Parents and educators have long understood that social savvy and emotional intelligence are not to be taken for granted among gifted youths. Because they must learn to engage and play with others far less mature in interests and capabilities, social interaction can be rocky terrain. For those with Asperger syndrome, social difficulties can be especially significant. Characteristics of Asperger syndrome Asperger syndrome is a developmental disorder closely related to autism and hallmarked by … [Read more...] about Does My Gifted Child Have Asperger Syndrome?
Social & Emotional
Dealing with bullies
By Eric O'Neal, Duke TIP Intern and NCCU Graduate Having a conducive day at school is every young scholar’s ideal scenario. But what do you do when another student is bullying you, physically, verbally, and interrupting your learning environment? It can often be hard to deal with such a negative force, and you may often feel like there is no way to stop it. In fact, according to the Incidents of School crime and safety: 2013 report, 19.1% of students had experienced bullying, with 7% missing a … [Read more...] about Dealing with bullies
Love the Child, Not the Gift
Why should we help gifted students? What is the impact of the Common Core standards on gifted students? What are the greatest myths about gifted students? What can be considered good advice for parents who have gifted children? I recently had the opportunity to ask these questions to two giants in the field of gifted education, Sidney Moon and Felicia Dixon. Their latest book is the second edition of The Handbook of Secondary Gifted Education which “offers an in-depth, research-based look at … [Read more...] about Love the Child, Not the Gift
Extracurricular activities and how they benefited me
By Eric O'Neal, Duke TIP Intern and NCCU Graduate Extracurricular activities in school are a great way to build teamwork skills, stay active and build friendships. I, in particular, participated in multiple sports, from track to wrestling. They personally helped me overcome a lot of issues in my life, especially dealing with my introverted nature, and made me feel part of a team. As well as personal benefits, I was able to use many of my extracurricular experiences to aid in my social and … [Read more...] about Extracurricular activities and how they benefited me
How Can I Help My Gifted Child Who Isn’t Very Social?
Parent question: My 12-year-old son takes little interest in the world around him or in making friends. From early childhood he’s been far more interested in creating elaborate games with his cars; engrossing himself in learning all about trains, space shuttles, and airplanes; and playing computer games. At his gifted school he enjoys the company of other children but doesn’t want to take on the responsibility of friendship. I’ve hosted numerous play dates with his schoolmates, which have ended … [Read more...] about How Can I Help My Gifted Child Who Isn’t Very Social?
Grandparents: A Precious Overlooked Resource for Gifted Children
Parents of gifted children and youth have resources available to them both in school and in the community. However, there is an often overlooked resource in the family itself—grandparents. Parents can encourage interaction between grandchildren and grandparents by sharing information related to the grandchildren’s giftedness, their special interests, and their school’s educational programs with grandparents. The more information grandparents have about their grandchildren, the better they can … [Read more...] about Grandparents: A Precious Overlooked Resource for Gifted Children
Should You Homeschool Your Gifted Child?
Nearly one million school-aged children in the United States are educated primarily at home. Many of them are gifted. Parents who wonder if homeschooling will work for them need to consider the reasons for doing it and how to meet their children’s academic, social, and emotional needs. Reasons for gifted children to learn at home Parents who homeschool cite several reasons: traditional schools fail to meet their children’s needs; state and district budget cuts have reduced or eliminated many … [Read more...] about Should You Homeschool Your Gifted Child?
How Can I Improve My Gifted Child’s Resilience?
As parents, we naturally want to prevent our children from experiencing extreme adversity, but, try as we might, there is only so much we can do to keep them safe. Gifted children are often in educational situations that heighten their risk for adjustment problems because they have limited access to others with similar interests, ability, and drive or because they are not sufficiently challenged. The differences in their abilities and their heightened sensitivities can contribute to these … [Read more...] about How Can I Improve My Gifted Child’s Resilience?
8 Strategies To Improve Your Innovation
Richard Hamming, mathematician at Bell Labs for thirty years, gave a talk before he passed away on the factors that determine why a scientist does or does not make significant contributions. Although his focus was on ideas in science, the wisdom he shared really can be applied to any area where original thought is necessary. Here are the core insights from his talk. 1. Don’t think your success is a matter of luck. Hamming argues a major roadblock is thinking your success will be mainly about … [Read more...] about 8 Strategies To Improve Your Innovation
A Story of a Twice Exceptional Child
My daughter, Allison, has been exceptionally perceptive since she was born. The sheets in her bassinet irritated her the day we brought her home from the hospital, and she protested until we found ones that she liked. Her heightened sensitivities made her cognitively quick as a toddler; however, they also made her feel oppressed by the touch of others, overwhelmed by smells and noises around her, and disheartened that the world did not live up to her expectations. I had never known that a … [Read more...] about A Story of a Twice Exceptional Child