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Being the parent of a gifted and talented student can be both rewarding and challenging. The Prairie Grove School District is committed to seeing every student succeed, so the Gifted and Talented program offers enrichment opportunities and activities to students identified as GT to see that students get the most out of their educational experience.
Traits of Giftedness
Some of the earliest signs of giftedness include:
unusual alertness in infancy
less need for sleep in infancy
long attention span
high activity level
smiling or recognizing caretakers early
intense reactions to noise, pain, frustration
advanced progression through the developmental milestones
extraordinary memory
enjoyment and speed of learning
early and extensive language development
fascination with books
curiosity
excellent sense of humor
abstract reasoning and problem-solving skills
vivid imagination (e.g., imaginary companions)
sensitivity and compassion
If a child exhibits a majority of these characteristics, parents may wish to have the child assessed by the GT coordinator experienced to find out if the child is gifted. Firstborn children tend to be recognized more often than their siblings. When one child in the family is gifted, it is quite possible that others may also be gifted. Early identification is recommended (grades K through 2) because it permits early intervention, as important for gifted as for any other children with special needs.
Parenting the Gifted Child: Resources and Info
The most important aspects of parenting a gifted and talented student is being a responsive parent who works in collaboration with the school system. Appropriate school placement and parent advocacy nearly always meet the individual needs of each student. Moreover, parents and teachers alike should respect students for their uniqueness, diverse opinions, ideas, and aspirations. Gifted children need parents who are responsive and flexible, who will go to bat for them when they are too young to do so for themselves. It is painful for parents to watch their children feeling out of place with others, but it is unwise to emphasize too greatly the importance of fitting in; it is okay for students to be unique and different. At home, children need to know that their uniqueness is cherished and that they are appreciated as persons just for being themselves. At school, it is the responsibility of the GT program to always promote students' strengths and challenge them every day to be better citizens.
For more information about parenting a gifted child, please visit:
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)-a wide array of information and resources, including "Parenting TIP Sheets"
https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources-parents/parent-tip-sheets
Specific NAGC Parent TIP Sheets We Suggest Parents Read:
Arkansas AGATE- There is a parent affiliation you can join here for support.
http://www.agatearkansas.org/parents
Hogies Gifted- Great connection for all sorts of things (books, conferences, advice, things for your child to do)
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