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Purdue - West Lafayette Campus Summer Camps

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Purdue - West Lafayette Campus Summer Camps

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Super Summer 2026 registration is now LIVE!

Super Summer is a day camp for K-4 students that runs for two sessions; the dates are below. This camp only takes place in Beering Hall on Purdue’s West Lafayette.

campus. We not only offer enrichment courses for our students but also integrate social-emotional curricula designed for high-ability students of their age.

Session I: June 8-12 [8:30 AM –5:00 PM]

Session II: June 15-19 [8:30 AM – 5:00 PM]

Earliest drop off time is 7:45AM; latest pick-up time is 5:30PM

This year, we are proud to offer 13 STEM-infused courses across the two-session period; for more information about our course offerings, you can preview our Super Summer brochure attached.

Registration is now open. Click here to register your child.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Program Coordinator, Yichen Dong, at dong288@purdue.edu or geri@purdue.edu.

Sincerely,

GE2I Super Summer Team

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Starting to think about summer? This summer camp is in Upland, Indiana.

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Supporting the next generation of STEM Education through our many initiatives. STEM cubesats, high altitude balloon launches and more.

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Book lists for gifted kids!

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The Kid Story: Gifted Students Resources

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Books, Games, And Websites For Gifted Children And Students

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Gifted child blog with book reviews, game suggestions, a list of 50+ educational websites, and resources for parents of gifted children.

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Here are my current favorite virtual math field trips for all grades preK-12. Whether you teach (or parent) elementary, middle school or high school students, here are some ways to make math come alive.

The National Museum of Mathematics

The National Museum of Mathematics is my number one recommendation for virtual math field trips. This New York based museum offers many options of virtual field trips. They also offer Family Fridays, math bookclub, math workouts and live classes for grades prek-12. There are both free and paid options, and scholarships are available. See all the current options here.

U.S. Census Bureau

In this virtual math field trip, students of all ages can learn about the 2020 Census. They will learn how census data is collected and used. They will get a behind-the-scenes introduction to the Census Bureau through exclusive interviews with subject matter experts. At the end of the program there is an interactive challenge.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1iMpVlvF4ao%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

The US Census site also has 20 other different math activities available here for grades pre K through 12.

Math in the Real World: Building a House

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lcw_79bFYpo%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Math at Work: Math Meets Home Building

Description from YouTube: "The Make It Right Foundation and Ty Pennington from ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team up with HMH Math to make math fun for students. They work with high school students to rebuild homes in New Orleans Lower 9th Ward while demonstrating the connections between math and construction and design." Free lesson plans available.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=mFIU1hfCGI4%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Math At Work: Math Meets Culinary Arts

Visit The Institute for Culinary Education and see culinary students challenged to make an entree, side dish and dessert while demonstrating how ratios, proportions and percentages are used for cooking.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=yD1i3RRV2zg%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Math Meets Fashion

Visit New York City and meet fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, Project Runway's Tim Gunn and several fashion design students to learn how math is used to create fashion.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=egXZXOSuV34%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

STEM Virtual Field Trips

Some of these trips focus more on science standards than math, but we know that science and math always go together. Look for great real life examples on gathering and analyzing data.

Girl Scouts Girls Get STEM

Unleash Your Citizen Scientist
Virtual field trip to the STEM Center for Excellence video, educator guide, and pre/post field trip student activities for grades 2-5
STEM Careers in the NBA

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vHmFXQlSx_4%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Nickelodeon Slime in Space

This free 15-minute virtual field trip takes students 250 miles above theearth to the International Space Station. There, they will learn along with the astronauts as they demonstrate how slime reacts to microgravity compared to how water reacts in the same environment. Download a free activity guide for grades 3-5 (adaptable to other grade levels.)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=aLWFcwzFetA%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26autohide%3D2%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Innovation Generation

In this virtual field trip middle school students have an engineering challenge to build crash test cars. Educator guide is available for download.

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Virtual Math Field Trips - Stress Free Math for Kids

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A list of fun and educational virtual math and STEM field trips to take with elementary, middle and high school students

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Davidson Institute: Programs & Support for the Profoundly Gifted

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The Davidson Institute is a non-profit organization that supports and nurtures the development of profoundly gifted young people.

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Good resources to support you as a parent of a high ability child!

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Is your child struggling in school? Do you have questions about where to start, or what steps to take to advocate for them? Click on the file below for some great information to help you begin your journey.

WEBSITES & BLOGS:​
ORGANIZATIONS:

- GAM works to be a leader for gifted children in the school reform movement, empower parents of gifted children to become informed and active advocates for their gifted children, and ensure adequate funding for the education of gifted children in Missouri.

- A not-for-profit education agency working to bring together the resources of the community, the schools, and parents to help bright and talented children achieve their potential. This organization offers summer academies, learning labs and workshops, in addition to a few online publications for parents.

Project MEGSSS - A non-profit organization providing a haven for mathematically-talented middle school students in St. Louis area for over 35 years. A highly qualified faculty, working with a superior curriculum, offers an academic challenge beyond traditional middle school offerings. After-school and summer camps available to 4th-7th grade students.

- MENSA is an international organization that offers a range of benefits for gifted youth.

National Association of Gifted Children - NAGC provides many free articles and helpful resources for parents and educators of gifted and high-ability children. Membership is offered, and benefits include subscription to the publications Gifted Child Today and/or Parenting for High Potential.

Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted (SENG) - National organization dedicated to meeting the social and emotional needs of gifted children.

F.A.C.T. (Family Advocacy & Community Training) - F.A.C.T. is a non-profit family organization that provides information, education, and practical support to families that include children/adults with any type of disability. F.A.C.T. helps parents navigate the special education system, access a wide variety of services in the community, helps parents advocate for their child's needs, and provides support for caregivers.

PROFESSIONAL REFERRALS:
​
LOCAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

Unlimited Potential Counseling and Education Center - Unlimited Potential provides professional counseling services and cognitive assessments (IQ and achievement testing) specializing in gifted and high-potential individuals.​

​Most Valuable Professional Development - Dr. Bryan Pearlman heads up a team of veteran educators and mental health professionals that are laser-focused on providing tools, strategies, and techniques to improve outcomes for students, teachers, and schools. Dr. Pearlman is an experienced former educator, as well as a speaker and published author who has grown up gifted.

Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates - Offering individual, couples, family and group therapy for adults and adolescents. Their team of therapists and counselors specialize in stress management, anxiety, depression, family concerns, relationship issues, school stressors, life transitions, anger management, and other mental health related issues. Dr. Bryan Pearlman (Most Valuable PD) and his wife, Lena, run this practice.

Dr. Trista Pabisz at Midwest Eye Associates - Dr. Pabisz is a primary care optometrist, serving patients of all ages, but specializing in pediatrics and learning-related vision disorders. Her passion is to ensure all kids have the vision sills and visual clarity needed to live up to their full learning potential. Dr. Pabisz has experience with sensory disorders, Autism and gifted children.

HOMESCHOOL RESOURCE:

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For those who love science, this is a must see!

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Topics galore! Curated videos for thinking and learning!

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The Kid Should See This: Educational videos for curious kids of all ages, a free resource for parents & teachers. Science, art, nature, animals, & more.

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Does your child love music? This website from the San Francisco Symphony includes activities for listening, composing, and conducting!

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SFSKids is the San Francisco Symphony’s music education website. Discover, listen, play, perform, conduct, and compose music!

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This website has links to all kinds of resources related to high ability children. Worth a look!

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Hoagies' Gifted Education Page - Reading Lists

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Hoagies' Gifted Education Page - Reading Lists

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Links to multiple book lists!

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Hot Topics Reading Lists | Hoagies’ Kids & Teens

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Hot Topics Reading Lists for math monsters, physics fiends, biographers, language lovers, young lawyers, gifted boys, girls, social-emotional aspects of giftedness and more!

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Mensa is a group that supports people with high IQ's.

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Sponsored by the Mensa Foundation, Mensa for Kids provides free resources for teachers and parents of gifted youth.

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Do you love to watch movies as a family? Check out these ideas to make your movie nights a bit more challenging!

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Virtually everyone likes movies, and this activity embraces the "filmophile" in all of us. Movie Nights lend themselves to both the whole-group and divided-group format, so choose which works best for you.

Supplies

The movie! (see Preparation section for some age-appropriate ideas)

Snacks: popcorn, movie-type candy, soda/water

Bags or bowls for popcorn; plastic red and white popcorn containers are available at dollar stores or Oriental Trading

Any materials needed for pre- and/or post-movie activities (see Showtime! section for details)

Samples

Attached as a separate Word file, you will find the following sample materials that you are welcome to use or reproduce:

Preparation

Select a great location to watch your movie, one with adequate room for your movie-goers and also an adequate audiovisual system through which to enjoy the movie (a large screen improves the worst of movies, so you may want to consider borrowing a projector). If you have a large group, see if a local theater will show a movie for you at a reduced rate during off hours. If you live in an area with nice weather, consider having it outside and projecting the movie onto a wall.

Comfortable seating is a must, so if your venue doesn't have it, encourage people to bring bean bags, videogame chairs, camp chairs, etc. Decide ahead of time if you want to advertise the particular movie that will be shown.

You may wish to provide pre- and post-movie activities (see the Showtime! section). Your teens will be a great resource to help with these.

If you would like to offer a door prize, consider, for instance, giving a companion movie or a copy of the book the movie is based on.

Ideas for movies

The movies listed below were selected because they appeal to a wide audience and are appropriate for both adults and children. The movies for all ages marked with an asterisk feature gifted characters. Many are readily available at local libraries. The movies identified for tweens/teens and solely teens have specifically been selected as having appeal for the gifted.

Movies for all ages

Movies for gifted tweens and teens

Movies for gifted teens (not suitable for children under 13)

Tips for a successful event

Decide ahead of time if you want to run two movies, one for kids and one for adults, or have a separate movie for teens. Make the invitation very clear as to who is invited. If you are going to divide, provide a sufficient number of adults for adequate supervision of the younger ones.

Keep the activities appropriate to the age groups involved. If you think an activity may be too difficult for the younger ones but you want to combine as a group, pair them with a more mature member.

Check mpaa.org for information on rules regarding public performance of videos.

Showtime!

Before the event
Set the snacks out in an area that will be accessible during the movie so that people can help themselves. Alternatively, plan to pause for an intermission. Ideas for pre- and post-movie activities Play "Name that Tune" with movie music Some movies with recognizable music are listed here:

Choose the top 10 movie quotes of all time
To make this even more kid-friendly, limit the movies to animated features.

After the movie, have a renaming contest
Have participants (individually or in groups) come up with a new name for the movie. Vote on a winner. Your young members will probably want to write to the producer to convince him/her to change the title!

Have a movie trivia game
Questions can be found at the sites listed below, or divide the group in half and have each side create questions and challenge each other.

Play Movie Bingo (board included in samples)
Use words from the movie you're watching or general movie terms. You canmake the game much harder by giving clues to the words rather than the words themselves. Here is a list of 25 generic movie terms and their clues. They are geared to a mixed audience, so some of the clues may seem easy to adults. Give everyone a blank form and show the list of words for them to write down in the spaces. Since the board has a free space, everyone will have to choose one word not to include on their board. This reduces the chance of identical duplicate winners. When someone calls out "Bingo!", do not tell him/her if each individual answer is correct; wait until he/she has called out all the answers required and then say, "That is Bingo" or "That is not Bingo." Otherwise, you will suddenly have 30 winners!

1. Film: This can mean the celluloid material on which the movie can be stored or theentire movie itself.

2. Theater: Shakespeare's Old Globe bears little resemblance to the modern version of this, which is called a "cinema" inmost countries outside the United States.

3. Popcorn: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest ball made out of this weighed 2,000 pounds.

4. Animation: Felix the Cat was the first character in this genre to achieve international stardom.

5. Grip: Although it sounds like you should be hanging on to it, this is actually the person who moves the camera around during moviemaking.

6. Matinee: Although the word comes from the French for "morning," this is usually a movie shown in the afternoon.

7. Concessions: These account for 40 percent of a movie theater's revenue, which is no surprise when the average price of a small bag of popcorn is $4.75.

8. Ticket: The average price for one of these in 1990 was $4.22.

9. Screen: The largest one of these in the world is in Darling Harbour in Sydney, Australia. It measures 97 feet by 117 feet.

10. Seat: When theaters switched to the stadium style of this, they were sued, claiming that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

11. Oscar: Tatum O'Neal was the youngest person to win a standard one of these at the age of 10, although Shirley Temple won an honorary one at the age of 5.

12. Screen Actors Guild: 120,000 people have paid the $2,335 it costs to join this union that represents actors.

13. Previews: Although these are usually geared to all audiences, the movies they advertise are not.

14. Script: This can be a particular orthography or a synonym for "screenplay."

15. Thriller: When Michael Jackson sang it, it reached number 4 on the Billboard Charts in the U.S. In a movie, it's a suspenseful adventure.

16. A-list: James Ulmer developed a 100-point method to decide which stars belong on this.

17. Gross: Far from being disgusting, this term refers to the movie's total earnings.

18. Soundtrack: While these used to be just for movies, even videogames have famous ones now, including Final Fantasy, which has inspired a piano collection CD.

19. Characters: The Greek alphabet has 24 of these. Movies can have many more, especially if you count extras.

20. Critics: Although disappointed fans have been known to boo and throw tomatoes, most of these just throw two thumbs down if they don't like a film.

21. Cast: Before the advent of computer-animated crowd scenes, the director of the film Gandhi had to find 300,000 extras, making it the movie with the largest one of these in history.

22. Blockbuster: You have to make $100 million in American dollars and make it fairly quickly if you want your movie to be called one of these.

23. Premiere: From the French meaning "first," this is typically the first showing of a movie.

24. Credits: If you want to stick around through these at the end of Return of the King, you'll have to stay an extra nine minutes and 33 seconds.

25. Director: If you want to win the Academy Award for being the best one of these, it helps to win best picture, too. Ask John Ford: he's won it four times, but it took him 140 movies to do it.

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Virtually everyone likes movies, and this activity embraces the "filmophile" in all of us. Movie Nights lend themselves to both the whole-group and divided-group format, so choose which works best for you.

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A few of our teachers attended the Indiana Association for the Gifted Conference and shared this resource!

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Ready to level up?

Keep problem solving with Beast Academy's full math curriculum for students ages 7-13. Check out our captivating comic book series and immersive online platform.

Bring problem-solving to your classroom

Keep your entire class engaged with a full book and online math curriculum, for students ages 7-13. 98% of teachers say they're satisfied with Beast Academy.

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Keep problem solving with Beast Academy's full math curriculum for students ages 7-13. Check out our captivating comic book series and immersive online platform. Keep your entire class engaged with a full book and online math curriculum, for students ages 7-13. 98% of teachers say they're satisfied with Beast Academy.

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This word game is similar to wordle with an easy to use gameboard.

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Spellie - A daily word game for young spellers

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Wordle for kids. 3 daily puzzles for children of all ages.

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This wordle game is designed for kids with the ability to change the length of the mystery word!

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Play Wordle online and challenge your vocabulary skills! Guess the five-letter word in six tries or less. Enjoy daily puzzles and share your results with friends.

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Wordle took the world by storm! This is a great daily word game for your child and YOU!

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Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

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If you haven't tried Nerdle, I encourage you to give it a try! For anyone who loves math and numbers, this will make you think!

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Our flagship game, nerdle, was inspired by Wordle and a passion for math. It challenges you to find the hidden calculation in just six guesses. In the wider nerdleverse, you'll roam an entire galaxy of puzzles, including number-based crosswords, anagrams, and so much more. Whether you're a math enthusiast or just looking for a daily brain workout, the nerdleverse has something special for you. Join us and let your mind explore the wonders of the nerdleverse!

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Nerdle - guess the solution in 6 tries - try classic, mini, speed and pro

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NAGC_PHP_Toy and Game List 2020-FINAL (1)

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But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It's a big interesting world out there.On But Why, we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world.Have a question? Send it to us! Adults, use your smartphone's memo function or an audio app to record your kid's question (get up nice and close so we can hear). Be sure to include: your child's first name, age and town. And then email the audio file to questions@butwhykids.org.

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But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It's a big interesting world out there.On But Why, we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world.Have a question? Send it to us!

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Common Sense Selection is a part of Common Sense Media's seal program that recognizes podcasts for engaging stories, valuable content, diverse voices, characters, and messages that are a great choice for kids & families. ⁠ ⁠

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Common Sense Selection is a part of Common Sense Media's seal program that recognizes podcasts for engaging stories, valuable content, diverse voices, characters, and messages that are a great choice for kids & families. ⁠ ⁠

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Animal Sound Safari takes your ears around the world to discover the weird and wacky histories us humans have with animals. Each episode is jam-packed with cool stories, kooky facts and 'pawsome' puns. From celebrity sloths in Costa Rica to greyhounds going to war in Germany, hop on board with Animal Sound Safari.

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Animal Sound Safari takes your ears around the world to discover the weird and wacky histories us humans have with animals. Each episode is jam-packed with cool stories, kooky facts and 'pawsome' puns. From celebrity sloths in Costa Rica to greyhounds going to war in Germany, hop on board with Animal Sound Safari.

Animal Sound Safari takes your ears around the world to discover the weird and wacky histories us humans have with animals. Each episode is jam-packed with cool stories, kooky facts and 'pawsome' puns. From celebrity sloths in Costa Rica to greyhounds going to war in Germany, hop on board with Animal Sound Safari.

More episodes

MORE EPISODES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An amazing podcast!!!!

The episodes are great.but it's too bad that someone bought the podcast and made it so that you need to pay for the episodes😢😢😢😢😭😭😭😭

Why???

I liked your podcast! You said that you would make more episodes soon and it's been 4 years! Has your podcasts died or something?

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Animal Sound Safari takes your ears around the world to discover the weird and wacky histories us humans have with animals. Each episode is jam-packed with cool stories, kooky facts and 'pawsome' puns. From celebrity sloths in Costa Rica to greyhounds going to war in Germany, hop on board with Anima...

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I listened to the podcast called Moment of Um and loved it! Consider using podcasts with your kids! There are many out there designed for the curious mind!

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Brains On Universe is an independent media company for kids and curious adults. We make podcasts, books, videos and more. Our goal is to fill the world with stuff that is smart and funny, silly and serious, all at once -- just like the people in our audience.

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Updated 9/19/2022

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IDOE COPY of BHMSD  High Ability Program 2022-2023 

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Crash Course videos are short and informational videos about all kinds of subjects, but these literature videos can help students analyze and understand the books being read in class, especially the older and harder to read ones.

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How and Why We Read: Crash Course English Literature #1

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Khan Academy is a good, free resource to help students who may need a repeat of the lesson or shown in a different way!

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Why Khan Academy works

Personalized learning

Students practice at their own pace, first filling in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning.

Trusted content

Created by experts, Khan Academy's library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons covers math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more. It's all free for learners and teachers.

Tools to empower teachers

With Khan Academy, teachers can identify gaps in their students' understanding, tailor instruction, and meet the needs of every student.

DISTRICTS

Khan Academy boosts
student learning

In a recent study, students were over twice as likely to meet grade-level standards with Khan Academy. Districts across the country are partnering with us to ensure all their students succeed.

TEACHERS

"I'm finally able to truly differentiate my classroom. This has been priceless for my students' engagement."

DUSTIN FAUTH / 4th grade teacher / Falmouth, MA

We empower teachers to support their entire classroom. 90% of US teachers who have used Khan Academy have found us effective.

LEARNERS AND STUDENTS

You can learn anything.

Build a deep, rock-solid understanding in math, grammar, science, history, SAT®, AP®, and more.

"I come from a poor family. At home it's one room, just a room we live in. When I was a child, I used to fear mathematics. But now, I am in love with mathematics because of Khan Academy."

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Every child deserves the chance to learn.

Across the globe, 617 million children are missing basic math and reading skills. We're a nonprofit delivering the education they need, and we need your help. You can change the course of a child's life.

Key supporters

Supporters of our COVID-19 response

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Khan Academy | Free Online Courses, Lessons & Practice

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Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more. Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.

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The term gifted is often thrown around when it comes to high-achieving kids but what does it really mean? Having a gifted child means your learner shows above-average ability that can result in intellectual and creative achievements at a young age. Gifted children are capable of high levels of performance, but many are also in need of special attention, especially when it comes to their social and emotional development. Some gifted kids may perform above average in one area but lack skills in another.

IDENTIFYING GIFTEDNESS

"It is actually up to the child's school district to identify each student for gifted services," says Lynne Henwood, president of the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children. "Each district has their own identification process based on the needs of their student population. This process should consist of different types of assessments (portfolios, observations, creativity tests, etc.) and not just testing." It's important that parents understand that a label of "gifted" should not be the end goal, Henwood says. "The goal should be matching learning needs with services," she says. "If a child is exhibiting gifted behaviors as a preschooler, the best course of action for a parent is to harness interests and curiosities by exposing them to new experiences, providing an environment that invites inquiry, reading to their child and allowing them to experiment and explore."

"The ideal timing for a child to be evaluated clinically for giftedness is during early childhood, beginning at four years of age, if possible," says D'Arcy Natale, managing director of The Gifted Child Society in Ramsey. Natale says it's important to note that although early identification is ideal, a child may be evaluated for giftedness at any time between the ages of 4 and 16. "This is particularly helpful for parents or educators who may not be aware of or recognize traits of giftedness in children until later developmental stages."

Clinical cognitive assessments administered by psychologists are the ideal means of identifying giftedness, says Natale. "These assessments are conducted one-one-one with licensed or certified psychologists and can take up to 1.5 hours for a screening or 2-3 hours for an in-depth assessment." Natale notes that test scores and grades alone do not accurately define a gifted child, as their individual challenges and gifted traits can create obstacles to their success in the classroom.

Finding an IQ score is not always the necessary course of action, since it can be an expensive pursuit and doesn't always tell the whole story of the child, says Henwood. "An IQ score that is not in the gifted range does not mean that a child doesn't have gifted potential or abilities, and a school does not need to accept outside testing in their identification process."

GIFTED THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEARS

Gifted programming differs from school to school, as well as among different age groups. "There are many ways to serve gifted learners, but they should all be targeted to the areas for which the gifted learner has been identified," says Henwood, adding that there is a common misconception that gifted children are gifted in everything. "A very important component to any gifted program is an understanding that gifted children have unique social and emotional needs," she says.

"Many gifted children are prone to perfectionism, anxiety and overexcitabilities. Some students are gifted in one area and may even have a disability in another area," she says. "Another misconception is that gifted children are those that have neat and organized desks, raise their hand and never interrupt, always produce beautiful work, which is handed in on time and are always polite. Some of our most gifted learners are the opposite of these things."

Almost all gifted learners are asynchronous, meaning that they have uneven development. "A young child may have the cognitive ability to understand complicated world events but may not have the emotional maturity to process the events," Henwood says. "Sometimes a gifted child has difficulty relating to peers, which can lead to loneliness and isolation. Social and emotional learning should be woven into any gifted program, and professionals who understand gifted children should be available for support as well."

In elementary school, programming can include clustering groups of students with gifted learning needs in the regular classroom, pullout classes, push-in enrichment, advanced opportunities to enter contests or take leadership roles in school and time and space to develop interest-based projects.

"Another misconception is that gifted children will be fine on their own," says Henwood. "These learners need adult support in order to grow as much as any other child. Their needs shouldn't be ignored just because they can pick up concepts quickly. It's up to educators to ensure that all of their learners are exposed to new information and are learning new skills, not just receiving more or extra work, or being asked to tutor other students. Everyone needs productive struggle in order to grow, and if these students do not develop tools to persevere through this struggle, they may be ill-equipped to manage the rigor of college." High school programs can utilize their IB and AP programs to help meet gifted learning needs, but they also should provide talent development opportunities for them as well, says Henwood.

High school students should have opportunities to intern with working professionals and to work on authentic, real world problems. Service projects and involvement in the community are great ways for gifted students to develop talents and skills. Students may take classes at a local college to support their advanced needs.

Middle school programs can involve advanced/accelerated math classes, differentiation within classrooms, enrichment opportunities, mentoring, real-world application of skills in authentic projects, contests and competitions (Destination Imagination, Continental Math League, etc.) and specialized clubs in which students can be in the role of the practicing professional (school newspaper editor, photographer, etc.)

RESOURCES FOR GIFTED KIDS

"The New Jersey Association for Gifted Children publishes a monthly NewsNet newsletter that provides resources and nearby events for curious children," says Henwood. "Some universities run gifted programs in the summer, and some offer classes throughout the school year, such as the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY). Mensa for Kids has resources and opportunities as well. The National Association for Gifted Children has resources and tips for parents on their website."

Parents can also look for opportunities for older children to intern with organizations of interest, such as helping on a political campaign or volunteering at the hospital. "Young writers can submit their works to publications like The New York Times and Stone Soup," says Henwood. "NASA has contests and interesting activities for kids who love space."

"The Gifted Child Society (CTY) is a long-standing resource dedicated to supporting and enriching children with giftedness, in preschool through high school," says Natale.

"TGCS provides tailored programs and experiences for advanced learning, plus socializing and collaboration, for likeminded, gifted children. We recommend resources like ours, where the one-on-one interaction can be much more tailored and truly differentiated for the children who are gifted, as a supplement, not a replacement, to 'normal' schooling."

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How Parents Can Support Gifted Learners - NJ Family

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The term gifted is often thrown around when it comes to high-achieving kids but what does it really mean? Having a gifted child means your learner shows above-average ability that can result in intellectual and creative achievements at a young age. Gifted children are capable of high levels of performance, but many are also in [...]

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Our ever-growing list of thousands of subscribers has list average click and open rates more than twice the industry average. In addition to reaching our subscribers, Gifted & Distractible is posted to our website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Yahoo - offering exposure well beyond our subscriber list. Gifted & Distractible sponsors enjoy access to a targeted audience of 2e families, educators, clinicians and adults

Past issues live forever on our website. Please note if you have a preferred month. We publish 11 months of the year, skipping July.

Thank you for supporting With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC and the 2e Community!

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Newsletters - With Understanding Comes Calm

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Subscribe to Gifted & Distractible Complete the form to subscribe to my free monthly newsletter. Browse the Archives Below are the most recent newsletters from With Understanding Comes Calm! If you would like to sign up for our newsletter, please enter your email address on the form above!

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SENG - Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted

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Supporting the social & emotional needs of the gifted, talented, and twice-exceptional since 1981.

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Davidson Institute: Programs & Support for the Profoundly Gifted

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The Davidson Institute is a non-profit organization that supports and nurtures the development of profoundly gifted young people.

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NCTM has recently launched Figure This!, a student and family set of math challenges that support a students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Families can use these challenges for game night or trivia. Help your students become leaders, thinkers, and tinkerers.

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Figure This: Math Challenges for Families - Keep Indiana Learning

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NCTM has recently launched Figure This!, a student and family set of math challenges that support a students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Families can use these challenges for game night or trivia. Help your students become leaders, thinkers, and tinkerers.

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This is a great website to learn more about women in the field of engineering!

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#EngineerGirlShow

This video series highlights amazing women in engineering to inspire the next generation. This series was produced by George Retelas with his digital art students at SAE Institute. Here are just a few...

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The EngineerGirl website is designed to bring national attention to the exciting opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women.

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If you love animals, check this out!

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GRACE Gorilla Forest Corridor | Explore.org

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Watch live video of gorillas at the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa. Watch as the gorilla's pass through, graze on vegetation, and make their nest for their overnight slumber

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For the best experience, please turn JavaScript on. Here's how

Discover ideas that spark the curiosity of learners.

Browse hundreds of TED-Ed Animations and TED Talks designed to spark your child's curiosity. You'll also find thousands of other video-based lessons organized by age-level and subject.

Discover lessons

Create customized lessons for your child.

Create lessons around any TED-Ed Animation, TED talk or YouTube video. You can search for and select a video, then add interactive questions, discussion topics and more. You can easily share the lessons and track the results.

Your child can share their ideas with the world.

Our Student Talks program allows educators to guide students through a presentation literacy curriculum where they learn how to discover, explore and present their big ideas as TED-style talks.

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You have JavaScript disabled For the best experience, please turn JavaScript on. Here's how Browse hundreds of TED-Ed Animations and TED Talks designed to spark your child's curiosity. You'll also find thousands of other video-based lessons organized by age-level and subject. Discover lessons Create lessons around any TED-Ed Animation, TED talk or YouTube video.

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Math!!!!!

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Would You Rather Math – ASKING STUDENTS TO CHOOSE A PATH AND JUSTIFY IT WITH MATH

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Teachers, sign up for my mini-workshop to learn about how to implement Would You Rather Math into your classroom routines. We will explore some sentence frames, what happens when things don’t go as planned, how to use the prompts in a remote learning setting, and much more. See you there!

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Twice Exceptional Students (2e)

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ADHD and intelligence are uncorrelated. Yet so many of our kids score off the charts on IQ tests and are clearly smarter than their grades and conduct reports might suggest. Teaching and parenting these twice-exceptional (and easily bored) students takes persistence and creativity, but the hard work is more than worthwhile when their gifts are unlocked.

Gifted boy with ADHD rests head on folded hands on book in classroom

Many parents and teachers don't realize that a child can be gifted and have learning disabilities, a combination called "twice exceptional," or 2e. Debra Hori, an education therapist, didn't. Her son, Ben, was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age eight, but it took three years to learn that his verbal skills and IQ were well above average. "He was tested, and he scored in the gifted range," says Hori. "I decided to enroll him in a different school that accommodated all of his needs," she explains. "It made a world of difference."

Intellectually gifted children with special needs like ADHD often have a rough time in school. Their gifts mask their special needs, and their special needs hide their academic ability. As a result, they are usually labeled "lazy," "unmotivated," or "slackers."

Several factors contribute to the delayed diagnosis of students who have both ADHD and gifted abilities. Inattention and other ADHD symptoms may result in lower scores on tests used to determine eligibility for gifted programs. Also, teachers are less likely to notice ADHD symptoms in students who are not disruptive. Parents are likely to be skeptical of an ADHD diagnosis when they know their child is bright. Remember, though, that a high IQ alone is not enough to be successful in school. Working memory, say experts, is a better predictor than any test result.
[Self-Test: Could Your Child Have a Learning Disability?]
How to Meet the Learning Needs of Gifted Students with Learning Disabilities

"Unlike mainstream students, twice-exceptional students - gifted students who have ADHD and learning disabilities - struggle with getting their thoughts down on paper, writing legibly, doing calculations accurately, staying organized, and following step-by-step instructions," says Linda Neumann, editor and co-publisher of 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter. "They appear distracted or lazy, but they are trying very hard."

As a result, many so-called 2e students feel "dumb" and wind up hating school. "It can be devastating when a student knows he's smart, but is not able to reach his potential," says Chris Dendy, who developed a DVD, Real Life ADHD, for children and teens.

Placing a gifted child with ADHD with other gifted students is an automatic - but sometimes misguided - strategy. Without schoolwork that meets their cognitive needs, gifted children with ADHD find it hard to sustain attention and often develop poor work habits. On the other hand, some gifted students avoid 2e students because of their lack of organizational skills and social skills.

Twice-exceptional students need a program that nurtures their talents while accommodating their weaknesses, says Susan Baum, Ph.D., an educator, researcher, and author of To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled. Gifted children with ADHD need accelerated learning, even while they are working on the cognitive skills that will support the faster pace. They should have a "differentiated curriculum" - with options in what they learn and how they learn it. Teachers and parents should ensure that a 2e student has the support skills to manage his tasks and to compensate for his weaker executive function.

Work with the school to secure services for your child. Some gifted students need more time to complete tasks than other students. They often benefit from using assistive technology, such as a portable word processor or a calculator.

"All of Ben's problems didn't disappear when he attended a new school, but his outlook on life improved significantly," says Debra Hori. "I had my son again, and that was good enough for me."
[Free Guide: Solving Disorganization at School]
Five Tips for Parents of Gifted Children with ADHD

1. Trust your instincts. You know your child better than anyone else. Don't assume that professionals know better because they have credentials.

2. Trust your child. If he says he can't do something, don't assume that he's being lazy or obstinate, and don't believe anyone who says he is.

3. Don't ignore the gifts while trying to fix the disabilities. Gifted children get depressed when they aren't able to learn new things.

4. Don't ignore the disabilities while nurturing the gifts. Children get frustrated and depressed if they are constantly required to do things they can't do.

5. Know that your child can be in a gifted program and also have an IEP or a 504 Plan. Gifted students with ADHD may be eligible for IDEA services, in certain circumstances, under the Other Health Impairment or Specific Learning Disability category.

-Meredith G. Warshaw, M.S.S., M.A., uniquelygifted.org
Updated on October 2, 2018

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Unlocking the Potential of Gifted Kids with ADHD

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ADHD and intelligence are uncorrelated. Yet so many of our kids score off the charts on IQ tests and are clearly smarter than their grades and conduct reports might suggest. Teaching and parenting these twice-exceptional (and easily bored) students takes persistence and creativity, but the hard work is more than worthwhile when their gifts are unlocked.

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kidlit

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KidLit TV - Explore the world of children’s literature.

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Welcome to the award-winning KidLit TV! Go on an adventure in a world of stories with us! We’re a trusted resource for parents, teachers, and librarians. KidLit TV is a winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award and one of the American Library Association’s Great Websites For Kids. KLTV is available in over 700,000 schools worldwide via our website and video distribution partners. Meet our diverse group of parents, educators, librarians, kid lit creators, and award-winning filmmakers working together to create fun new ways to reinforce an appreciation of reading that children will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

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Need more to do after reading?

To help reader stay engaged while reading, we've compiled a variety of activities that can be done at home or in the classroom.

These activities are designed to get kids thinking critically and creatively about the books they read.
Elevate Your Reading

To encourage the joy of reading, the Foundation has developed the Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Program. Earn a commemorative certificate in recognition of your outstanding achievement and get an Excellence in Reading T-shirt, too!

The Mensa Foundation recognizes and encourages education, gifted youth, and lifelong learning through resources like the Mensa for Kids website and other programs for youth and those who support them. This program is open internationally to any and all readers under 18 years of age, their teachers, and librarians.

Acknowledging the value of the National Endowment for the Humanities' appreciation of classic literature for young people, the Mensa Foundation is providing a year-round challenge to kids of all ages based on the NEH's Summertime Favorites and Nonfiction Favorites reading lists, with some alterations.

To participate in the Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Program, follow these steps:

1. Select a list from the grade level bands listed below. Remember to read to the level of your ability or interest, regardless of your age or grade level.

2. Print the appropriate list and track each book you read by checking it off and recording the date it was read, along with a rating. Electronic signatures and check-offs are not permitted. The form must be completed by hand. We operate on the honor system, and we encourage honesty in this way.

3. Please submit the original form used, even if it is very messy. Copying the form over to make it neater may result in rejection of the form. We reserve the right to request additional confirmation of completion of the program and/or to refuse to grant recognition.

4. Once you've completed an entire list, both the reader and an adult will need to sign the list as verification and return it and the order form to the Mensa Foundation at the address provided. Once we've received your signed list and verified it, we'll send you a recognition certificate and T-shirt. Please allow 6 weeks for delivery.

5. You may use five nonfiction books to replace any five books from the same grade-level segment.

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Through the Excellence in Reading program, the Mensa Foundation offers gifted youth the opportunity to read a list of age-appropriate books and earn a certificate and free T-shirt. The books on each list are selected by librarians across the U.S.

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Need something extra during COVID-19

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I've often thought that all of us parents are home-schoolers-at least after 3:00 p.m. and on the weekends. But with the coronavirus shuttering schools in many parts of the country-including where I live with my family in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.-it's become a no-joke full-time gig.

Let's be clear: It's highly unlikely that our children will learn as much at home as they would have at school. That's OK; especially if schools are only closed for a few weeks, kids will have plenty of opportunities to make up for lost time. (If they close for the rest of the school year, that's a different story.) And fighting the pandemic and "flattening the curve" is a MUCH bigger priority right now. As esteemed educator Michael Goldstein wrote on our blog a few days ago, his (totally appropriate) goals for "Daddy School" include:

1. Something reasonably easy for me, and sort of fun....

2. Kids remember it fondly five years from now....

3. Kids learn a little....

And of course, many schools will be trying to keep their students making progress via assignments offered online or with printed packets sent home.

Let's assume, though, that most children will spend a fair amount of time on screens, given that we parents will be trying to work and will only have so much internal fortitude to fend off the endless requests for time on devices. So here are some suggestions for making at least some of that time educational. (This is geared toward parents with elementary school-age children; for younger kids you can't go wrong with PBS Kids or lots of read-alouds.)

The best educational YouTube channels

The best educational videos on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.

The best podcasts for kids

The best free online instructional materials

The best educational YouTube channels
It's true: not everything on YouTube geared toward kids is a mindless time-suck! Here are five great channels that are engaging and educational.

1. Liberty's Kids. One of my biggest beefs with elementary schools today is that they tend to teach so little history-especially of the patriotic variety. So here's a great opportunity for your kids to experience a "history surge" and get a huge, entertaining, and compelling dose of American history during our own historic period. Liberty's Kids first aired on PBS decades ago, and is a fantastic narrative account of the American Revolution, spread over 40 episodes, 23 minutes each. So "assign" four episodes a day and you'll kill an hour and a half for two full school weeks, and your kids will know way more about our founding than they do right now.

2. This former NASA engineer is a rock star YouTuber, with over 10 million subscribers. It's not hard to see why: he comes up with super fun and engaging ways to explore science concepts and engineering challenges-like showing kids how carnival games rip you off, or testing if sharks can taste a drop of blood. A good place to start is his "learn some science" playlist, currently at 26 videos, 10 to 15 minutes each.

3. Extra Credits Extra History. Extra Credits started as a channel for gamers, especially those interested in historical war games, but its creators also now make videos about history itself. They are up to over two hundred at last count, each last ten or fifteen minutes, and ranging all across the world and various epochs. Many are focused on military history (understandable given the channel's genesis), with occasional diversions. Their vast offerings allow them to deeply explore topics. They dedicate four episodes, for a total of more than forty minutes, to the Punic Wars, for example. Compelling narration and cute animations combine for addictive viewing for budding history buffs.

4. Bill Nye the Science Guy. Why not go old school? This iconic show aired for five seasons in the mid-1990s, so if you think Friends and Seinfeld still feel fresh, why not give this a shot too? Here's a playlist with 48 full-length, 23-minute videos, covering virtually every major topic in the science curriculum.

5. Crash Course. This is the granddaddy of educational YouTube, created by Hank and John Green, aka the Vlogbrothers , the latter of whom is already familiar to young readers as the New York Times best-selling author of The Fault in Our Stars. They have built a huge library of videos across most major disciplines, including playlists of forty-eight videos on U.S. history, seventy-two on world history, and fifty on U.S. government and politics. Each episode is generally ten to fifteen minutes long and features John Green talking about the subject, mixed in with some humor and animations. It's geared toward high-schoolers but works for precocious younger kids too.

The best educational TV shows and movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.
Back when we first got our Netflix account-five years or so ago-it became immediately clear that it was a goldmine for educational movies and TV shows. Here at the Fordham Institute we decided to launch something we called "Netflix Academy"-that is, until we got a very polite "cease and desist" letter from the company. (I'm not being sarcastic-they were very nice about it!) So we renamed it Education On- Demand, and sorted the best stuff we could find by subject and topic. Here are a few of my favorites-plus some great additions that are now available on Disney-Plus's National Geographic stream.

1. The Magic School Bus (Netflix). Sure, scientific knowledge is constantly evolving, but Mrs. Frizzle never gets old. Like Bill Nye the Science Guy, this is another mid-1990s children's show about science; that must have been some sort of Golden Age. And it brought real star power, as the title character was played by Lily Tomlin. I can't vouch for the recent Netflix reboot, The Magic School Bus Rides Again, but the original is a fantastic introduction to key scientific concepts for the early-elementary school set.

2. Walking with Dinosaurs (YouTube TV). My family loved, loved, LOVED this BBC TV series. It's amazing that it hails from the late 1990s, given how good the CGI is. It looks and feels just like any other great nature documentary from the BBC-complete with the Kenneth Branagh narration-but, let me remind you, DINOSAURS ARE EXTINCT. Check out the companion Walking with Beasts, Walking with Cavemen, and Walking with Monsters too.

3. National Geographic Ancient Civilizations (Amazon Prime). I would wager that your kids know next to nothing about the ancient world, unless they attend a Core Knowledge school. But this series will get them up to speed, covering ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Americas, among others.

4. Jane (Netflix, Hulu, Disney-Plus). A wonderful documentary about the life of Jane Goodall, the pioneering women whose decades-long study of chimpanzees gave us critical information about our cousins, and ourselves. Some themes might go over the heads of younger viewers (i.e., her reflections on gender bias) but everyone will enjoy the images of the baby chimps and their parents.

5. Our Planet (Netflix). I would recommend some of the classic BBC nature documentaries-like Blue Planet, Our Planet, and Frozen Planet-but as far as I can tell, you have to pay for them, even if you've got subscriptions to all of the streaming sites. So go for this Netflix series instead. With eight episodes, at fifty minutes each, you'll cover all the basic ecosystems on earth. Biology? Check!

The best podcasts for kids
The explosion in podcasting is such a great development-it's screen time without the screens! And given that we're all going to be doing way more dishes and cleaning than usual-given that we'll be cooking at home three meals a day, and cooped up 24/7-these are great shows to listen to together while doing chores. (Check out Common Sense Media for lots more suggestions.)

1. History Chicks. This is my family's favorite. Each of their 150 hour-long episodes tells the story of a famous woman from history-and some women who aren't famous but should be. It's hosted and produced by Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider, two Midwestern moms who adore history and don't think it should be "dusty"-and love to talk and talk and talk. (Another great option in this genre, geared directly at kids, is Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.)

2. Wow in the World. This show from NPR, hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, explores fun and fascinating topics in the world of science and technology. There are dozens of episodes at about a half an hour each.

3. Tumble. Another award-winning science podcast, co-hosted by a journalist and a teacher, with a big focus on interviewing scientists themselves.

4. Freakonomics. Steven Dubner, the co-author of the Freakonomics books, examines the "hidden side of everything," from science to sports to politics and more. It's a show for adults but totally appropriate (and captivating) for older kids too.

The best free online instructional materials
Kudos to the educational publishers who answered the call to make their materials available for free during this Covid-19 crisis. To be sure, getting your kids to use these resources is going to be harder than turning on a movie, TV show, or podcast. But especially if the school closures drag on, activities like these are going to be essential to keep students learning. The resources below are all Common Core-aligned according to the review website EdReports.org.

1. Zearn. This highly-regarded math site makes online math lessons compelling and effective. They've put together a great set of resources for the coronavirus crisis, including webinars for parents to help them (and their kids) get started.

2. Amplify. This ed tech company is working at making its online instructional materials available for free for parents. Check back soon for more information.

3. GreatMinds. The publisher of Eureka Math, Wit and Wisdom, and PhD Science, has rolled out a wide range of free instructional materials, including daily videos of teacher-led lessons and virtual access to resources such as the Library of Congress and the National Gallery of Art.

4. Match Fishtank. For both English language arts and math, this site offers free materials based on the excellent curriculum used by the Match charter schools.

5. LearnZillion. This upstart curriculum developer has made more than a thousand instructional videos available for free, covering all aspects of English language arts, including writing prompts.

Other great materials are available from Core Knowledge, EL Education, FabuLingua (for learning Spanish), Khan Academy, and ST Math. Check out an even longer list, from the NewSchools Venture Fund, here.

***

Stay safe. Have fun. Learn a little. And good luck!
Michael J. Petrilli is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. As an education policy wonk and a parent of school-aged kids, he's long been obsessed with the notion that screen time can be educationally nutritious. Finding good stuff on streaming sites, TV, YouTube, etc. has become a minor hobby of his. If you have additional suggestions for educational resources please send them to us at thegadfly [at] fordhaminstitute [dot] org.

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Resources for learning from home during COVID-19 school closures

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With more than half of states closing their schools due to the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of thousands of parents, grandparents, and other caregivers have become de facto "home schoolers" practically overnight. Students in this situation will likely be spending a fair amount of time on screens-as a lifeline, respite, or both.

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Parent Tips Dealing with Worry

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This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Edward Amend in which worry and stress as related to gifted children were discussed. The author explains that some worry is good and is a motivator, but that it is important to distinguish between a normal amount of worry and an amount that will cause problems for the child.
2010 Seminar
Although there is a difference between everyday worrying and anxiety that is interfering with functioning, both can be managed with the right tools. Parents report that gifted children and teens seem to worry more than other children they know. They report a negative outlook or a tendency to report negative events with more frequency than positive ones. They may worry about everyday events or world tragedies. When the worry interferes with functioning, it is time to act. While there are many strategies for parents to try, professional intervention may be necessary.

Here are some facts about anxiety:

Anxiety disorders, as a group, are the most common mental illness in America. Worry is different than an anxiety disorder.

In general, persons suffering from anxiety experience nervousness and fear that are chronic, unremitting, and can grow progressively worse. Persons experience excessive, irrational fear and dread, and may also show physical symptoms.

It is common for anxiety disorders to co-exist in persons with other mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse as well as medical conditions like cancer or heart disease.

Professional treatment of anxiety disorders may include medication and/or psychotherapy.

Cognitive and cognitive-behavioral therapies have been proven the most effective types of therapy. There are many types of anxiety disorders, including but not limited to:

Panic Disorder-Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms that accompany the fear may include chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, abdominal distress, and fear of dying. This has a variable age at onset, but late adolescence and mid-thirties are most common.

Specific phobia--A fear of something specific, like snakes or heights. First symptoms usually occur in childhood or early adolescence and can persist to adulthood.

Social Phobia-An overwhelming and disabling fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations, leading to avoidance of such situations. Age at onset is usually mid-teens, and may emerge out of a childhood history of social inhibition or shyness. Onset may follow a stressful or humiliating experience.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to control or stop. Onset for this is usually gradual.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-Persistent symptoms that include frightening and intrusive memories and occur after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event such as assault, abuse, war, or plane crash; duration is more than one month. This can occur at any age.

Acute Stress Disorder-A persistent re-experiencing of a traumatic event and avoidance of things that arouse recollection of the event; duration is a maximum of four weeks. This can occur at any age.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder-Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts and tension about everyday routine life events, decisions, and activities; persons are always anticipating the worst, and this can be accompanied by physical symptoms. Most persons diagnosed with this have reported being anxious to some degree for much if not all of their life, and over half report onset of symptoms in childhood or adolescence.

When worry or symptoms of anxiety appear, there are some strategies for management that parents and their children can try. Here are a few tips.

Structure and routine-in short, predictability-tend to decrease anxiety and worry. We like our traditions and we do things in certain ways because they are comfortable. For example, many of us know where we'll be and what we'll eat on certain holidays. Those ways of living give us comfort-they are always there. Fewer unexpected changes, priming kids for changes, and providing clear expectations can help anxious kids.

Obviously parents can't predict and prepare for everything, so teaching a child to be more flexible and think through changes will also help. Start by discussing the "best, worst, and most likely" outcomes. Let's say a child is worried about something at school. The parent asks the child what the worst possible outcome would be and discusses it. Then, parent asks what the best possible outcome would be. Finally, the parent asks about the most likely outcome. Be careful, though, because all-or-none thinkers and perfectionists will try to pick from the best and worst outcomes they have already identified, rather than thinking about what is truly the most likely.

Model positive thinking and behavior, and monitor the words you use. For example, how many of you have to go to work tomorrow? Now, how many of you get to go to work tomorrow? That one word change makes a big difference in the way it is communicated. It "feels" different, perhaps better. Seeing things as opportunities not hurdles and viewing what might go well instead of what might go wrong is hard, but changing our words and outlook can help.

The Optimistic Child by Martin Seligman and other books by this author and/or his colleagues have ideas about helping kids think in more positive terms and ward off negative symptoms. A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children by Webb, Gore, Amend, and DeVries also has several strategies in the chapters on perfectionism and depression.

Try to get the youngster to focus on the present. Anxiety is usually about something that occurred in the past, or something that could happen in the future. If one can focus on the present-what really is or is not happening right now-then it is easier to breathe and get unstuck. "That's not happening now. I am here eating dinner and no one expects me to balance a checkbook now..."

For most kids who have a good relationship with their parents, parents can get them to read a children's book, one like Something Might Happen by Helen Lester. This book is about a lemur that worries, and you can discuss the lemur rather than your child, focusing on the lemur's thoughts and feelings. If the child is young, he or she is likely to apply his or her own feelings to the lemur, giving the parent some insight.

Finally, as parents, remember that you can't do everything-seek progress not perfection. Enjoy the good things about where you are. Keep planting seeds. Find positive outlets for perfectionist tendencies. And, most importantly, do the best you can-and model health by forgiving your own mistakes as they are inevitable.

2003 Seminar
As a clinical psychologist, I see my share of worry and anxiety in gifted children, especially with terrorism and war permeating the news. Although this is not always the presenting concern of parents coming to my office, it often underlies the behavior problems, school conflicts, or social difficulties. Worry and anxiety are experienced in different ways and, in general, people that suffer from anxiety experience, to a varying degree, fear and nervousness that are excessive, chronic, unremitting, and often irrational. Symptoms can grow progressively worse and may include physical symptoms. Worry in a gifted child can be related to just about anything, from global issues like environmental changes and world peace to personal issues like their homework or "bad hair."

There are three key aspects that help determine the severity of worry or anxiety, and these are:

1. Frequency: How often do the problems arise? Are the symptoms of worry and anxiety experienced daily, weekly, monthly, or several times a day, for example?

2. Intensity: On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad are the problems?

3. Duration: This refers to two things. First, how long do the symptoms last when they appear? Do you worry for a few minutes and get back to work or do you worry for hours on end. Second, how long have you been experiencing these problems? Is this a new phenomenon or something that's been around for years?

When it comes to the association between worry and the gifted, the research is unfortunately contradictory. Basically there is some evidence to suggest that gifted individuals are both more and less vulnerable to internalized distress (which includes worry and anxiety). We can safely say that worry and anxiety, like most other adjustment concerns, are an issue for gifted children at least as much as they are for the general population. However, common sense would suggest that gifted individuals might experience more worry just because of the way their brains work--being able to see more possible problems and more possible outcomes or solutions. Research also suggests that the gifted may have buffering traits (e.g., high self-efficacy, sensitivity, and effective coping strategies) that help reduce the negative impact of stressors and anxiety provoking events. (NAGC, 2002). And, once trained, the gifted child's mind can be an ally in combating worry even if it helped create the problems by thinking or over-thinking possible solutions or problems or outcomes in the first place.

Of course worry and anxiety have negative effects on many people, and these effects are often very obvious. However, it is important to keep in mind that some moderate level of anxiety is a mobilizing force for us to get things done. If we weren't somewhat nervous about our work or performance, for example, we wouldn't spend so much time making sure we do a good job. If a kid doesn't worry a bit about his or her homework or the consequence of not doing it, he or she likely won't do it. When one cares about their products and others' perceptions of them, he or she will worry about the possibility of negative criticisms. Some of this worrying is motivating and pushes one to get work done and do a good job. However, too much worrying raises the level of anxiety too high and actually prevents a person from getting things done. If there is too little anxiety or worry, we DON'T do, but when there is too much, we CAN'T do.

What can we do to help our gifted children manage their worries in a healthy way? Here are some suggestions accumulated over the years from a variety of sources. Some come from research, some from clinical experience, and some from parents like you.

"Men are not worried by things, but their ideas about things," said philosopher Epictetus. He would argue, for example, that it is not the war, but what and how we think about the war that would affect our behavior and emotions. Albert Ellis is a noted psychologist who developed this idea into what is called Rational Emotive Therapy, a way of thinking that helps one avoid falling prey to irrational beliefs and the negative feelings that go with them. These irrational beliefs, such as "You must be unfailingly competent and almost perfect in all you undertake" and "You should feel fear and anxiety about anything that is unknown, uncertain, or potentially dangerous," contribute to worry and anxiety. Managing these negative thoughts and the "thinking errors" (like catastrophizing and all-or-none thinking) that go with them can help a gifted child get a handle on worry. Helping kids identify these thoughts and recognize their negative consequences on moods and behaviors is a good way to work on decreasing worry, anxiety, and depression. Although the gifted child's battle with this type of negative self-talk is certainly frustrating for parents, especially when they don't let you know it is going on internally, using this type of cognitive approach can be helpful.

With younger children, you cannot always use these cognitive techniques because they have difficulty thinking about thinking. In those cases, you can try other options. With all children, it is important to provide opportunities to express feelings, whatever they may be. Remember that feelings are never "wrong," but actions based on those feelings can be. Accept the feelings, reflect the feelings (e.g., "Sounds like your pretty worried about..."), and work to identify positive outlets for them. For younger children, drawing or writing are safe ways of expression. Consider having your kids develop a worry jar or worry jail (either on paper or a physical object) where kids can "store" those worries in a "safe" place for a while. The physical act of drawing a worry and locking it up is sometimes enough to help a child "put it away" for a while.

Relaxation techniques are a concrete way to decrease stress. For those kids that love control, this can be a fun way to help them learn to control breathing and tension. On the topic of control, you can also help your child develop some feelings of control over the worry by being proactive. For example, if the worry is about pollution or world hunger, help your child acknowledge that those global problems can begin to be addressed at a local level. Participate in local causes or create new ones. Volunteer at a shelter or community agency or organize a city park clean up. There are many ways to make a difference locally that allow a child to feel some control and see the rewards of his or her work.

Fearing increased worries, many parents struggle to decide how much information about world events they should give their gifted children. Try to maintain a balance of information that fits within your family values and does not serve to increase worry. In general, accurate information can help gifted kids better understand, not jump to false (and more worrisome) conclusions, and keep emotions in check. If worry persists, perhaps more information--rather than less--is needed. Consider digging deep and doing some research on or related to the topic creating the worries.

Many parents have found success in reassuring kids through reading. Especially with younger kids, it can be difficult to talk directly about a worrisome subject like death for an extended time. But, you can read a book, even a picture or children's book, with a theme that surrounds death, and discuss the feelings of the characters, their reactions, and their behaviors without ever relating it directly to the child or situation. Stories about yourself and others can be told in the same way (i.e., you tell a story about you or another and never relate it to the child). In this way, you let them draw the links and learn the lesson in a safe, non-threatening way. You validate feelings without directly confronting or exploring the issue on a personal level.

As always, support, involvement, and communication are the keys to healthy relationships with children. A strong relationship will help moderate negative feelings and events of all types. This won't, of course, prevent all problems and lead to stress free life, but it will certainly help.

This article is provided as a service of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting profoundly gifted young people 18 and under. To learn more about the Davidson Institute's programs, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org.

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Tips for parents of gifted children | The Amend Group

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This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Edward Amend in which worry and stress as related to gifted children were discussed. The author explains that some worry is good and is a motivator, but that it is important to distinguish between a normal amount of worry and an amount that will cause problems for the child.

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Article on the Differences Between High Achievers, Gifted Learners, and Creative Thinkers

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Article on the Differences Between High Achievers, Gifted Learners, and Creative Thinkers

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NAGC- National Association for Gifted Children

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NAGC- National Association for Gifted Children

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National Association for Gifted Children |

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NAGC works to support those who enhance the growth and development of gifted and talented children through education, advocacy, community building, and research

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Articles on gifted, talented, and twice-exceptional topics, issues, resources and opinions.

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Indiana Association for the Gifted - A Parent's Guide

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Indiana Association for the Gifted - A Parent's Guide

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Many of you may be experiencing a myriad of emotions related to your children and their experiences both in and out of school. While you may be amazed at the advanced skills and higher level thinking your children demonstrate, you may simultaneously be anxious about how these skills will and should be nurtured both in and out of school. You may be frustrated that your children are capable of reading several levels above grade level, yet they cannot manage to organize their book bags or find their homework assignments. You may be worrying about your children socially (do they have enough friends?) or emotionally (why are they so intense about everything?). Finally, you may see the love of learning on your young children's faces and wonder what you need to do as an advocate to ensure that they will be receiving the appropriate differentiated school experiences that will continue to foster such an enthusiasm for learning. The parent section of the IAG website has been designed to provide information and resources for parents on dimensions of giftedness and programs for gifted students. General information on giftedness is available from various print and online resources; however, the information provided here is specific to parents of gifted children living in Indiana. IAG has prepared this information through the lens of understanding how gifted education (termed as high ability education in Indiana) manifests according to our specific state mandate for identification and services. We hope you find the information useful, and we encourage you to pass it along to other parents as well.

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Many of you may be experiencing a myriad of emotions related to your children and their experiences both in and out of school. While you may be amazed at the advanced skills and higher level thinking your children demonstrate, you may simultaneously be anxious about how these skills will and should be nurtured both in and out of school.