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Parents are a child's first and most influential
teachers. No matter what the abilities of a child might be, the goals of
parenting are essentially the same. Whatever distinct demands result from a
child's gifted ability can readily be met by parents if they are familiar with
the characteristics of gifted individuals, informed about the unique needs of
the gifted child, and persistent in assuring that appropriate provisions are in
place within the school system that will meet their child's special needs.
How to help advance learning characteristics:
Be a strong
facilitator for "finding out"
Provide many complex
and challenging experiences
Nurture a love of
books
Read widely,
critically, and creatively
Encourage
language/vocabulary development
Promote critical
thinking (ask why, what if...)
Teach the thought
processes that underlie learning, inventing, and problem solving
Use resources that are
not designed for a specific age group
Use many resources
including encyclopedias, atlases, phone books, maps...
Go places and do
things
Listen to and answer
questions
Discuss various topics
and ideas
Teach research and
study skills
Seek professionals
knowledgeable in the field of giftedness
How to help develop creative characteristics:
Value play and
invention
Use imagery when
playing or working with your child
Listen to and talk
about unusual ideas
Establish outlets for
creativity
Allow time for the
child to work independently
Brainstorm ideas
Elaborate on an idea
Appreciate uniqueness
How to help develop motivational
characteristics:
Encourage
self-exploration
Encourage
self-reliance
Teach organizational
skills
Praise the child
Display the child's
work
How to help develop social-emotional
characteristics:
Establish well-defined
standards of discipline and conduct
Teach self-discipline
Do not let family life
revolve around the gifted child
Value the gifted child
for who they are, not just what they can do
Expect and allow for
regression in growth patterns
Help your child learn
to manage stress or tension they might experience over performance
expectations
Balance social
experiences and time for solitary experiences
How to help advance your child's abilities
within the school system:
Stay involved and
informed
Work with teachers;
prepare and propose alternatives if necessary
Be persistent in
requesting changes and challenges that meet the child's needs
Supplement and enrich
the school's curriculum
Keep a portfolio of
things your child has done (writing samples, video or audio tape of a
performance, drawings, your own anecdotal notes....) A portfolio can be
started even before the child enters school.
Be an advocate for
gifted students and gifted programs
Join or form a parent support group
Alvino, J. (1989). Parents' guide to raising a gifted toddler: Recognizing and developing the potential of your child from birth to five years.
Coffey, K., Ginsberg, G., Lockhart, C., McCartney, D., Nathan, C., &
Wood, K. (1976). Parents speak on gifted and talented children. Ventura,
CA: Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Office.
Delisle, J. & Galbraith, J. (1987). The gifted kids survival guide
II. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.
Galbraith, J. (2000). You know your child is gifted when...a
beginner's guide to life on the bright side. Minneapolis: Free Spirit
Publishing, Inc.
Hipp, E. (1995). Fighting invisible tigers: A stress management
guide for teens. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing.
Kaufman, G. & Raphael, L. (1990). Stick up for yourself: every
kids guide to personal power and positive self-esteem. Minneapolis: Free
Spirit Publishing.
Olenchak, F.R.(2002) They say my kid's gifted, now what? Waco,
TX: Prufrock Press.
Rimm, S. B. (1990). How to parent so children will learn. Watertown, WI: Apple Publishing.
Rimm, S. B. (1994). On raising kids. Watertown, WI: Apple
Publishing.
Schmitz, C. C., & Hipp, E. (1995). A leader's guide to fighting
invisible tigers: A stress management guide for teens. Minneapolis: Free
Spirit Publishing.
Smutny, J. F., Veenker, K., & Veenker, S. (1989). Your gifted
child: How to recognize and develop the special talents in your child from birth
to age seven. New York: Ballantine Books.
Walker, S. Y. (1991). The survival guide for parents of gifted kids.
Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.
Webb, J. T., Meckstroth, E. A., & Tolan, S. S. (1994). Guiding the
gifted child: A practical source for parents and teachers. Scottsdale, AZ:
Gifted Psychology Press.
Advocates For Developing Academic Potential
Parents, Professionals and Friends of
gifted, Creative and Talented Children
35817 Doyle
Sterling Heights, MI 48310
ADAP-wcs@home.com
http://adap.activmedia.com
American Association for Gifted Children (AAGC)
The AAGC is the oldest advocacy organization for gifted children.
Suite 100
1121 West Main Street
Durham, NC 27701
The Association for the Gifted (TAG)
A special interest group of the Council for Exceptional Children
1920 Association Dr.
Reston, VA 22091
www.cectag.org
or
The Association for the Gifted (TAG)
2216 Main St.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Eric Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted
Education:
Digests and articles
1-800-328-0272
http://ericec.org
Hollingworth Center for Highly Gifted Children
PO Box 434
Portland, ME 04112-0434
Michigan Alliance for Gifted Education
3300 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 429-7681
www.migiftedchild.org
Michigan Department of Education
David F. Mills
Education Consultant, Office of Education Options
Talent Development, Gifted and Talented
Dual Enrollment and Alternative Education
Phone: 517.373.4213 Fax: 517.241.0197
Michigan Department of Education
John A. Hannah Building, 4th Floor
608 West Allegan Street
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, Mi 48909
WEB: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-5233_5988-22992--,00.html
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
Suite 550
1707L. Street, MW
Washington, DC 20036
202-785-4268
www.nagc.org/
Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted,
Inc. (SENG)
Dr. James Delisle
SENG College of education
405 White Hall
Kent Sate University
Kent, OH 44242
The Association for the Gifted (TAG):
A special interest group of the Council for Exceptional Children
www.cectag.org
The College of William and Mary,
Center for Gifted Education, Curriculum Units
http://www.wm.edu/education/gifted-ed/Curriculum_Pages/Curriculum.htm
Eric Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted
Education:
Digests and articles
http://ericec.org
John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth
www.jhu.edu/~gifted/
National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented
(NRC/GT)
www.gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt.html
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
www.nagc.org/
