Kathleen Nilles - Success Strategies for Parenting Gifted Kids: Expert Advice From the National Association for Gifted Children

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Nilles, Kathleen, 1961- editor. | Jolly, Jennifer L., 1972- editor. | Inman, Tracy F. (Tracy Ford), 1963- editor. | Smutny, Joan F., editor.

Title: Success strategies for parenting gifted kids : expert advice from the national association for gifted children / edited by Kathleen Nilles, Jennifer L. Jolly, Ph.D., Tracy Ford Inman, Ed.D., and Joan Franklin Smutny.

Description: Waco : Prufrock Press Inc., [2019] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: When parents need guidance on raising gifted kids, they can turn to Success Strategies for Parenting Gifted Kids: Expert Advice From the National Association for Gifted Children. This collection of practical, dynamic articles from NAGCs Parenting for High Potential magazine will allow parents to find the support and resources they need to help their children find success in school and beyond. Written by experts in the field, this book provides realistic, how-to advice for navigating complex issues such as underachievement, twice-exceptionality, acceleration, underrepresented populations, student advocacy, and more. Each article provides parents with an easy-to-understand overview of the topic based on research and best practices, as well as processes, step-by-step action plans, and realistic advice. Additionally, the book includes discussion and reflection questions that are perfect for parent support groups, conversations with families and children, and individual parent reflections-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019033297 (print) | LCCN 2019033298 (ebook) | ISBN 9781618219039 (paperback) | ISBN 9781618219046 (ebook) | ISBN 9781618219244 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Parents of gifted children. | Gifted children--Education.

Classification: LCC HQ773.5 .S83 2019 (print) | LCC HQ773.5 (ebook) | DDC 649/.155--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019033297

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019033298

Copyright 2019, National Association for Gifted Children

Edited by Stephanie McCauley

Cover design by Micah Benson and layout design by Raquel Trevino

ePub ISBN: 978-1-61821-924-4

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At the time of this books publication, all facts and figures cited are the most current available. All telephone numbers, addresses, and website URLs are accurate and active. All publications, organizations, websites, and other resources exist as described in the book, and all have been verified. The author and Prufrock Press Inc. make no warranty or guarantee concerning the information and materials given out by organizations or content found at websites, and we are not responsible for any changes that occur after this books publication. If you find an error, please contact Prufrock Press Inc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Parenting a talented child is not for wimps. It can be confusing yet thrilling, frustrating yet energizing, humbling yet enlightening quite the roller-coaster! This is especially true when a childs talents are different from his or her parents. On top of the issues related to gifted childrens considerable strengths, they also experience all of the craziness of normal developmentthe frustrations, the complexities of friendships, the self-doubts, the heartbreaks.

Add another layer on top of that: Much like the misconception that gifted students dont need special services because theyll figure it out on their own, many people think parenting a talented child is a cake walk. They dont see the perfectionism, extreme boredom in school, or difficulties finding like-minded peers. In my experience, this attitude of its easy parenting a gifted student prevents parents of talented children from seeking out the assistance they know they need.

For a long time, there wasnt nearly enough assistance to provide, given that the resources available to parents of high-potential students was thin. But thanks in large part to the efforts of the National Association for Gifted Childrenfrom whose publication Parenting for High Potential this books content is drawnwe are starting to create a wide and deep reservoir of helpful, research-based information and advice for parents.

This book is a comprehensive sampling of all of the knowledge that reservoir contains, and the editorsall highly respected experts and advocatescarefully crafted the volume to be as useful as possible to parents. This book is low on jargon and high on practical strategies, it covers a wide range of important topics but avoids being superficial, and it is research-based yet doesnt get bogged down in those details. The authors are all distinguished experts with impressive track records of working with parents of gifted students, and that experience jumps off every page.

I especially encourage readers to make use of the reflection questions provided with each reading. These questions can serve as a guide and source of support for the difficult questions parents often have (and need to have) with their childrens teachers, administrators, psychologists, and counselors. Within my own family, we have found frank discussions on these issues to be eye-opening, especially when the kids are involved. Children always notice and think about more than we realize, and that is even more the case when those children are intellectually talented.

Of course, we have a long way to go before we are fully supporting parents of gifted students. Perhaps thats an unattainable goal, as the needed assistance will keep evolving as society and education change. But striving to provide that support is a laudable, necessary goal, and the book you are holding in your hands represents a major step forward in providing that support. Thanks for all that you do for your gifted child!

Jonathan A. Plucker, Ph.D.,
NAGC President, 20192021

PART I

CHARACTERISTICS, IDENTIFICATION, AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT

This opening section includes chapters that discuss several issues that beguile parents in their journey of raising their gifted and twice-exceptional children. Parents or caretakers are often the first ones to observe their childs behavior, which provides an inkling that alternative and/or additional interventions, accelerated and/or challenging curriculum, or outside-of-school opportunities will be required. Each author combines research-informed approaches to offer best practices and strategies in regard to identification, characteristics, and talent development.

In , Matthews and Foster offer an overview of intelligence tests, their role in gifted identification and programming, and how to use IQ test results in obtaining appropriate services. In addition, the authors provide suggestions for translating results into meaningful ideas for children. The practical information presented can help parents navigate the use of IQ tests.