ABCs of Gifted

If your child has recently been identified as gifted, or if your child is developmentally advanced compared to peers, you undoubtedly have a list of questions. Fortunately there is a tremendous amount of available information about raising gifted children. The problem, however, is that not all of it will be applicable to your situation, and few parents have the time to sort through thousands of resources.

We're confident that the ABCs of Gifted, the entire parent section, and other areas within the NAGC Web site will help you discover information about gifted education that is meaningful to you and your child and will put you on the right road to being an advocate for your child. A resource developed by parents to help you successfully nurture and educate your gifted child is the Mile Marker Series. For more information, please click here. 

It is our intent to help you effectively advocate not only for your child, but also ultimately for all gifted children across the nation. 

Please consider becoming an NAGC Parent Associate Member and add to our collective voice as we work to improve options for gifted children.

Where do I start?

• Becoming a good consumer of information
• Facts and figures/Gifted education in the U.S.
• What is giftedness?
• Is my child gifted?
• Informal assessments and checklists
• Formal testing and assessments
• Finding professionals
• Frequently asked questions

Achievement

All parents watch their children grow, study the world around them, and try new things. For parents of gifted children, this process is intense: a roller coaster ride of curiosity, experimentation, and high energy. These parents are keenly aware of the joy in learning. Yet, keeping the light in their child's eyes, encouraging his/her interests, and providing opportunities to work through tough learning situations, while also making sure his/her educational foundation is solid, is a mighty task.

• Keeping your child challenged
• Organization skills
• Effort and discipline

• Underachievement 
• Twice Exceptional
• Gifted and ADD/ADHD
• Gifted and dyslexic
• Gifted and Autism or Asperger Syndrome
• Dysgraphia

Developmental Stages

Within the current educational system, the identification of, and programming for, gifted children predominately takes place during the primary and elementary school years. Because of this, you will find that many of the resources listed throughout the parent section of our Web site are geared for this age group. There are, however, important considerations and helpful resources related to talent development throughout the life span.

We've pulled together information and resources on the three developmental stages below. Click on the one you'd like to find out more about.

• Preschool and primary years
• Adolescence 
• Adult 

>Visit the NAGC Early Childwood Network

>Visit the NAGC Middle Grades Network

Social and Emotional Issues

Parents along with other adults in gifted children's lives have a role in helping create a strong framework for social and emotional health. You can help your child by becoming informed about possible issues that affect emotional balance. This phrase, from a Parenting for High Potential article by Henry Nicols and Susan Baum, Ph.D., says a lot: "Just because I'm getting A's doesn't mean I'm okay."

• About social and emotional issues (An Overview)
• Heightened sensitivities
• Uneven development
• Peer relationships/Social skills/Bullies
• Gender issues
• Perfectionism 
• Depression 
• The socially responsible gifted child
• Role models in books and movies (bibliotherapy)
• Counseling 

>Visit the NAGC Counseling & Guidance Network

Educational Opportunities and Regulations

• Advocating in your state
• Common Core Standards & gifted children
• Finding a school
• Starting and Sustaining a Parent Group to Support Gifted Children

Check out the NAGC Resource Directory 

Now in the NAGC Bookstore 

Parenting Gifted Children: The Authoritative Guide From the National Association for Gifted Children 

On the Social and Emotional Lives of Gifted Children