Parent Connections: As parents, we cannot control what
happens on the playground. We cannot force kindness and friendship at school.
Parents can only have direct input when it comes to relationships in the family
and in the home. Care givers can make homes a place of safety and love. If our
gifted children have deep roots and a strong foundation with family members,
then our children will not be left with feelings of isolation. We must show our
gifted children that they are unique and they are loved.
We all like to receive love in different ways. Coming home
to a clean kitchen may show that your husband loves you. Your mom may like to
talk about how much fun you had as a child while growing up in her home. Your
brother may do flips when given tickets to a football game. How does your child
most like to receive love? Gary Chapman, author of multiple books describing
the 5 Love Languages, suggests that in order for your child to truly feel
accepted and loved, you must speak to the child’s primary love language.
Using the links and documents below, discover how you can
best show love to your gifted child. You must create a healthy relationship
now, so that when your gifted child needs to talk about his feelings of
isolation, perfectionism, anxiety, or depression, you are his trusted
listener.
Are you ever concerned about your gifted child’s verbal and
non-verbal communitcation skills in social settings? Tonight Katherine Varga, a
certified Speech Languange Pathologist, shared strategies that can help
strengthen your child’s “SQ” (Social Quotient). Kathy Varga, as a member of the
2012 GPS Gifted Education Vision Committee, advocated for the social
developmental needs of the gifted child. You can view her presentation at the
link above.
