Gifted students have a need to be involved in and pursue their passions/interests, but they also need time to reflect and ponder for no particular reason. Parents can better support their students with some of the following tips:
Understand and appreciate what giftedness is and how these children are different and similar to others.

 Assist to develop clear and explicit expectations and support the setting/writing of realistic goals and review bi-
monthly.

 Remember that gifted children‘s emotional and social developmental stages may not match their intellectual
development.

 Encourage and praise their efforts often. Many times they feel no one values what they do.

 Encourage extra-curricular activities in or out of school (opportunities to be well-rounded and to engage with
students in their school setting that may not be in their classes).

 Volunteer in community service activities to support awareness of global issues, but also to develop their social
skills, working with others who may not be on their learning level.

 Remind them that their contributions are noble and needed to support understanding world problems.

 Listen to their concerns without trying to fix them.

 Help them learn to navigate socially with diverse groups.

 Teach/model how to say “no” to avoid being overwhelmed by taking on too much.

 Help them to understand they won‘t be perfect and that mistakes are a part of learning.

 Teach students how to advocate for themselves. Students need to be able to articulate their needs/goals for
themselves by the time they’re in middle school.

 Help/encourage positive relationships between student and teacher.

 Create opportunities for success (at school and home).