-
Why Care About Gifted Children?
Talking about giftedness is tricky. It can sound like discrimination or elitism. And it is discrimination when kids of color are ignored and excluded from gifted programs in schools, which, sadly, they still are in many places. In my mind, it is a no-brainer to understand that giftedness comes in all races, religions, cultures, and…
-
A Short Guide to the Complicated Life of Gifted Adolescents or Young Adults
Maybe you wonder how you can be so smart and so dumb at the same time. Perhaps you feel like too much and not enough. Maybe you are terrified of both failure and success. Perhaps you love learning but are frustrated with schooling. Maybe you live by the highest standards for excellence but can never…
-
What Do Gifted Teens Say About Their Struggles?
The gifted adolescents that I have known grapple with existential depression, anxiety, loneliness, perfectionism, sensitivities, empathy, misdiagnoses, bullying, and serious frustrations with the school system. Here is “one” teen’s voice synthesized from the many that I have met over the years. All people will benefit when we take the time to understand our gifted children.…
-
When Perfectionism, Anxiety, and Giftedness Go To College
Ellen was a fast talking, deep feeling, super insightful 20 year old. She’d been a high achiever throughout her public school years. The work was easy. She could listen to one teacher while she did her homework for another. She was conscientious and energetic. Curious and imaginative. She was also anxious. Her active rainforest mind…
-
If I’m So Smart, Why Do I Feel So Lost and Alone?
There are times when you just want to scream. Even though you’re a pacifist. Even though your instinct is to be compassionate and understanding. Even though you have empathy that overwhelms you. There are those days when you just want to say, “Why are there so many f—ed up, insensitive, clueless, exasperating people in the…
-
I Have to Know it Before I Learn It — A Gifted Kid’s Conundrum
My 16-year-old client, I’ll call him Ben, was struggling in school. No one thought he was gifted. His grades were average. He didn’t turn in many assignments. He didn’t get high test scores. He was so anxious, he’d miss many days of school. His parents were confused. They knew he was capable of completing the…
-
Time to Agree: Gifted Kids Exist
• I think it’s time we acknowledged that super smart kids do exist. The eight year old who wants to be Richard Feynman for Halloween. The five year old reading The Chronicles of Narnia. The four year old who cries listening to Mozart. The ten year old whose favorite pastime is watching BBC documentaries.…
-
Educators: What To Do About The G Word (#Gifted)
You don’t have to use the G Word. Even though, let’s face it, you use it for athletes, artists and your quirky Aunt Millie. But you do have to recognize that gifted children exist in your school. Because they do. I’m talking about the kids you know who, from a very early age, are faster…
-
Gifted, Sensitive, Curious Children In School — What Can Parents And Teachers Do?
You would think that kids who love literature, enjoy mathematical puzzles and scientific enigmas and who are curious beyond measure, would be high achievers in school and a teacher’s dream. There are times when this is the case: When curriculum is challenging and engaging. When teachers are sensitive, enthusiastic, kind, creative, smart, flexible and organized.…
YOUR RAINFOREST MIND
SUPPORT FOR THE EXCESSIVELY CURIOUS, CREATIVE, SMART & SENSITIVE
