Books on Parenting Gifted Kids

Social/Emotional Needs of Gifted Kids

Twice Exceptional Children

Problems of Gifted Kids

Gifted Education

Books for Teachers

Parenting Support

Parents of gifted children often feel isoloated because other parents don't understand the problems involved in parenting gifted children.

Parents of gifted children can find help and support in a number of ways:

Gifted Forum
Gifted Associations
Email Listservs

Books on Problems Gifted Children Have

Parents, educators, as well as many others mistakenly believe that because a child is gifted, life will run smoothly for that child.  However, gifted children can encounter problems at home as well as at school.

See Larger Image Dreamers, Discoverers & Dynamos: How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School (Formerly Titled 'The Edison Trait') by: Lucy Jo Palladino List Price: $14.95 Amazon.com's Price: $10.17 You Save: $4.78 (32%) Prices subject to change. Editorial Review: Product Description: Does your imaginative, computer-proficient daughter tune out in the classroom? Does your spirited son become headstrong and aggressive when faced with the simplest decisions? Does your bold, energetic child have trouble focusing on basic tasks? Millions of children--one in five--have what psychologist Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D., calls the Edison trait: dazzling intelligence, an active imagination, a free-spirited approach to life, and the ability to drive everyone around them crazy. Named after Thomas Edison--who flunked out of school only to harness his talents and give the world some of its finest inventions--the Edison trait is on the rise in our younger generation. The heart of the issue is that they think divergently--they overflow with many ideas--while schools, organized activities, and routines of daily living reward convergent thinking, which focuses on one idea at a time. Drawing on examples from more than two decades of private practice, Dr. Palladino helps us cope with this challenging aspect of our child's intellect and personality, explaining in clear terms: - The three Edison-trait personality types: dreamers, discoverers, and dynamos - The eight steps to understanding, reaching, and teaching your Edison-trait child - The connection between the Edison trait and A.D.D. Amazon.com Review: Psychologist Lucy Jo Palladino claims that 20 percent of children have what she calls the Edison trait: "dazzling intelligence, an active imagination, a free-spirited approach to life, and the ability to drive everyone around them crazy." She named the trait after Thomas Edison, who flunked out of school despite his obvious brilliance. Palladino says that Edison-trait children think divergently, while the routines and structure of schools are more geared toward convergent thinking, or focusing on one idea at a time. The incompatible school environment, she says, usually leads divergent-thinking children to act out, receive poor grades, and often be labeled as strong-willed and disruptive. These symptoms may sound similar to those of ADD, but Palladino says that's an overused term often mistakenly applied to Edison-trait children. "In most cases," she says, "ADD behavior patterns are comparable to but more extreme than the typical patterns of an Edison-trait child who does not have ADD." A diagnosis of ADD does not take into consideration factors such as "intelligence, perceptiveness, sensitivity, creativity, and wit." With many references to scientific studies, Palladino helps you decide whether your child is one of the three types of Edison-trait children: dreamer, discoverer, or dynamo. She also gives pointed, practical advice regarding such controversial topics as diet, neurofeedback treatment, and psychological testing. For frustrated parents and educators, Dreamers, Discoverers, and Dynamos will be a rich source of both help and hope. See Larger Image Smart Kids with School Problems: Things to Know and Ways to Help (Plume) by: Priscilla L. Vail List Price: $15.00 Amazon.com's Price: $10.20 You Save: $4.80 (32%) Prices subject to change. Editorial Review: Product Description: For the frustrated parents of "Conundrum Kids," bright children whose overall academic performance does not match their intellectual capabilities. Concise and authoritative, this much-needed guide is a welcome resource for parents, and teachers. See Larger Image When Gifted Students Underachieve: What You Can Do About It (The Pracitcal Strategies Series in Gifted Education) (The Pracitcal Strategies Series in Gifted Education) by: Sylvia Rrimm Amazon.com's Price: $12.95 Prices subject to change. Editorial Review: Product Description: Underachievement in gifted students has long puzzled teachers, parents, and students themselves. For gifted underachievers to change their habits and begin to succeed in school, educators must take action to identify, challenge, and motivate these kids. Sylvia Rimm, one of the leading experts in the underachievement of gifted students, looks at the various causes of underachievement, discusses the characteristics of gifted underachievers, and provides educators with solid advice on combating underachievement in this population. This guide offers guidance for understanding the pressures students face in school and at home, motivating students for success, adjusting curriculum to engage these students, improving the self-concept of students, and working with parents to reverse the patterns of underperformance. This book gives teachers tips for grouping gifted students in and out of the classroom and provides a menu of options for serving gifted students. This is one of the books in Prufrock Press’ popular Practical Strategies Series in Gifted Education. This series offers a unique collection of tightly focused books that provide a concise, practical introduction to important topics concerning the education of gifted children. The guides offer a perfect beginner's introduction to key information about gifted and talented education. See Larger Image Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades: And What You Can Do About It by: Sylvia B. Rimm List Price: $15.00 Price: $10.44 You Save: $4.56 (30%) Prices subject to change. Editorial Review: Product Description: Millions of gifted children with average, above-average, or even gifted abilities--including those from homes where education is valued--simply do not perform up to their capabilities. This is what Dr. Sylvia Rimm terms underachievement syndrome. Now Dr. Rimm offers desperately needed help for parents of underachieving children. Drawing on both clinical research and years of experience counseling families, she has developed a "Trifocal Model" to help parents and teachers work together to get students back on track. It is effective for both average and gifted students, from preschool through college. Dr. Rimm spells out a practical, six-step program that really works. If you are the parent or teacher of an underachiever, don't give up--get this book.