QuickTips Index

Inexpensive Fun for Gifted Children
When we are on a tight budget, it can be hard to find interesting and challenging activities for our gifted children. However, with a little thought and sometimes just a little planning, we can find plenty of activities. Here are just a few suggestions.

Keeping Gifted Toddlers and Preschoolers Stimulated at Home
Parents of gifted toddlers and preschoolers worry that their children may be bored and wonder what they should do about it. The fact is that gifted toddlers are usually very easy to keep challenged, stimulated, and always learning.

Helping Your Teen Make the Right College Choice
When students are juniors in high school, it is time for them to begin their college search. It is not unusual for some gifted teens to know already which colleges they want to attend and these teens may already have a plan for being admitted to those colleges. What about those gifted teens who aren't sure where they want to go or what they want to do?

Quick Test for Giftedness
You don't know what to make of your child. His behavior is puzzling and frustrating. Sometimes you wonder if he has ADHD, ODD, OCD, sensory integration disorder, or some other disorder or syndrome. You wonder if he has a learning disability. Or maybe, you think, he is lazy and irresponsible. Maybe, however, your child is gifted.

Premature Birth and Giftedness
Evaluating the development of a preemie who is also a gifted child can be difficult. For one thing, even though signs of giftedness can be seen in infants, those signs will probably not appear until quite some time after the baby's birth. In addition, because preemies often experience developmental delays, the signs can be even harder to spot.

What is the Meaning of an IQ Test Score?
Your child takes an IQ test. You get the scores back. What do they mean? A child's IQ score, or Intelligence Quotient, provides an indication of his or her reasoning ability. The Intelligence Quotient is basically a person's mental age divided by his or her chronological age.

Giving Kids an Emotional and Mental Break
Sometimes the stress of going to school every day gets to be too much for gifted kids. They want to learn and can get frustrated and even depressed when they aren't able to do that in school. If you notice your child suffering from school, consider a Mental Health Day.

How to Get Your Gifted Child's Attention
Gifted kids often seem to be in their own little worlds. They can be so engrossed in an activity or thought that they seem to be unaware of the world around them. If this sounds like your child, you are no doubt frequently frustrated. However, there are some tricks you can use to help your child pay attention and keep you from getting frustrated.

How (Not) to Argue with Gifted Children
Gifted children, especially the verbally gifted ones, are often compared to lawyers: they argue as if they are in court. The case they are usually arguing is their own. They argue about rules, about punishment, discipline, bedtime, dinner. Basically, they'll argue about nearly anything they don't like or they want to avoid. Although they can make excellent arguments, it's important for parents to make sure they remain in charge.

Benefits of Video Games for Gifted Children
Are video games bad for children? Not necessarily. In fact, video games can have some definite benefits. Gifted children often find game play intellectually stimulating and educational.

Help Your Gifted Child Calm Intense Fears
Gifted children may have wonderfully vivid imaginations, but those vivid imaginations can lead to some pretty intense fears. What can be done to calm those fears?

What Should You Tell the Teacher About Your Gifted Child?
When summer winds down and school is about to start, parents of gifted children begin to wonder whether they should say anything to the teacher about their child's abilities or wait and see if the teacher recognizes the abilities on his or her own. What's the best approach?

Creating Gifted Children - Nature or Nurture?
Many people believe that it is possible to create a gifted child by providing the right instruction and nurturing. Is it really possible to create a gifted child? Or are gifted children simply born that way?

Tips to Help Your Gifted Child Fall Asleep
A commonly noted characteristic of gifted children is their need for less sleep than other children. What is not so commonly noted, but commonly occurs, is the difficulty many gifted children have getting to sleep.

Exploring Unconventional Occupations with Your Teen
Gifted teens are often seen as misfits, kids who are different, who march to the beat of a different drummer. So why should we try to force them into restrictive occupations; that is, occupations that require conformity? Instead, parents might want to help their gifted teens explore unconventional occupations.

Dealing with Never-Ending Questions
Why? Why? Why? Why? Trying to answer the never-ending questions a gifted child asks can be exhausting and frustrating. Fortunately, there are some strategies that can help.

Gardening with Gifted Children
The summer months offer numerous opportunities for gifted children to explore the natural world. One way to explore nature is by growing a garden.

When Does Nurturing a Gifted Child Become Pushing?
Parents are rightfully proud of their child's abilities and talents. They are also right to provide opportunities that will nurture those abilities and talents. But when does nurturing become pushing?

Activites for Gifted Children During the Holidays
Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hannukah, it's always fun to bake cookies or engage in other holiday activities with your children. Here are some great ways for you to spend time during the holiday season with your children. If you're busy, you can find some activities, like coloring or online games, for your children to do on their own.

Gifted Children and Lack of Attention
A common myth of gifted children is that they are eager and attentive students. The truth is that they are often inattentive and appear to be distracted.

Space Camp - An Ideal Program for Gifted Children Who Love Outer Space
The universe is a fascinating topic for many gifted children. These children learning about our solar system as well as the Milky Way and other galaxies. They may be intrigued by the constellations and love to gaze at the stars. Space Camp is an ideal place for children who love outer space and children as young as seven can attend.

Why Gifted Children are Bossy and What to Do About It
No child is perfect and most parents know their child is no exception. One fairly common fault of gifted children is bossiness. This fault can be rather puzzling to parents when it exists in a child who is otherwise sensitive to the needs of others.

Helping Gifted Children Learn They Can Make a Difference
Many gifted children are exceptionally sensitive. They are sensitive to the way they are treated, but also to the way others are treated. Their heightened sensitivity can lead to existential despression. They may feel overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. Volunteering to help others is a good way for them to see that even one person can make a difference.

Signs of Giftedness in Infants
Can infants show signs of being gifted? What are those signs?

Stop a Fussy Gifted Baby From Fussing
Even in infancy gifted children need mental stimulation. It's not always hard to provide it.