If your child has been identified as gifted or is currently being evaluated, you might feel a little lost about navigating through the whole thing. How do you determine what is best for your child, where are the resources and support?
One thing you will quickly find if you google “gifted resources” or “navigating gifted resources” is that there are a lot of websites to help parents. Unfortunately for those of us in the United States, most of those websites are by and for citizens of other countries. The few ones centered on the Unites States tend to be commercial sites where you can buy books, learning programs and more.
Furthermore, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of support for parents of a gifted child. And when parents seek out help, they are often met with eye rolls. But you know what? A child who is gifted has special needs, just as do those who are identified with ADHD, Autism or other special learning needs. Your gifted child should be nurtured, challenged and taught in the best way to fit that child’s needs.
Educators should really understand the needs your gifted child. For example often, gifted children can exhibit behavioral problems when their needs are not being met, especially when placed in a large classroom where the majority of students have different learning styles, interests and abilities. Gifted children often have the potential to be great leaders, but they need instruction and support. Timely identification and a plan to address those needs is important.
If you have a gifted child (or any special needs child), or if you suspect that your child may be gifted, you as the parent are the first line of advocacy for your child. If your child has been identified as gifted, he or she should have an IEP or GIEP, which is an Individual Education Plan or Gifted Individual Education Plan that details how the school plans on meeting your child’s special needs. You have a right to review this program and meet with the gifted education teacher, home room teacher, school psychologist and principal. You can learn more about all of that in the education blog.
But the advocacy doesn’t stop in school. Not only should be in good communication with the school, so you can both support their role and advocate for your child as needed, but you should seek out your own resources as a parent. Join or form a parent support group for gifted children in your school or school district.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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