to authority.[2][4] According to Tober and Carroll, Indigo Children function poorly in conventional schools due to their rejection of authority, being smarter than their teachers and a lack of response to guilt-, fear- or manipulation-based discipline.[5]
[edit] Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Tober and Carroll’s book The Indigo Children linked the concept with diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their book makes the case that Indigos are a new stage of evolution rather than children with a medical diagnosis, and that they require special treatment rather than medications.[4] Many children labeled Indigo by their parents are diagnosed with ADHD.[6] Robert Todd Carroll points out that labeling a child an Indigo is an alternative to a diagnosis that implies imperfection, damage or mental illness, which may appeal to many parents, a belief echoed by many academic psychologists.[6] He also points out that many of the commentators on the indigo phenomenon are of varying qualifications and expertise. Linking the concept of Indigo children with the distaste for the use of Ritalin to control ADHD, Carroll states “The hype and near-hysteria surrounding the use of Ritalin has contributed to an atmosphere that makes it possible for a book like Indigo Children to be taken seriously. Given the choice, who wouldn’t rather believe their children are special and chosen for some high mission rather than that they have a brain disorder?”[7]
Stephen Hinshaw, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, states that concerns regarding the overmedicalization of children are legitimate but even gifted children with ADHD learn better with more structure rather than less, even if the structure initially causes difficulties. Many Indigo children are home schooled.[2]
[edit] Criticism
According to research psychologist Russell Barkley, the New Age movement has yet to produce empirical evidence of the existence of indigo children and the 17 traits most commonly attributed to them were akin to the Forer effect; so vague they could describe nearly anyone. Many critics see the concept of indigo children as made up of extremely general traits, a sham diagnosis that is an alternative to a medical diagnosis, with a complete lack of science or studies to support it.[2][6] The lack of science is acknowledged by some believers, including Doreen Virtue, author of The Care and Feeding of Indigos, and James Twyman, who produced two films on Indigo Children and offers materials and courses related to the phenomenon. Virtue has been criticized for claiming to have a Ph.D when it was provided by an unaccredited diploma mill.[5]
Advocates of pharmaceutical psychitaric treatment are concerned that labeling a disruptive child an “Indigo” may delay proper diagnosis and treatment that may help the child.[2][5] Others have stated that many of the traits of Indigo children could be more prosaically interpreted as simple arrogance and selfish individualism, and view the concept as hypocritical since many parents with certain New Age beliefs do not view these traits to be progressive.[6]
An example of the type of situations involving Indigo’s which stir controversy and
that is way way too much to read, *Rob*.
What the ef?
I am NOT reading that long ‘Indigo Children’ post by *rob*. I don’t care what color of the rainbow they are.
**rob**
haven’t heard too much on that subject, are “indigo children” seen as a subcategory of gifted or is this more along the spectrum of asperger’s and autism?
“Dumb ass limey poofda bastards.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at January 26, 2010 10:55 AM”
HOW VERY DARE YOU?!
still, it’s not “mathematic”, it’s “mathematics” so why?
“CGar, I tower over you by at least a foot!”
Only in your most delusional fantasies!
“And that foot is gonna kick you in the A$$ one day.”
Not nice to tease me and then fail to deliver, ET.
Indigo Children….More pop psychology crap….more commonly referred to as self absorbed brats.
I think all would be parents should read Lord of the Flies.
“and beers, not shandies”
Are you saying that American beer is the equivalent of British shandy?
I’d have to agree in many cases.
here’s what they are.. hard to say if they are fake or not
Indigo Children are a New Age concept developed in the 1970s by Nancy Ann Tappe describing children who are alleged to possess special traits or abilities. This idea gained popular interest with the publication of a series of books in the late 1990s and the release of several films in the following decade. A variety of books, conferences and related materials have been created surrounding the idea of Indigo Children, which have been criticized by some as a means of making money from credulous parents.
Beliefs about Indigo Children range from their being the next stage in human evolution, possessing paranormal abilities such as telepathy, and lacking communication skills to the belief that they are simply more empathetic and creative than their non-Indigo peers. There are no scientific studies that give credibility to the existence or traits of Indigo children.
Because many children labeled “Indigo” are candidates for pharmaceutical treatment for ADHD, skeptics suggest that the phenomenon is due to parents preferring to believe that their children are special, rather than having a psychiatric diagnosis which implies damage or imperfection. The list of traits used to describe the children has come under criticism for being vague enough to be applied to almost anyone. Some feel that subscribers to this belief are victims of the Forer effect.[citation needed]
The term Indigo Children originates with parapsychologist and self-described synesthete and psychic, Nancy Ann Tappe who developed the concept in the 1970’s. Tappe published the book Understanding Your Life Through Color in 1982 describing the concept,[1] stating that during the mid 1960s she began noticing that many children were being born with “indigo” auras[2] (in other publications Tappe has said the color indigo came from the “life colors” of the children which she acquired through her synesthesia[3]). The idea of Indigo Children was later popularized by the 1998 book The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived, written by husband and wife self-help lecturers Lee Carroll and Jan Tober.[4] The promotion of the concept by Tober and Carroll brought greater attention and exposure to the topic, and their book became the authoritative source on indigo children. They describe the goal of indigo children to be a remaking of the world into one lacking war, trash and processed food.
In 2002, an international conference on Indigo Children was held in Hawaii, drawing 600 attendees, with subsequent conferences the following years in Florida and Oregon. The concept was popularized and spread further by a feature film and documentary released in 2005, both directed by James Twyman, a New Age writer.[5]
[edit] Characteristics
Descriptions of Indigo Children include the belief that they are empathetic, curious, possess a clear sense of self-definition and purpose, strong-willed, independent, often perceived by friends or family as being weird, and also exhibit a strong inclination towards spiritual matters (e.g. God) from early childhood. Indigo Children have also been described as having a strong feeling of entitlement, or “deserving to be here.” Other alleged traits include a high intelligence quotient, an inherent intuitive ability, and resistance to authority.[2][4] According to Tober and Carroll, Indigo Children function poorly in conventional schools due to their rejection of authority, being smarter than their teachers and a lack of response to guilt-, fear- or manipulation-based discipline.[5]
[edit] Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Tober and Carroll’s book The Indigo Children linked the concept with diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their book makes the case that Indigos are a new stage of evolution rather than children with a medical diagnosis, and that they require special treatment rather than medications.[4] Many children labeled Indigo by their parents are diagnosed with ADHD.[6] Robert Todd Carroll points out that labeling a child an Indigo is an alternative to a diagnosis that implies imperfection, damage or mental illness, which may appeal to many parents, a belief echoed by many academic psychologists.[6] He also points out that many of the commentators on the indigo phenomenon are of varying qualifications and expertise. Linking the concept of Indigo children with the distaste for the use of Ritalin to control ADHD, Carroll states “The hype and near-hysteria surrounding the use of Ritalin has contributed to an atmosphere that makes it possible for a book like Indigo Children to be taken seriously. Given the choice, who wouldn’t rather believe their children are special and chosen for some high mission rather than that they have a brain disorder?”[7]
Stephen Hinshaw, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, states that concerns regarding the overmedicalization of children are legitimate but even gifted children with ADHD learn better with more structure rather than less, even if the structure initially causes difficulties. Many Indigo children are home schooled.[2]
[edit] Criticism
According to research psychologist Russell Barkley, the New Age movement has yet to produce empirical evidence of the existence of indigo children and the 17 traits most commonly attributed to them were akin to the Forer effect; so vague they could describe nearly anyone. Many critics see the concept of indigo children as made up of extremely general traits, a sham diagnosis that is an alternative to a medical diagnosis, with a complete lack of science or studies to support it.[2][6] The lack of science is acknowledged by some believers, including Doreen Virtue, author of The Care and Feeding of Indigos, and James Twyman, who produced two films on Indigo Children and offers materials and courses related to the phenomenon. Virtue has been criticized for claiming to have a Ph.D when it was provided by an unaccredited diploma mill.[5]
Advocates of pharmaceutical psychitaric treatment are concerned that labeling a disruptive child an “Indigo” may delay proper diagnosis and treatment that may help the child.[2][5] Others have stated that many of the traits of Indigo children could be more prosaically interpreted as simple arrogance and selfish individualism, and view the concept as hypocritical since many parents with certain New Age beliefs do not view these traits to be progressive.[6]
An example of the type of situations involving Indigo’s which stir controversy and