Unique Challenges Addressed When Parenting Gifted Children
Parenting Gifted Children. On the face of it, one might think that it’s no big deal parenting gifted children since they probably ‘know all the answers’ to the questions being asked of students at their grade level. But you might want to re-think that perception once you find out the ‘real truth’ about what parenting Gifted Children is all about.
GrantWatch wants to be part of this effort to increase understanding regarding issues involved with parenting Gifted Children. As a result, GrantWatch has provided a list of grants to help communities address these issues. Additionally, GrantWatch offers a list of over 4,000 grants in its Education grants list category. Also included in this list are both national and international grant listings.
How to Better Understand Gifted Children
- The first major public effort to better identify and understand the issues involved with parenting Gifted Children was spearheaded in 2007 by the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC).
- The NAGC, in conjunction with Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted, intensified this effort to more effectively address these issues.
- The movement to address the issues involved with parenting Gifted Children was needed to ‘answer the call’ from parents and school staff. It was clear that since Gifted Children are able to ‘perform at higher levels compared with others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains,’ there were unique challenges when seeking to maximize the learning environment for (these) Gifted Children within both school and societal settings. (nationaltoday.com, “Parenting Gifted Children“)
Gifted Children: A Working Definition
Gifted children federal definition: “Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.”
The NAGC offers its own perspective: “Students with gifts and talents perform – or have the capability to perform – at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains. They require modification(s) to their educational experience(s) to learn and realize their potential.”
All children need access to the right learning opportunities, support, and guidance in order to realize their full potential. Furthermore, it is possible for gifted children to have learning disorders that necessitate specialized intervention. Therefore, the role of parents in helping gifted children overcome obstacles and harness their potential is one that cannot be overemphasized. Promoting well-rounded development and the pursuit of self-actualization for these children is crucial. (nationaltoday.com, “Parenting Gifted Children“)
Going further, “Gifted students come from diverse backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, or economic grouping.”
5 Little Known Facts About Gifted Children
- Giftedness is inherent. Believed to be an inherent trait that a person possesses from birth.
- Nurturing is necessary. To succeed, their gifts must be nurtured and harnessed.
- Gifted children need help too. They can also have disabilities or mental health diagnoses.
- Gifted children can feel lonely. Due to their level of advancement, it is possible to feel isolated.
- Giftedness is not only academic. Part of who they are; not restricted to academic performance. (nationaltoday.com, “Parenting Gifted Children“)
How to Help With Parenting Gifted Children
- Support gifted children. Have you ever noticed a child performing exceptionally well in a certain area? Do whatever you can to support that child’s progress, even if you’re not the parent.
- Celebrate parents. Raising a gifted child is an uphill but gratifying task. Celebrate and recognize these unsung heroes. They deserve all the accolades.
- Spread the word. Spread the word about how to help the effort needed to parent Gifted Children. Share this article on social media, using #giftedchildren. (nationaltoday.com, “Parenting Gifted Children“)
Below is a current list of grants for projects and programs for Gifted Children and for other advanced courses.
Gifted Children and Other Advanced Education Grants and Awards
- Grants to eligible Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to develop courses for further teacher-training and professional-development. The goal of this professional development of teachers is to enhance the education of gifted students. Funding will be for necessary materials and supplies, along with the cost of hiring a professor and master teacher. Funding will also be for any additional costs to provide these courses.
- There is a grant to eligible school districts to enhance gifted-education programs. Funding is for the hiring of a consultant to manage gifted-student education programs. This part-time consultant will organize professional development. Responsibilities will include providing resources to educators.
- In addition, awards to eligible individuals to recognize exceptional-contributions to gifted-education. Awards are to honor individuals from multiple groups, including administrators, staff, community members, students, and parents. The goal of the program is to acknowledge individuals who have made a difference in the life of a gifted student or a gifted student community education program.
- Grants up to $5,000 to eligible K-12 schools and community colleges for programs to enhance existing arts curricula in educational institutions. Funding is to promote artistic excellence through special arts events and projects, arts-related field trips, and artistic residencies. Funded projects must have an open and accessible-to-the-public component. Requests will be from public and private non-parochial schools.
- There are grants of $750 and in-kind support to student teams to participate in a robotics competition. Teams are required to register for the event prior to receiving a grant. Funding supports newly formed teams by offsetting the cost of competition registration and providing products for the competition. Only teams with a genuine need should apply.
Additional Gifted Children and Other Advanced Education Grants
- Also, grants of $250 to educators for classroom projects and lessons related to aviation. Eligible applicants are K-12 private, charter, and public school teachers, homeschooling cooperatives, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) coordinators. Grant funds will be for costs of transportation, field trips, and materials, or to fund another type of project with an aviation or aerospace theme.
- Grants to eligible nonprofits, government agencies, schools, and libraries for programs to advance K-12 STEM-education. Applicants must contact the funding source to obtain an invitation code to apply. Applications will be for both new and existing programs. The Fund supports high-quality educational programming to access knowledge and information and empower a focus on STEM education. Priority is for programs taking place during the school day. A secondary priority includes after school and summer programs, technical training programs, and academic programs to enrich or supplement school programs.
- There are grants of up to $6,000 to nonprofits to educate youth. Funding is to promote healthy living and sustainability through projects with diverse groups and organizations nationwide. The Foundation seeks to brighten the lives of a diverse range of people in need of a helping hand through projects that enrich groups and organizations across America.
- In addition, grants to eligible IHEs and research institutions for collaborative scientific research between mentors and high school teachers. The goal is to help teachers bring research lab knowledge directly into the classroom to promote hands-on science education. This will be accomplished by engaging secondary science teachers in authentic and innovative university lab or other research institution experience. They will then be more effective in guiding their students through the processes of science. This will result in creating new knowledge, enabling teachers (Partners) and academic scientists (Mentors) to collaborate in the advancement of science.
- Awards to PreK-12 teachers to recognize outstanding contributions to the quality of public education. Nominations are invited on behalf of exceptional teachers who inspire students to learn, play an active role in their community and school, and have the admiration and respect of students, colleagues, and parents.
The Bottom Line
To conclude, we hope you will now be prepared to help with the effort to help your schools – and your community – be better able to help with parenting Gifted Children.
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