HOW PARENTS CAN HELP THE GIFTED CHILD & HIS EDUCATION

 Be an advocate for your child.

             The best advocate for your child is you.  Parents must take an active role in making sure the educational needs of their gifted child are met. 

1. Meet with their child’s teacher(s) early in the year.  They may not be aware of the child’s identified area(s).  Gifted children are good at hiding their giftedness when it can be to their advantage.

2. Get to know your child’s teacher(s). 

3. Volunteer in his or her classroom.  Offer to assist the teacher by gathering supplemental materials or providing other enrichment ideas (Silverman, 1992).

4. Acknowledge the efforts made by the teacher with a note of appreciation (Silverman, 1992).

5. Join a parent group for parents of gifted children.  This will help you stay on top of developments in the law and gifted education. 

6. Write letters or make phone calls to your state legislator encouraging support for gifted education (Karnes & Lewis, 1997).

 Know your legal rights.

Gifted preschool, elementary, and secondary school children have very limited protections under state and federal laws.  Only 30 states currently have mandated services for gifted children (Karnes & Marquardt, 1997).  Although Ohio mandates identification, there is no mandate for service at this time.

 Help your child cope with stress.

Because gifted children tend to be extra sensitive to events, ideas, and expectations of themselves and others, they may experience heightened stress.  Some ways of helping your gifted child handle stress are presented by Leslie Kaplin (1990).

 

1. Give your child extra time and attention when stress is observed.

2. Change the source of the stress.  Do something else for a while.  Encourage a variety of interests without over-structuring your child’s time.

3. Confront the source of the stress.  If it is a person, persuade him or her to remove the stress.  Ask the teacher for an extension on a project.

4. Talk about the source of stress with your child.  Be a good listener.  Talk about possible solutions.

5. Help your child see each new situation or problem as a new challenge.  Help them see the humorous side of the situation.

6. Teach them skills and attitudes that make tasks easier and more successful.  Help them with time-management and organizational skills.  Help them set reasonable goals. Neither too high nor too low.

7. Make sure your child gets regular physical exercise and a well balanced diet (Kaplin, 1990).

 Teach your child people skills.

Teach your child to understand the interactions of people.  Allow them to have experiences with many people in many situations.  Give them strategies for dealing with jealousy whether it is the jealousy of others or their own.  Help them develop a sympathetic understanding of others and yet realize and cope with the lack of sympathy others might show toward them.  Help them realize not everyone will respect and cherish their abilities and quest for learning.

Encourage your child to participate in group activities, but also allow time for privacy and a chance to think and work alone.

Model an attitude of appreciation of self and others.

Most of all enjoy the special qualities that make them who they are.