Parent Information and Things to Do

Parents are their children's first teacher. Children depend on their parents to provide and foster physical, emotional and social development. To assist your children in performing well in school, here are nine tips or ideas to enrich the home learning environment:

1. Read to/with your children every day.
Research shows that children who are read to/with on a daily basis have improved academic performances over those children who are not read to/with daily. Children learn to read by reading, and the best way to develop the skills of reading is to learn to love the richness and beauty in the written language.
Read more about it: Some of My Best Friends are Books Halsted, J.W. Gifted Psychology Press, Inc.
www.giftedbooks.com

2. Establish a daily family routine.
Provide time, space, quiet and materials for your child's studying, reading and hobbies. Assign chores and household tasks. Encourage good health habits (rest, activity, regular meals, health care). Eat at least one meal together as a family. Be firm about bedtimes.
Read more about it: Guiding the Gifted Child, A practical source for parents and teachers Webb, J.T., Meckstroth, E.A. & Tolan, S.S. Gifted Psychology Press, Inc.
www.giftedbooks.com

3. Model the ability to laugh at your failures and manage your own stress.
Children, especially gifted children, learn very rapidly about stress. The amount of stress experienced by a child is dependent upon their individual temperaments. Learning stress reduction techniques (such as breathing through the stress, laughing at mistakes) is crucial for children.
Read more about it: Fighting Invisible Tigers; A stress management guide for teens, Hipp, E. Free Spirit Publishing.
www.freespirit.com

4. Provide your children with "new" experiences.
Go to an art museum (to learn the appreciation of various forms of art), go to the library (to experience the love of literature), a concert (to hear the beauty of music-from different cultural groups), local or community events (to develop a sense of belonging and citizenship), volunteer at a nursing home or an animal shelter (to develop a deeper sense of caring and empathy toward others), take a walk in the park or around your neighborhood (to see the beauty in everyday life). Children who come to school from an enriched background tend to perform better in school, because they have a larger store of experiences to draw upon. The classroom is a place for children to sharpen their citizenship and interpersonal skills. Providing your child with new experiences will give them an outstanding foundation.
Read more about it: The Kid's Guide to Service Projects, Lewis, B.A. Free Spirit Publishing.
www.freespirit.com

5. Talk to your children about your/their feelings.
Communication is essential to emotional development. Schools place intense effort on achievement in acquiring facts and knowledge, and little effort on developing an affective side. Emotional development has a major effect on achievement. Gifted children tend to have a heighten awareness and sensitivity toward and their own and others' feelings. Providing an environment where a child feels safe to express their feelings is extremely important to positive emotional development.
Read more about it: Guiding the Gifted Child, A practical source for parents and teachers Webb, J.T., Meckstroth, E.A. & Tolan, S.S. Gifted Psychology Press, Inc.
www.giftedbooks.com

6. Get involved with activities and programs outside of school and home.
Clubs, groups, and other organizations provide a time to meet others with similar and differing interests. Activities and organization outside of school and home will help you and your child broaden horizons, appreciate activities that are ungraded or nonjudgmental. and connect with interesting people. Clubs also provide the opportunity for your child to develop leadership skills.
Read more about it: You Know Your Child is Gifted When… Galbraith, J. Free Spirit Publishing.
www.freespirit.com

7. Teach your child organizational and time management skills.
Gifted children often do not have good organizational and time management skills. Assist your child in setting goals, handling papers only once, making and prioritizing to-do lists, and not procrastinating. Developing these skills will provide your child with lifelong benefits.
Read more about it: The Gifted Kids' Survival Guide; A teen handbook Galbraith, J. & Delisle, J. Free Spirit Publishing.
www.freespirit.com

8. Work with your child's school to create the best possible learning environment.
Gifted kids have different learning needs. Parents need to be active, informed supporters of their children's education. Help your child build their own abilities to seek out enhanced opportunities, by asking teachers for greater challenges. Also, volunteer your time and/or talents to the school community. Being involved will send the message that you care about a quality educational experience for your child.
Read more about it: The School-Savvy Parent; 365 insider tips to help you help your child, Clark, R. & Hawkins, D. Free Spirit Publishing.
www.freespirit.com

9. Get to know, understand and appreciate your child's learning style.
Individual differences in learning have intrigued educators for centuries. Every child is unique. Knowing, understanding and appreciating your child's particular personality traits will help you and the schools work toward providing them a better educational experience.
Read more about it: Marching to Different Drummers, Guild, P.B. & Garger, S. Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.
www.ascd.org