Later-born children can be overlooked in families, especially in gifted households where attention and resources focus on older siblings. Parents should recognize differing signs of giftedness, consider assessment based on each child’s needs, encourage individual interests, and provide support so younger children develop strengths.
Advice for parents of differently gifted siblings: identify and play to each child’s strengths, emphasize effort and appropriate challenge, model mutual respect, accept differences, and enforce zero tolerance for ridicule. Ensure successful children enjoy achievements while struggling children receive holistic attention and a supportive home.
Practical strategies to reduce holiday stress for gifted families, including prioritizing events, planning and coordinating schedules, dividing tasks, saying no, maintaining diet and routine, and taking restorative days off. Emphasizes parental self-care as children mirror adult stress and establishing manageable traditions.
Practical guidance for selecting summer camps and activities for gifted children, including assessing family needs, securing child buy-in, choosing camp type and focus, advocating for appropriate placement or trials, and creating activities. Emphasizes including downtime and daily physical activity for balance and well-being.
Guidance for parents choosing kindergarten: determine district benchmarks and services, consider independent evaluation for gifted children, and explore options such as approaching teachers, alternative programs, part-time or homeschool blends, co-ops, or switching schools. Emphasize flexibility, listening to the child, trusting parental judgment, and advocating when needed.
Advice for parents of gifted children who lose motivation: consider health, family stress, relationships, and school; explore the child’s interests, transfer passion, and enlist teachers, mentors, or counselors. Prioritize a supportive relationship, acknowledge successes, educate yourself about giftedness, and be patient.
Parents of gifted children often find the best support from other parents who understand intensity, achievement, and social challenges. Group exchanges normalize experiences, share coping strategies, and celebrate successes. The post suggests joining SENG groups, state liaisons, online resources, conferences, and local parent networks to build community.
Advice for students who’ve finished high school coursework but aren’t pursuing early college: assess goals, consider gap years, post-graduate boarding programs, internships, mentorships, or university and online courses. Combine options, plan carefully, maintain academic practice, and seek admissions guidance to make nontraditional paths productive and meaningful.
This post advises parents how to advocate for gifted children in school: prepare by understanding state law and documenting needs, set clear goals, develop practical win‑win plans, start discussions with teachers, document agreements, follow up, and consider appeals or alternatives if necessary.
