Education | Growing Pains

Stress surrounding the gifted child

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Parenting and stress are like peanut butter and jelly they just go together! When you toss in the stress and challenge of a gifted child in that mix, it will grow just a little bit more. Studies have shown that gifted children have a heightened sensitivity to their environment, events, ideas and expectations that revolve around them. When they strive for unrealistic expectations it can cause a stress overload.
A few of those stressors can be too many extracurricular activities such as: sports, clubs, etc. Children don’t always know what is best for them so it is your responsibility as the parent to make sure they are not overextending themselves in this area.
One of the key stresses that affect all children is self-esteem. At middle school into the high school years, they just want to fit in. They don’t want to be distinguished as “different” from their fellow classmates. When a child’s self-esteem begins to deteriorate their concentration falters, they become even more sensitive to criticism, and they begin to perform less, and become devastated when they do fail.
It is of the essence that the child has a stable and secure support system, who can do anything from getting payday cash advance to hold their hand. This will help them cope with their intellectual, social, and emotional needs through the stages of adolescence. They need to be helped in understanding their gifts, but also understanding the similarities and differences that they have with other students. This needs to come from someone educated on this, not their peers who will use it to their advantage as hurtful.
The gifted child will cope a lot healthier if they are able to wrap their minds around accepting their abilities, talents, and limits. Again, they are normal children besides their accelerated mind capabilities; they still need help in developing social skills to use in life.
Ultimately, the journey is one of figuring out the difference between the pursuits of excellence versus the pursuit of perfection.

Filed Under: Education, Stress Tagged With: Education, Gifted education, Intellectual giftedness, Social skill

They’ll be Grown all too Soon

It’s a weird feeling when you realize how far your children have come in what doesn’t feel like any time at all. One day, they’re just warm lumps that can’t even roll over on their own. And then the next, they’re talking all the time, getting into stuff faster than you can believe, and just generally making you wish you had their level of energy. Just mark the words you’re reading here today. They are going to grow up more quickly than you can believe, and when they do, hopefully they’ll at least remember a few of the things you taught them when they were kids.

As kids grow into adults, the process is pretty subtle. One day they’re talking a mile a minute, and the next day they’re observing what’s going on around them. If you’ve ever noticed, when a child is about to begin a new stage of life (such as when they go from baby to toddler, or go from toddler to the stage they’re in from about 4 to 6), they observe a lot. This trend continues and adults do the same thing when we’re about to enter another stage of our lives, so maybe it continues forever. At any rate, it certainly continues throughout their schooling.

You need to be very stringent about preparing your kids for college. While they may not even be old enough to go to school yet, the day is rapidly approaching. You only have so much time to teach them (or make sure that school teaches them) the things they need to know in order to be successful at that level. In college, things that used to just be practice become very real. Things like grad school (and GMAT class online) and getting a professional type of job stop being “eventual,” and enter the here and now. Before you know it, it’ll be happening.

Filed Under: Child Development, General Tagged With: Education, GMAT, Graduate school

Can a Child Be Too Smart?

Although this may seem like an outrageous question, the answer depends on where you send your child for an education.

Academically advanced children, or gifted children as some schools call them, have an edge over other children in school, as do those with higher IQ’s than most of their classmates. Unfortunately, these advantages can sometimes create problems for the child, the teacher, and the parents.

Even though a child entering school for the first time already knows the basics, they are still on the same emotional level as the other students in the classroom. School administrators often forget this when it comes to those children who already know what the teacher is teaching the rest of the class.

Parents can help with this problem if they talk to the teacher before the child begins school in the classroom. Teachers need to know that although a child can breeze through the material they are teaching, they still need actively engage that child in classroom activity.

Because some teachers realize that a gifted student already knows much of what they are teaching, they tend to ignore a gifted child in the classroom.

As a result, children far ahead of the other students academically, can become bored in class. Depending on the personality of the child, this may not cause major problems. A bored child needs a teacher that understands the situation, and to make an effort to rectify it.

Some public school systems developed special out-of-class activities for gifted students. Others attempt to incorporate additional instruction in the classroom. This can backfire for the gifted student if they feel the teachers single them out, in front of the other children.

Parents and teachers should discuss the following solutions with a gifted child’s teacher can help prevent problems in class:

Give additional work to complete at home or in the classroom
Allow him or her to assist other students
Have books and other activities available at various times

Parents of a gifted student should always communicate with the school before problems arise because a child, no matter how smart, deserves the best education.

Filed Under: Child Development Tagged With: Child, Education

Life Skills For Children With Special Needs

When you are living with a special child the most important thing you can teach them are life skills. These simple skills will help a special child live a full and rewarding life. Comprehensive learning activities are used to help special children acquire the essential life skills they need to become productive adults. A key factor in living with a special child is teaching them how to apply their skills and knowledge to new and familiar situations that will occur throughout their lives. Children with special needs learn how to accomplish the fundamental life skills most of us take for granted. These skills include social, personal, occupational, and daily living skills.

Teaching life skills to a special child will greatly improve their living conditions and help them conquer daily living tasks. Mastering these basic skills are the first steps towards productivity and independence. Children with special needs are taught how to apply these skills to their occupational, personal, and private lives. Your child should be encouraged to try new activities and hands-on projects that can help them develop sustainable skills that will last a lifetime. Trying new things will help special children develop practical experience and teach them how to apply the learned skills to their personal or social lives.

Medical and educational websites offer informative details on living with a special child. You can find resource information, learning activities, and teaching facilities for children with special needs. These resources are widely used by parents who are living with a special child to teach them the basic life skills they will need to help them function as an adult. With the proper training and life skills a special child can be independent and productive. This will allow them to secure regular employment, as well as live a happy and normal life.

Filed Under: Parenting, Resources Tagged With: Activities of daily living, Child, Education, Life skills, Parent

Recreational Activities For Children With Special Needs

Children with special needs share the same passion for fun and games as any other kids. While they may need special equipment or accommodations when they are playing, their desire for stimulating learning activities and a sense of independence is just as strong as their peers. No matter what type of physical or learning disability is present, education and social interaction are key factors for healthy family and community relationships. Playtime provides a wonderful opportunity for your special child to bond with siblings, classmates, teachers, or parents. The state department of education in your area can supply information regarding recreational programs for special needs children.

Playtime is an enjoyable and educational experience for children with special needs. Regular participation in playtime activities contributes to a child’s development, as well as their intellectual, physical, and emotional well being. Toys for children with special needs should be easy for them to understand and simple to operate. The toys you purchase for your special needs child should hold their interest, and provide a learning experience. When you purchase a new toy or game, spend some time playing with your child to explain the learning activities and help them understand how to play the game.

If your child has a special interest such as gymnastics, karate, or piano, enroll them in community classes that are designed especially for children with special needs. Organized sports such as hockey, soccer, and baseball allow children with disabilities to participate in physical fitness activities that help with development and coordination. Occupational therapists often use learning activities in the early stages of development when working with children who have special needs. Physical recreation and active learning are essential to the health and well being of special children. Many community programs can supply resource information regarding recreational activities for children with special needs.

Filed Under: Parenting, Resources Tagged With: Child, Education, Special needs

Understanding The Life Of A Gifted Child

A gifted child may show their abilities in a variety of different ways. Children with gifted abilities are more sensitive than most of their peers. Many times their heightened abilities make them seem a little too sensitive. They are naturally inquisitive, and with their exceptional memory they can process and retain large amounts of information. Some other qualities of gifted children are the abilities to quickly conquer new subjects, extraordinary skills in mathematics and science, and they are usually the first to finish class assignments. They also demonstrate strong and consistent academic achievements.

Gifted children begin to show an interest many things at a very young age. Their curious interest in projects that present a challenge motivates them to keep trying new things. Gifted students are usually involved in a large number of school or community activities. The gifted child is a highly motivated independent thinker who often expresses original and unique opinions. Children who are gifted apply high level thinking skills for evaluation, analysis, and synthesis. They are able to make connections that are missed by other students, and they prefer the unusual approach for solving problems. These students actively debate real life issues and current events, and have a strong feeling for justice and equality.

While a large number of characteristics are positive, gifted children also display some negative behaviors. Many times gifted children are absent-minded when it comes to practical details, and they can be extremely critical of themselves, as well as others. Activities must completely hold their interest or they will soon become resistant or bored, and the project will be left unfinished. Gifted students can be impatient in class and strongly resist repetitive memorization activities. The life of a gifted child is exciting and challenging, The best thing a parent can do is try to understand their frustrations and offer encouragement whenever possible.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Education, Gifted education, Intellectual giftedness, Student

Gifted children: parenting 101

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When it comes to parenting a gifted child, it is a challenging experience, but when the parent encounters it they should embrace it. It is imperative for parents to be educated on the characteristics of a gifted child so they can be there for the child, and dispel any myths that surround the title of ”gifted”.
As the parent of a gifted child you probably saw signs very early on. The child has a love of books, they love to learn and discover and so on. Having a gifted child is part nature and part nurture, and will grow day by day with love and support.
When you have a gifted child, it not only affects the child, but also the entire family. It is helpful to seek out other families that have gifted children for advice on how to handle different situations. This is a good way to share ideas with each other. It is also helpful to read as much as you can on ways to parent a gifted child. Knowledge is always powerful.
It is also important to respect the ideas and opinions of the child. It is vital to be sensitive to their needs, fears, and concerns. Generally, gifted children have intense emotions, and the fact that needs to be repeated to them is that the title gifted does not define all of who they are.
They need to know they are still a normal child, and that they will make mistakes and fight with their siblings. Keep the lines of communication open at all times. Know what is going on in your child’s life such as friends at school, and friends after school. Make sure to make the gifted child’s siblings know they are just as cherished as the gifted child. Lastly, make sure the rules are clear, reasonable, and nonnegotiable for all the children in the family including the gifted child. This will go far with not showing any favoritism.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Education, Gifted education, Intellectual giftedness, Parent

Teaching & the gifted child

Teaching gifted children can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. It is important as an educator to stay open-minded, and have the ability to try new things to keep a gifted child stimulated mentally. There are professionals out there who will help alter a curriculum to meet the needs of each individual gifted child.
It is essential to keep the gifted child challenged, and excited to learn. In this arena, as a teacher, they are looking to you for guidance. Their needs will differ significantly from their peers. What may be a suitable curriculum for the average child will not work for a child that is advanced in their learning. It is helpful advice to research the different ways to get passed, and accomplish these particular obstacles.
While in the classroom it becomes difficult for a gifted child to sit and wait for their peers to catch up. When this happens boredom and frustration begin to set in, which in turn can lead to them losing interest in schooling. It is helpful to allow them to work at their own pace on more challenging material once offered to them.
Some changes are a good thing. It is good to raise the bar where the child is concerned, and journaling can help them to express and expand on a chosen topic or their feelings in general. It is also critical, as an educator, to be aware of how your attitude and actions can come off to each child, gifted or not.
The difference that can be made in these children’s lives should be the focal point. Keep in close communication with the parents. Get them involved, because most of the time they are more than willing to be included. Listen to what they have to say because they know their child best. Ultimately, the goal is the same: the drive to help the child learn and to succeed.

Filed Under: Child Development, Education Tagged With: Education, Gifted education, Intellectual giftedness, Teacher

The biggest advocator for gifted children: the parents

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As a parent of a gifted child it is imperative to be their biggest advocator. There are limited programs available to a gifted child, so who better to fight for them but their parents?
Not all educational institutions are equipped to properly teach a gifted child. Unfortunately, for the gifted child, some educators believe since they are advanced they can muddle through it without any guidance. There are some schools that are resorting to putting all the gifted students in one classroom, which in turn leads to further alienation from their peers.
As a parent, always stay informed on your child’s progress, scholastically, and emotionally. Trust your instincts when it comes to what is best for them. Another word of advice is to try and not create issues if there are none, but also don’t allow others to create them either.
Some educators and parents are under the impression that the gifted child needs to be overloaded with many assignments to keep them challenged, and that is a misconception. That can lead to discouragement and the sense of being overwhelmed. Always ask questions when it comes to your child.
One of those questions may be is the staff properly trained to adequately teach your gifted child? Do you know what the school policy on gifted children is? What do they offer? What types of enrichment programs are available for your child to participate in, if any?
Lastly, always try to involve your child in the decisions that are being made. Keep a positive attitude, because children sense frustration and stress. Seek out parents who also have gifted children, and have been through this process for ideas and advice on how they handled it. Another idea is to have one on one meetings with teachers consistently. It also is also a good plan of action to have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) in place as a starting and reflecting point.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Education, Gifted education, Intellectual giftedness, Parent, Teacher

Challenges surrounding the gifted child

Parenting is full of challenges. With all children, including gifted children, parents face a multitude of obstacles when it comes to the different personalities and parenting. Each child develops at a different rate emotionally, physically, and intellectually, which leads to figuring out what is the best way for each individual.
Many times with a gifted child, the adults expect them to be, well adults mentally. That is a definite misconception, which can lead to frustration for the parent as well as the child. It is shown that the gifted child will go through the stages of morality development at a faster pace than their peers, but they still are not mentally able to process as an adult mind would.
Teachers and parents need to keep themselves informed in regards to, not only the academic needs, but also the social and emotional needs of the gifted child. It becomes a coordinated effort by the family, school and supplemental programs to support and encourage the child. It is helpful to try to create a peer group for the gifted child made up of children with common interests and abilities. This will help with keeping the gifted child from going into isolation.
Another challenge that is generally faced with having a gifted child is perfectionism. Any child, gifted or not, can battle with this, but it seems to be more prevalent in gifted children. Many times they feel the pressure of the expectation for them to excel because they’re labeled a gifted child. There is healthy perfectionism, but it can turn unhealthy rather quickly if triggered continuously by family, friends, school and so on. The child may begin to self-sabotage to get the desired failure results. The pressure that they put on themselves will only continue to grow, and become an obsession if not caught early on.
It is crucial to be aware of any and all changes in your child, gifted or not. Try to stay consistent with no special treatment for the gifted child or those around them.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Child, Education, Gifted education, Intellectual giftedness, Parent