Accompanied by an intense inner disharmony, giftedness has often been confused with pathology. Learn where this confusion is rooted and why it's misleading.
Some kids are class clowns because they're extroverts who don't know how to fit in & desperately want to do so. In other cases, they already know most of what's being taught & are trying to entertain themselves.
"But... what's wrong with him?" I was sitting across from the counselor we'd been seeing every week for six months, desperation leaking from my eyes and filling the small room with a heaviness we both felt. On the walls were graduate degrees and charts that identified emotions with children's faces, the bookshelves were brimming with
Intense Kids Congratulations! If you are reading this, chances are you parent an intense child, teach an intense child or work with an...
Gifted kids and twice-exceptional kids are often difficult to motivate. They seem to have their own agenda, and certain things they do {and don’t} want to learn about. And they can be pretty vocal about what they don’t want to do. Before you realize it, you’re dealing with an argumentative underachiever who is
School was going to be amazing for my son. I just knew it. He was a thinker. A tinkerer. A doer. He loved learning and had an insatiable thirst to know everything about everything. Always asking questions. Always starting a project. Always wowing those he met with his big thoughts. And then school -- and
Gifted kids and twice-exceptional kids are often difficult to motivate. They seem to have their own agenda, and certain things they do {and don’t} want to learn about. And they can be pretty vocal about what they don’t want to do. Before you realize it, you’re dealing with an argumentative underachiever who is
These five types of intensities are like “the difference between receiving information with rabbit-eared antennae versus a satellite dish."
Trevor and I had the opportunity to attend a homeschool class by ourselves -- a rare treat. It was really nice to spend the day with just him, out in the sunshine. The Farmpark class we attended was themed, “Springtime on the Farm,” and we looked forward to seeing all of the baby animals, grinding some
This fun science experiment is simple to set up, and seems just like magic! In fact, you can easily turn the blow up a balloon in a bottle science experiment into a magic trick if you don't show your kids how the experiment is done. Kids will love repeating this experiment over and over. It's
January is the perfect time to snuggle up with your kiddos and a few warm and cozy books. I've gathered a list of great books to read with your kids in January so you can find the perfect one! Tell folktales about Chinese New Year or tell a silly story of antlers growing on your head! After the
Do you feel like all you ever do is yell at and correct your intense child? That for every time you praise him, you’ve already berated him 15 times? And, are you completely exhausted before you’ve finished your first cup of coffee? Yeah… me too. photo credit: Andy M Taylor via photopincc So what
We all want our kids to develop a strong emotional intelligence. Let's give them a hand by using play to strengthen their skills. Since we know that emotions can be overwhelming for kids, it's our job to give them the tools they need to cope with the ups and downs they will experience. Emotions can
When we chose Norway as the Scandinavian country we’d study for geography club, it was really all about the Vikings. The clothes, longboats, food, and way of life is fascinating Really, what little boy could resist? My rough and tumble boy certainly wasn't one to resist the topic, and frankly, my girls were just as excited
There are many reasons to shatter misconceptions about "giftedness." One of the most important is the frequency with which these children are misdiagnosed.
"Gifted" children can be emotionally complex, intense and highly sensitive, especially if they're twice exceptional (2e).
STEM activities are a lot of fun and educational, but the best kind of STEM activities are open-ended, allowing children to think for themselves. In this paper plate maze STEM challenge, kids are challenged to make a marble maze using household materials. They must follow all elements of a real design process, including brainstorming, blueprints,
Trevor and I had the opportunity to attend a homeschool class by ourselves -- a rare treat. It was really nice to spend the day with just him, out in the sunshine. The Farmpark class we attended was themed, “Springtime on the Farm,” and we looked forward to seeing all of the baby animals, grinding some
If you are the parent of a gifted child and haven't learned about gifted intensity you most likely have experienced it. Emotions are a part of every human life. Emotional Intensity is as natural for a gifted individual as breathing. Children who have minds that process neurological functions at a faster rate also process emotions at
Learn how to better understand intense kids. Learn how to become their anchor and find calm in the storminess of their minds and bodies.
These five types of intensities are like “the difference between receiving information with rabbit-eared antennae versus a satellite dish."
It's happened often enough that I don't take offense anymore - person discovers I'm homeschooling only one of my kiddos, person inquires as to why, person discovers my kiddo is classified as profoundly gifted, person is either wildly interested or mildly threatened, then person asks, in all earnestness, "Do you think you can keep up
Your two year old just picked up a book you’ve never shown her, and read the entire thing…perfectly. Your eleven year old is completely unimpressed with his textbook’s description of black holes and launches his own campaign to find out everything there is about astrophysics, dark matter, Einstein’s theory of relativity, the differences between light
It’s the second day of a ten-day series here, and we’re exploring what it takes to raise lifelong learners. Today I’m exploring how to cultivate a learning-rich environment. “My child just isn’t a reader.” “My son has no interest in history.” “My daughter loathes science.” I’m saddened when I hear parents talk
If you are the parent of a gifted child and haven't learned about gifted intensity you most likely have experienced it. Emotions are a part of every human life. Emotional Intensity is as natural for a gifted individual as breathing. Children who have minds that process neurological functions at a faster rate also process emotions at
Accompanied by an intense inner disharmony, giftedness has often been confused with pathology. Learn where this confusion is rooted and why it's misleading.
Have you heard the term “emotional intensity.” This phrase really resonates with me as a raise up one of my children. This phrase often is used to characterize certain gifted kids, but I am using the term more loosely today. The emotionally intense child I am talking about feels emotions to extremes. You may see...Read More
There are many reasons to shatter misconceptions about "giftedness." One of the most important is the frequency with which these children are misdiagnosed.
There are many reasons to shatter misconceptions about "giftedness." One of the most important is the frequency with which these children are misdiagnosed.
If you’re the parent of a gifted child, then you already know about the difficulties that come along with raising outliers. Maybe your child is intense, struggles with anxiety, has trouble making friends, or is a bit overexcitable. The challenge is real, and it’s often difficult for others to understand. But, it’s really kind of
One of my favorite movies will forever be Mean Girls. I had no idea when I was quoting it as a teenager that I'd still be quoting it as an adult, but here we are. Glen Coco and fetch and grool - they all have their place in my daily speech, but the line that comes
Gifted children are more intense, more sensitive, more focused - and so are their needs. Here's how we work to balance needs and social skills in our gifted child.
There are many reasons to shatter misconceptions about "giftedness." One of the most important is the frequency with which these children are misdiagnosed.
There are many reasons to shatter misconceptions about "giftedness." One of the most important is the frequency with which these children are misdiagnosed.
I sat down recently to begin planning out what all we'd learn about for Black History Month. The more I read, the more excited I felt to share such a rich heritage with my children, and the more grateful I felt to live during a time when our education is only limited by our number
It’s a week-long How I Teach series this week. I’m so glad you stopped by. If you’re new, consider subscribing so you don’t miss a post, and head back to the beginning to see what you’ve missed. Today I’m talking about how I teach gifted kids math in a large family setting. And, I’m going
Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counseling in order for them to develop optimally.
When we chose Norway as the Scandinavian country we’d study for geography club, it was really all about the Vikings. The clothes, longboats, food, and way of life is fascinating Really, what little boy could resist? My rough and tumble boy certainly wasn't one to resist the topic, and frankly, my girls were just as excited
Information about giftedness in children including emotional traits of gifted children, uneven development, signs of giftedness in young children, and how to support your highly sensitive child.
