In a world in which individuals are judged on the basis of performance, parents can be lured into believing that their worth is measured by their child's achievements. Parenting is not a competition. This outdated mechanistic model fails to appreciate the unrepeatable, precious uniqueness of every child and every parent. Nothing is more important…

One of the most common questions the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) receives from parents is, "How should I advocate for my child in the classroom?" Dr. Joan Smutny first tackled this topic for "Parenting for High Potential" in 2002, but her practical, step-by-step approach is still very applicable today. Some…

As the field of gifted education has grown so too have the number of organizations and resources serving gifted children. Their prevalence across the United States varies from region to region but organizations for gifted children and their families are available to those who want to be involved. The Internet has exponentially expanded the…

An educational crisis in Black male representation in gifted programs exists, requiring a new lens through which to view problems and find solutions. Though many people observe that Black males face extraordinary barriers to successful participation in gifted programs, many stand by, watching as they are overlooked for or drop out of gifted…

Experience and research repeatedly illustrate the need for and value of parent advocates--as parents know their child best. Parents need to be prepared to take a positive, proactive, and focused role with teachers and administrators in their child's school to find the best programming for their child. Academic acceleration should be considered as…

The article provides information to assist parent advocates in improving gifted education, suggesting that you should: know yourself and where you stand; know what you are facing; know the law; know who's who in the school system; and know when, where, and how to contact people in education. (JDD)

Offers guidance for parents, teachers, and other advocates for gifted education on the use of public relations to increase local, state, and national support. Topics covered include the importance of using the media, state-level strategies, targeting the audience, planning a public-relations campaign, and some possible print and non-print media…

This article provides profiles of five sets of parents of precociously developing youth of various ages. The parents explain issues they have faced and problems solved. These include advantages and disadvantages of living in an international community, use of community resources, educational placement, acceleration, and parent advocacy. (Contains…

The booklet presents information to help parents raise their gifted and/or creative preschool children. M. Sapon-Shevin and M. Shevin, in "Issues for Parents: Implications of the 'Gifted' Label," review the functions of labels, describe the educational needs of gifted children, and suggest ways in which parents can act as advocates. In "Issues for…

This article provides suggestions on becoming an advocate for change in the educational services offered to a gifted child. The article emphasizes the importance of researching the situation before meeting with teachers and administrators, understanding the legal and political issues involved, networking with other parents, and formulating a…

The guide presents six papers designed to help people become effective advocates for gifted and talented children. In "Effective Advocacy: Understanding the Process and Avoiding the Pitfalls," P. Mitchell considers such obstacles as using an adversarial rather than a persuasive approach and being impatient. She charts a procedure for more…

The mother of an extremely gifted boy relates her emotional response upon learning of his giftedness, especially her excitement at his potential and her fear that his uniqueness harbors hidden pitfalls. (JDD)

This digest offers guidelines for group advocacy efforts on behalf of gifted education. Four potential pitfalls are identified: using an adversarial rather than a persuasive approach; assuming that people in administrative and political positions are not too bright or not very knowledgeable--or both; being impatient; and ineffectively coping with…

Parents of gifted children are advised to follow a four-step plan of information gathering and advocacy when their children are not receiving an appropriate educational program. Examples of three parents following this procedure are presented, along with a checklist for program and teacher evaluation. (DB)

The mother of a gifted daughter advises parents that they can provide a rewarding educational experience for their children by searching for professionals who offer guidance and support, locating a responsive school, choosing activities that showcase the child's talent, not accepting stereotyping of the child, locating special programs, and…