The short answer is: Yes, sort of. The long answer is that without understanding the source of the sensory issues as a brain difference instead of a brain disorder, you will not make the gifted child’s functioning better, and you could contribute to lowered self-confidence and performance. Gifted individuals process their world slightly differently than…… Continue reading Can You Successfully Treat Sensory Issues in Gifted Kids?
Category: gifted children
When Your Child’s Defiance is Coming From Being Neurologically Disorganized
Over a few decades of being a homecare OTR, I have seen a lot of different reactions from parents. And received a lot of different requests. The most honest ones are from parents who think their child is constantly defying them. They would like some pointers so they can stop wishing they were on a…… Continue reading When Your Child’s Defiance is Coming From Being Neurologically Disorganized
How to Handle Your Family’s Reactions to Your Gifted Kid’s Comments
We already know that it is common for a gifted child to challenge their teacher’s patience Why Gifted Children Aren’t Their Teacher’s Favorite Students…. . But what about their extended family? Do they take everything that comes out of a gifted child’s mouth in stride? Nope. The same reasons that teachers find gifted students less-than-adorable…… Continue reading How to Handle Your Family’s Reactions to Your Gifted Kid’s Comments
How To Help Your Gifted Child Handle Frustration
Does your gifted child explode over things that seem minor? Will your child collapse if they get one wrong answer? Does it seem that perfectionism and self-criticism rule their day? Well, none of this is unusual for gifted people. Gifted kids aren’t always happy little geniuses, proofing theorems and inventing new ways to save humanity.…… Continue reading How To Help Your Gifted Child Handle Frustration
Is Your Child Bright or Gifted? Spot the Differences
One of my posts, Why Gifted Children Aren’t Their Teacher’s Favorite Students…. gets a lot of interest. Parents are surprised that having a gifted child doesn’t reap enthusiasm from the average educator. The general characteristics of a gifted person (intensity, drive, and complexity) can be downright disruptive in a general classroom. It often isn’t any easier…… Continue reading Is Your Child Bright or Gifted? Spot the Differences
Remote Learning Strategies for Special Needs Students
Remote learning isn’t easy. Helping a special needs student navigate it isn’t easy either. Here are some strategies to improve outcomes and reduce everyone’s stress about it: If your child’s OT has created a sensory diet for them, this is the time to use it. A sensory diet is a series of activities and actions…… Continue reading Remote Learning Strategies for Special Needs Students
Gifted Child? Try “How Does Your Engine Run” For Sensory Processing
I love working with gifted children. OTs get referrals to work with gifted kids, whether or not they have been tested by a psychologist. Some have motor delays amplified by the asynchronous development, but many are sloppy at handwriting because their motor skill cannot keep up with their language skill. Some are sensory avoiders or…… Continue reading Gifted Child? Try “How Does Your Engine Run” For Sensory Processing
Does Your Gifted Child Interrupt You Constantly? Respond This Way For Better Results
Gifted kids of all ages like to ask questions. Most of the time, they have an intensity that means they frequently interrupt people. It is one reason why they like books and online media. They can turn the page, scroll fast, and toggle back and forth without waiting for you! As understandable as this behavior…… Continue reading Does Your Gifted Child Interrupt You Constantly? Respond This Way For Better Results
Why Gifted Children Aren’t Their Teacher’s Favorite Students
Parents of bright children often want to have their child in programs for the gifted and talented. Parents of gifted children want their child to make more friends and spend less time in the principle’s office. Why? Gifted children of any age are rarely the teacher’s pet. Here are a few reasons: Bright kids are…… Continue reading Why Gifted Children Aren’t Their Teacher’s Favorite Students
How an Occupational Therapist Can Help The Siblings of Special Needs Children
The parent of one of my clients recently returned from a conference related to her youngest child’s genetic disorder, and she told me that the presentation on helping the siblings of special needs kids really only offered one niblet of advice: “Try to give each sibling 10 minutes a day of “just us” time.”…… Continue reading How an Occupational Therapist Can Help The Siblings of Special Needs Children
Sensitive Child? Be Careful How You Deliver Praise
Sensitive kids need encouragement as much as the next child, but they can have a paradoxical reaction when you praise them. What do I mean? You compliment your child by saying “GREAT job! I knew you could do it!”, and they react by becoming angry or even arguing with you. They may even try to…… Continue reading Sensitive Child? Be Careful How You Deliver Praise
Raising a Gifted Child? Read “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children” For Successful Strategies To Navigate the Waters
Raising a gifted child isn’t always rainbows and first place ribbons. Especially in the early years, the intensity, drive and complexity that gifted children bring to the table can come out looking like bossiness, perfectionism and extreme sensitivity How To Spot A Gifted Child In Your Preschool Class (Or Your Living Room!). Many books try…… Continue reading Raising a Gifted Child? Read “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children” For Successful Strategies To Navigate the Waters
Is Your Kid With ADHD Also Gifted, or is Your Team Missing Their Giftedness?
Are you hearing that your child is a management problem at school, but is a joy at home? Do you see them thrive when your older child’s friends include them in play? Does your child sustain their attention and manage their behavior well when the class goes on field trips or has speakers come in,…… Continue reading Is Your Kid With ADHD Also Gifted, or is Your Team Missing Their Giftedness?
What Psychologists Just Don’t Get About Raising Gifted Toddlers
I can’t take it any longer. If I hear one more professional on YouTube say that the difficulties begin when your child enters school, I am gonna cry. Real tears. For those younger kids. And their parents. CNN just ran a story in which a psychologist suggested not telling kids that they are “that special”. To…… Continue reading What Psychologists Just Don’t Get About Raising Gifted Toddlers
How To Spot A Gifted Child In Your Preschool Class (Or Your Living Room!)
Do you have a gifted kid? Do you teach one? You might not be able to tell the difference between a bright child and a gifted child by the number of letters they know, or the facts about dinosaurs they can recall. Here are some distinct signs that your child, student or therapy client is…… Continue reading How To Spot A Gifted Child In Your Preschool Class (Or Your Living Room!)
Is Your Gifted Child A Troublemaker?
Gifted and talented children are frequently leaders in their schools and communities. They often have advanced language skills and display an early and intense sense of humor. Gifted children can be the funny, outgoing, energetic kids who have deep empathy and abundant warmth. Wondering if your young child might be gifted? Read How To Spot A…… Continue reading Is Your Gifted Child A Troublemaker?
How To Talk So Your Gifted Child Will Listen
I have written a few posts about identifying giftedness in very young children ( Your Bossy Baby or Toddler May Be Gifted. Really. Here Are The Signs You Are Missing! , How To Help Your Gifted Child Handle Frustration and How To Spot A Gifted Child In Your Preschool Class (Or Your Living Room!) ) but I want…… Continue reading How To Talk So Your Gifted Child Will Listen
Should You Tell Your Gifted Child About Their Giftedness?
Your child is gifted. Perhaps a school psychologist has formally tested your child, or you have engaged private testing that indicated advanced skills. Or perhaps you watch your child on the ball field or in school plays. She just blows her peers away. Everyone knows that there is something very special about your child’s…… Continue reading Should You Tell Your Gifted Child About Their Giftedness?
Why Gifted Preschoolers Should Be Taught Handwriting Early (And With The Best Strategies!)
Gifted children are often identified by their asynchronous development. The three year-old that can read the names on cereal boxes, the two year-old that can play a song on the piano after hearing it once at music class, the four year-old that can complete his sister’s math homework…from second grade! These children have one or…… Continue reading Why Gifted Preschoolers Should Be Taught Handwriting Early (And With The Best Strategies!)
Holidays Hints For Sensitive Kids
The stores are full, your inbox is too, and you are wondering how to handle your sensitive child’s reactions to family and school events. You are not alone. Everyone knows about the “holiday blues”, where our dreams and expectations come up against real life: awkward family relationships, conflicting demands on our time and finances, etc.…… Continue reading Holidays Hints For Sensitive Kids