Tips for Parents

Parent Involvement

Parents share with the school an important responsibility in helping their children achieve their maximum potential. In ways such as these, you as a parent can supplement and extend the school program:

- Permit time for thinking and reflecting

- Join the local parent group at your school and/or local gifted support group to acquire up-to-date information.

- Enhance your children's talents in areas other than intellectual giftedness by finding activities that encourage strengths in creativity, leadership, physical abilities, and/or visual/performing arts.

- Stimulate creative thinking and problem solving. Encourage children to formulate solutions without fear of making mistakes. Help them value their own thinking and learn from their mistakes.

- Foster good work habits. Encourage children to be organized and use their time well.

- Avoid comparing children.

- Be sure your children have a library card and have the opportunity to use it often.

- Encourage originality. Encourage your children to make their own toys, games, projects, or models from available materials.

- Encourage questions. Help children find books or other sources to be used as tools to find answers.

- Encourage and provide a variety of experiences. Help your children develop hobbies and become interested in many activities.

- Don't expect gifted children to be gifted all of the time in all things.

- Be cautious in editing children's work. Too much criticism can stifle creative energy and feelings of worth.

- Find time for the family to talk together. Help your children work toward better self-expression.