Mixed Messages Although you may recognize your gifted daughter’s potential and encourage her to pursue her dreams, research shows that your daughter also receives mixed messages from society about her ability to succeed. Numerous researchers argue that gender stereotypes—communicated through the media, peers, and even parents and educators—can cause girls to internalize negative perceptions about their own abilities, characteristics, and potential. These stereotypes tell young women that it is … [Read more...] about Gifted Girls and Messages About Success
gender
Giftedness and Masculinity: Balancing Expectations
Masculinity or manliness is often associated with phrases like “taking control,” athletic,” “unemotional,” and “aggressive.” However, it is up to parents to decide whether society’s definitions of “real men” are desirable for their sons. Regardless, parents must keep in mind what expectations of males society communicates these expectations to look at how they impact the way gifted boys view themselves and view their own giftedness. … [Read more...] about Giftedness and Masculinity: Balancing Expectations
Separate but Better?
Here’s a riddle for you. What do these people all have in common? Nancy Pelosi (D-California), first woman Speaker of the House Dr. Sally Ride , first American woman to fly in space Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) Dr. Madeleine Albright , first woman Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, first woman National Security Advisor Dr. Bernadine Healy, only woman to lead the National Institutes of Health Drew Gilpin Faust, only woman … [Read more...] about Separate but Better?
Lighting a Fire: Motivating Boys To Succeed
You’ve got a bright child on your hands! As a preschooler he loved books, drawing, and creating with blocks. He was excited by the things around him and was a bundle of energy, wanting to explore, handle, and figure out his world. … [Read more...] about Lighting a Fire: Motivating Boys To Succeed
How to Guide Your Daughter to Success
Of course you’d like your gifted daughter to have a fulfilling career that combines creativity, challenge, and the opportunity to contribute, and you want her to establish a satisfactory family life and relationships. However, glass ceilings and sticky floors continue in nontraditional careers for women. … [Read more...] about How to Guide Your Daughter to Success
Being a Gifted Boy: What We Have Learned
Several months ago the parents of a highly gifted fourth grader, Trent, called me for advice about his development. They expressed considerable concern about his increasing unwillingness, as they put it, “to shine.” Having always performed academic tasks superbly and nonacademic ones reasonably well, Trent was entering the pre-adolescent malaise experienced by many gifted and nongifted children alike. … [Read more...] about Being a Gifted Boy: What We Have Learned
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
Boys’ and Girls’ Academic Preferences
Discussions of the storms faced by adolescent girls offer no image more striking than “saplings in a hurricane.” Mary Pipher, Ph.D., used the phrase in her 1994 book, Reviving Ophelia . While Dr. Pipher’s book was based on her work with adolescent girls in trouble, other studies have indicated that lowered self-esteem is not restricted to girls in counseling. … [Read more...] about Boys’ and Girls’ Academic Preferences
Ensuring a Middle School Student is Academically Challenged
Parent Question: Since my child entered middle school, she doesn’t seem challenged academically. What advice can you give me and my child’s teacher? … [Read more...] about Ensuring a Middle School Student is Academically Challenged