It has come to my attention recently that parents of gifted students are often at a loss when it comes to understanding their kids. More than once, I've had parents tell me, "I just don't know what's wrong with my child," but so often the answer is that nothing is wrong - that child is a totally "normal" gifted child. The problem with "normal," though, is that it can be difficult to define what that really means.
And so, I have put together this list of websites for you as a starting point to maybe figuring out what being gifted entails for your child. Hopefully these sites will help provide some perspective as you sift through the research and other information about this educational classification we have for your child. Understanding not just the academic but also the social and emotional needs of gifted and talented people may just help a little in understanding your own prodigy!
"My Child is Gifted: Do you think I'm bragging now?" - This author has a lot of answers (and empathy) for parents whose gifted children aren't so good at academics like everyone seems to think gifted children should be. She discusses the definition of "gifted" and the problems parents and children (and teachers!) face when they have a narrow view of that definition. Her whole blog is about gifted kids and issues concerning gifted education - something worth checking out, for sure!
Social and Emotional Development - At the bottom of this article is a list of videos that could be used to discuss issues faced by some gifted children. Please preview these videos before watching them with your children so you can decide if this film is appropriate for your family's values.