It is helpful for parents to offer to assist their child's teacher by making or locating supplemental materials, helping in the classroom or library, offering expertise to small groups of students, or finding others who can provide other enrichment experiences. Effective parents stay involved in their children's education and informed about gifted education in general. When a teacher makes a special effort to understand or assist a gifted child, a note to the teacher or to the principal is generally appreciated. Gifted children need parents who are responsive and flexible, who will go to bat for them when they are too young to do so for themselves. It is painful for parents to watch their children feeling out of sync with others, but it is unwise to emphasize too greatly the importance of fitting in.
Children get enough of that message in the outside world.
At home, children need to know that their uniqueness is cherished and that they are appreciated as persons just for being themselves. Early admission and grade advance- ment for young gifted learners. The view from within. Advice to parents in search of the perfect program. The opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the positions of policies of OERI or the Department of Education.