The author describes how virtual parent support groups expanded access for families of complex outliers (twice-exceptional and profoundly gifted), reducing isolation and enabling cross‑timezone participation, shared resources, and flexible involvement. She invites parents to join or train as SENG SMPG facilitators to build wider supportive communities.
During a road trip while recovering from shoulder injuries, a mother observed her twice-exceptional son’s strengths as he navigated trails and supported her. The essay argues that strengths are context-driven, recommends strength-based parenting, and cites neuroscience evidence of brain plasticity to support nurturing children’s strengths.
Encourage children to develop self-advocacy to communicate needs, set goals, and seek support in school. Help them learn about their giftedness, match educational options to their learner profile, create achievable goals, collaborate with school advocates, and celebrate progress while increasing responsibility.
Gifted children often carry heavy cognitive loads and need ongoing support with organization and executive functioning. Teachers and parents must collaboratively teach and model routines, planners, and tracking systems, reinforce them at home and school, and maintain accountability so students develop lasting skills for academic and life success.
Gifted learners need emotional health and supportive environments to thrive. Adults should provide choice, mentorship, social connection, and strategies for anxiety and perfectionism. Schools can use clubs, communication, collaboration, low-stakes projects, and daily reflection to build resilience and support gifted students’ well-being.
Meditation can help twice-exceptional (2E) children manage stress, anxiety and emotional regulation. Research links meditation to improved self-esteem, reduced school-related stress, better coping skills, and symptom improvements in ADHD. World Meditation Day highlights these benefits and promotes meditation education for children and adults.
Co-produced World Hope Project connects gifted youth from around the globe to create videos addressing climate change, equity, mental health and community action. Virtual meetings foster collaboration, cultural exchange, and practical projects; the initiative inspires children and adults to adopt sustainable habits, advocate for change, and support youth-led solutions.
During a visit to Laguna Beach tide pools, a parent describes discovering a lone fish then a school of fish, which inspired her son to write a spontaneous short story. The post encourages parents to expose children to new experiences, as inspiration can arise unexpectedly and foster creativity.
Gifted children often experience intense, frequent, and long-lasting emotions that adults misunderstand. Therapists, teachers, and parents should listen, validate, and join their feelings rather than dismiss them. In the author’s case, supporting a grieving, angry teen led to productive action—an environmental club—and improved functioning.
Tips for parents of gifted children who struggle socially, explaining that boredom and mismatched curriculum can cause disruptive behavior and social challenges. Offers five practical strategies — building problem-solving and independence, role-playing, using code words, reviewing friendship dynamics, and monitoring behavior — to foster social skills and confidence.
