It is commonly believed that leaders are born, not made. In fact, leadership is nurtured and developed. It does not “happen.” So, don’t wait for your child to emerge as a leader. Develop leadership capacity in your child by encouraging and providing opportunities for him or her to learn leadership skills and to use them in various settings. … [Read more...] about Developing Leadership Capacity
Social & Emotional
Competition
Many parents ask how competition affects gifted and talented students. Should parents and teachers encourage them to compete? How does competition fit into our educational systems at a time when we hear more about cooperative groups and learning than ever before? … [Read more...] about Competition
Harnessing Gifted Girls’ Emotional Strengths
Gifted girls encounter unique challenges, particularly during adolescence. With our help, they can learn to transform adversity into opportunity. The keys are information and communication. Here are six springboards for conversation and personal growth that concern gifted adolescent girls. … [Read more...] about Harnessing Gifted Girls’ Emotional Strengths
Identity Conflicts in Gifted Adolescents
Identity formation, a major event in adolescence, is the process by which individuals define themselves. It involves exploring the questions “Who am I becoming?” and “What will I do with my life?” Like gender, race, ethnicity, and class, giftedness is an aspect of identity. For gifted adolescents, it defines, in part, who they are and who they are becoming. … [Read more...] about Identity Conflicts in Gifted Adolescents
Raising Culturally Responsive and Responsible Children
Given the ever-increasing diversity in our nation and schools, it is essential for parents to address their children’s cultural development. Although engendering cultural awareness and sensitivity in all children is important, gifted students tend to have an especially keen sense of justice. Hence they tend to be concerned about inequities, racism, and prejudice. Parents must provide their gifted children with experiences that encourage them to make a positive difference in society. At the same … [Read more...] about Raising Culturally Responsive and Responsible Children
Antidotes to American Overindulgence
American families today enjoy a level of prosperity unimaginable 25 years ago. Many well-intentioned parents provide their children with an extraordinary array of material possessions—designer clothes, computers, cell phones, television sets, VCRs and stereos, automobiles, credit cards. Even families with limited financial resources can fall prey to the urge to give their children these status symbols. … [Read more...] about Antidotes to American Overindulgence
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, understand, and manage feelings. Because it is a relatively new area of study in psychology, we know less about it than about more traditional types of intelligence. However, what we are learning is exciting and gives us new ways to think about children’s abilities. … [Read more...] about Emotional Intelligence
A Whodunit Holiday
If mystery games are on your children’s wish list, you might want to consider the following, all of which I recommend. … [Read more...] about A Whodunit Holiday
The Inside Story
Gross anatomy doesn’t have to be gross anymore. Three-dimensional, interactive anatomy software allows for intricate, in-depth study of the human body with the click of a mouse. … [Read more...] about The Inside Story
Perfectionism and Gifted Students
Educators, researchers, and parents often observe perfectionist behaviors in gifted students. It comes as no surprise, since these students are bombarded daily by parents, teachers, peers, and an entertainment industry that rewards them and encourages them to make the highest grade, produce a perfect painting, give a flawless performance, and gain admission into the best college. What are the characteristics of a perfectionist? Is perfectionism helpful or detrimental to a student’s success? What … [Read more...] about Perfectionism and Gifted Students