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S4.9.8 Parenting for High Potential: Essential Caregiving Strategies for Nurturing the Whole Gifted Child
Effective parenting and caregiving for gifted and talented children far exceeds meeting just their academic needs. Gifted individuals reach their full potential when there is an understanding and nurturing of the whole gifted child; their emotional, social, physical, and academic identities. However, guiding and supporting all these needs is a tall order. Parents, who naturally want the best for their children, often feel ill-equipped, perplexed, lonely, frustrated, and at a loss for how to meet all these complex needs to ensure their child develops to his or her fullest potential.
With a focus on theoretical models, practical strategies, resources, tips, and proven ideas that work for the whole gifted child, this panel offers parents, educators and counselors the wisdom of four leading professionals in the U.S. field of gifted education. Together, they bring more than a century of experience in working with gifted children in their roles as, first and foremost, parents and grandparents of gifted children, and seasoned experts within their respective domains in the field of gifted education. Using the psychological constructs and theoretical models of Gagne and Sayler as foundational elements, the panel will share practical, implementable, low-cost, yet essential practices for guiding gifted children, first internally, and then, externally for success in the home, classroom, and community.
In addition to their individual personal and professional expertise, these panelists also work in harmony to raise the voices of gifted children, parents, and families through their work with the National Association of Gifted Children. Each brings a different role or perspective to the team, as parent representative on the NAGC national board of directors, co-chairs of parent advisory committees, and editor of the award-winning Parenting for High Potential magazine.
Topics in this presentation include a discussion of Sayler’s model of Gifted and Thriving and how it serves as one framework for research and the holistic development of the gifted individual; the importance of friendship and character development; practical approaches and strategies related to the parenting process; strategies to enhance relationships and the spiritual dimension of self and important resources; and strategies beyond the classroom such as enrichment, the arts, clubs, family day gatherings, starting parent groups, and parent advocacy strategies.