PARENTING FOR HIGH POTENTIAL

Get to know NAGC‘s Parenting for High Potential at the 2012 Annual Social Emotional Needs of Gifted Conference, or meet us on our social networks for a virtual experience.

Join our Parent Outreach Specialist, Mariam Willis, for back to back sessions on Friday morning, where you’ll hear about Androgyny &  Gifted Youth, as well as Critical Listening, Relationship Building and Parenting for High Potential. Mariam will be available to speak with you throughout the conference in the exhibitors’ area, and she will have recent publications on hand, give-a-ways, information about NAGC membership and our 2012 convention, November 15-18, in Denver.

Over next few days you can look forward to previews of sessions that are especially relevant to parenting gifted children.

_________________________________________________

Androgyny and Gifted Youth

Friday, 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.

Presenters: Danae Deligeorges, MA, and Mariam Willis, MA

The concept of “psychological androgyny” is used to describe individuals with both stereotypical masculine and feminine behavioral traits. Gifted girls and boys are generally more androgynous than other children, which results in advantages and disadvantages throughout development. Characteristics innate to the gifted can complicate gender role development, creating significant challenges for caregivers and youth. This session will focus on understanding the characteristics of androgyny and ways caregivers can enhance healthy gender role development in gifted youth.

 Danae Deligeorges, MA, is a counselor and educator of gifted and talented students at the Hellenic American Academy in Deerfield, Ill. She is the founder of SAVE Gifted & Talented Individuals, an online community that supports and advocates via enjoyment of gifted & talented individuals around the world.

Mariam Willis, MA, is the Parent Outreach Specialist for the National Association for Gifted Children and a parent of highly gifted girl and a twice-exceptional boy. Over the last ten years, she has taught a variety of courses in communication and critical thinking and directed a nationally awarded debate program.

But, WHY? Critical Listening, Relationship Building, and Parenting for High Potential

Friday, 10 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

Presenter: Mariam Willis, MA

Most gifted children have strong memory skills and unending curiosity. Consequently they often are dynamic critical listeners, which is the process of listening for problems in interactions and the environment. While this can be an asset that enables sophisticated problem solving, and academic and professional success, it also can create obstacles to establishing rewarding relationships with peers and family members. This session will introduce six modes of listening and explore the modes most important to relationship building. It will provide strategies for parents to use when responding to their child’s complex and often incessant questions, as well as exercises to assist youngsters in shifting listening to better meet their needs and environment.