There are new lovely ladies joining this wonderful forum here all the time.
I would really love to develop a Gifted Kids Support Group here, if there are families with gifted kids here on BB.
I would love to be able to share stories and strategies about raising these wonderful but sometimes tiring kids.
A research was done, which looked at if there was more stress in a family where money was tight, jobless parents, alcoholism etc... or a family with a gifted child and there was more stress in a family with gifted children.
And, i know why!
If you would like to share your stories, please do so. I would so love to learn how other parents deal with this.
TD, it has been suggested before that we have a gifted children's support thread on BB, but the idea wasn't popular. I know only too well the challenges of having a gifted child, so I can see where you are coming from. My concern though is that this is a fairly specific area, and not relevant to very many BBers. I am part of another forum which is specifically for parents of G&T kids in my state, and I find that even this is a small group with not many posts. Have you googled G&T to see what else is out there in cyberland? In the meantime, it might be interesting to see how much response this gets.
This certainly is something that is deserving of support. After a really tough year at kindy this year, we are currently in the process of moving house as it's the only way to get our DS into a suitable school for next year. It's so hard that people, even many teachers and principals, know so little about giftedness and the special needs this creates. School (and kindy) can be really tough for these kids. Supporting kids through this is tough work for parents. As is coping with their intense need for stimulation. I suspect it's also very tough on siblings.
I don't want to share too much about DS on the open forums, but perhaps we can compare notes at some stage?
Look up the NSWAGTC. They are awesome - even for out of staters. My eldest sister has a Exceptionally Gifted son and found out that the QLD Association wasnt really interested in helping her because he was "normal" otherwise. If he had had Aspergers or the like then they would have been more interested. NSW offers support for everyone. They have support groups on the borders so that those from other states can hopefully get to one.
I can understand it not being a popular idea. Not trying to upset ANYONE at all but I have discovered in some ways that non gifted parents (best way I can put it) tend to get upset at hearing about Gifted Support. The school I send my kids to have OC and I joined the P&C as the Gifted go to person, and just trying to bring up the needs of Gifted children was consistantly shot down with "What about non gifted kids. Don't they deserve that too". They also completely misread giftedness. "Well if those kids are so smart then they dont NEED any extra help, do they."
Beyond that, they have no clue how that attitude is so damaging to the kids in the playground. If their kid so much as hears them ranting about "Gifted parents thinking their kids are so damn special they need this and that when they should be smart enough to work without it" the kids in the OC get "nerded" and hassled out - causing them to stop acting smart so they fit in better.
The lack of understanding simply perpetuates the cycle leading to the need of support.
Oh I have so much more I could go on about but I shant.
I have two nephews that are very clever for their age and demonstrate advacned learning and understanding, so it would be interesting. I hope that my little man has some of what I had as a child with similar traits.
I can see though how parents can see the idea of 'gifted' children in a different light.
The term in it's self is almost perceivable as exlcusionary of the 'ordinary' kids. That can hurt a parent who sees their angel as special and made up of many unique talents. Does it mean that my child isn't 'gifted' or 'talented'? That they are somehow inferior? I appreciate the other viewpoint.
Nourishing the need for learning is important in these kids, whilst aloowing them to just grow up is vital. how we develop these kids might actually help the 'ordinary' ones.
I think it would be interesting and useful to read contributions to a thread like this.
Gifted Kids Support Group
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