Happy Father's Day!
Today is the day to show dads how much they are loved and appreciated. Hopefully, you and your child are ready to let Dad know. If you are still looking for some quick and easy ways to help the kids focus on Dad today, it's really not too late to find some dad-centered Father's Day activities. Word search puzzles with Dad as the theme and playing games that are Dad's favorites are just two quick and easy ways.
Choice and Responsibility
Rosemond says that we should give gifted kids the gift of choice, by which he means that we should let the child make that academic decision. In response to the question "But what if she later regrets it?" Rosemond says that that would be a good thing. It would be a lesson in personal responsibility and an exercise in decision making. A child can learn from the mistake if she later decides she made the wrong decision.
But is a 9-year-old really prepared to make this kind of a decision? What kind of life experience does a child in third grader have that would allow her to evaluate the potential outcomes of such a decision? Rosemond offers an anecdote about his daughter, who was given the option of making the same kind of decision, chose to stay with her friends and then went out to be an honors student in college.
But is this typical for all gifted children? What if a child makes the wrong decision and her life is negatively impacted by it? We can certainly find many examples of children who were not placed in an appropriate academic setting and were therefore not as successful as they might have been otherwise. Our child might learn a lesson about decision making, but don't we also want our children to have the opportunity to do their best?
What do you think?
Great Audiobooks for Gifted Kids
If you think reading a book is the only way to enjoy them, then spend some time this month exploring the world of audio books. It is, after all, Audio Book Month. A good audiobook can add another dimension of "reading." Sure, it's not really *reading* but there are many advantages. For one, the whole family can listen to an audiobook at the same time. It's fun to set some special time aside for listening to great audiobooks together at home, but the family can also listen in the car.
If you are ready to take the plunge and try some audiobooks, or if you have already taken the plunge and found how enjoyable they can be and are ready for more, consider getting one of the audiobooks on this list: Great Audiobooks for Gifted Children.
What to Learn About in June
Another way to look for new topics is to consider the different holidays, observances and commemorations each month has. Some are for single days, some last a whole week, and some are for the entire month. What topics can you explore with your child in June? What can you learn about? Just check out the list of of all the Special Days and Observances in June.
Summer Learning Opportunities
School is almost over! I always loved the end of the school year. It was a time for my child to be free from the stress of school. School was always so hard for him -- hard to pay attention as the teacher repeated the same concept for the tenth time when he'd gotten it the first time, hard to do dozens of worksheets, hard to read books he could have read five years earlier, hard to read assignments over things he already knew.... But summer time! That was the time for some real learning! It's time to start looking for summer programs. You don't want to wait too long. Teen Ink Magazine, has a great list of summer programs for teens. The National Association for Gifted Children also has listings of programs for gifted kids of all ages as well as information on how to choose the right program for your child.
Perfect Vacations for Gifted Kids
Have you planned your vacation yet for this year? There are some destinations that seem pretty much perfect for gifted kids. Some of them, like Space Camp, take some advanced planning, although your family can still visit the Space Centers without attending camp. Others don't take much planning other than the plans to get to the destination. Colonial Williamsburg is one such destination. But whether you need to plan long in advance or just go when you get the chance, you can take your child on a vacation perfect for gifted kids!
If funds are a little tight for your family this year, but you'd still like a break from every day life, consider planning for a staycation. Here are some ideas for staycations:
Family Staycation Ideas
Memorial Day
When I was a child, before Memorial Day simply became the third day of a another three-day weekend, people spent part of their Memorial Day at the cemetery to pay their respects to departed friends and family members. In those days, many of the departed had served and died in World War II. At the entrance of the cemetery, small American flags were sold so that people could place a flag on the grave along with the flowers.
These days, many people have lost the meaning of Memorial Day, thinking instead of weekend vacations or family barbecues. However, Memorial Day is a good time to talk to gifted kids about honoring service men and women. The heightened sensitivity of some gifted children can make it difficult for them to understand the sacrifice others have made and can make them feel that those service men and women died in vain.
Other gifted children may see the deaths of our military personnel a different way. Gifted children tend to have a strong sense of honor and understand how these service men and women would be willing to fight and die for a cause like freedom.
Regardless of how someone feels about war, honoring those who choose to serve in the military and have died in service is a sign of respect for their dedication and their sacrifice. To honor them on this day that often feels more celebratory than somber, pause with your children for one minute starting at 3 p.m. your time. It's not the same as the physical unity people once shared on Memorial Days in the past, but gifted children can certainly appreciate the spiritual unity.
If you would like to help your child understand the meaning of Memorial Day, consider reading some children's books about Memorial Day with your child.
Biographers Day
May 16th is Biographers Day. May 16th is the anniversary of the meeting of James Boswell and Samuel Johnson in London in 1763. If you don't know, Boswell wrote a biography of Johnson (Life of Samuel Johnson) that is considered the model for biographies.
So May 16th is a perfect day to encourage your child to write a biography. It can be a biography of a favorite scientist, artist, musician, or historical character. It could also be a biography of a favorite family member. Once your child has someone in mind for the subject of a biography, he can follow a few steps on how to write a biography.
If your child isn't quite ready to write a biography, then encourage her to read one!
Thanking Teachers
You can also make a gift. The love and thought that goes into a homemade gift makes it special - and one of a kind. Since your child can participate in the gift making, the gift is even more special for the teacher. Not sure what you can make? Just check out these ideas for crafty gifts.
Books and Gifts for Mother's Day
Sometimes he would pick dandelions and put them in a glass of water for me. Sometimes he would read a story to me. And sometimes he would draw a picture. He was always so proud and pleased that he could show me in some way that he loved me.
Give your child the opportunity to show you some love this Mother's Day. Cuddle up together and read some books about mothers. Or give your child some ideas for creative homemade gifts. Whatever you do, enjoy the day!