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Gifted Education News-Page "(A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children) is well-documented with extensive references to current research and writings. Every parent and teacher who is concerned with the education and development of gifted children should read this book and use it as a helpful resource." |
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Bobbie Collins-Perry, Duke Gifted Letter "Ever wish you had a manual for that extraordinary, perplexing child of yours? Take heart, a new book, A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children... This helpful guide concisely explains the complexities of gifted children, addresses the challenges they face, and details practical strategies for parents to support their gifted children in all aspects of their lives. "With this guidebook at the ready, parents will be able to recognize their children's unique strengths and vulnerabilities; nurture their abilities; and establish the skills they will need for gratifying life experience." (View complete review at http://www.dukegiftedletter.com/articles/vol7no2_currents2.html) |
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Carol Bainbridge, About.com "Parents who are just starting out on their journey of parenting a gifted child will find this book reassuring and informative. However, even parents who are familiar with giftedness and its surrounding issues will find this book useful. It makes a wonderful reference book that parents can get out when they need it... "When parents first learn that their child is gifted, they may feel overwhelmed and unsure. The tone and language the authors use is both comforting and reassuring. Although the authors often refer to research, their discussions are clear and don't require any previous knowledge of giftedness, yet those who do have some knowledge of giftedness will still find plenty of useful information. "The one drawback to the book is that it does not have much discussion on profoundly gifted children. However, A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is still one of the best books available on parenting gifted children. I truly wish this book had been available when my child was young." |
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Carolyn K. "Mrs. Hoagie," Hoagies' Gifted Education Page "I've said good things about books in the past, and I stand by all my reviews. But if I could rate one book with 6 stars (out of 5) this would be the one. A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is THE book that all parents of gifted children should read first. And I mean ALL parents, from parents of moderately gifted kids, to parents of exceptionally / profoundly gifted kids, and twice exceptional gifted kids, too. "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children begins with the basics: terms and definitions, and characteristics of giftedness, from those typical characteristics we all know, to the gifted child's unique Overexcitabilities and potential strengths disguised as weaknesses. Next, Webb and friends discuss communication, an important factor both in parenting and educating the gifted child. Their great ideas are good not only for parents communicating with gifted kids, but also for parents communicating with educators, and parents teaching their gifted kids how to communicate effectively. Even gifted kids need to learn the strength of communication! "Motivation and underachievement are complex with gifted children. Webb et. Al. offer valuable insights into the causes and differences between the two. They move next to establishing discipline and teaching self-management - these are two things we often assume our gifted children can do for themselves, but like any other child, they need our guidance and support. As parents, we need to remember that no matter how smart they are, our gifted children are still children, and we are the adults, with adult experience and wisdom. And Webb and friends give us respectful ways to accomplish this. "Continuing with chapters on intensity and perfectionism, idealism and depression, and acquaintances, friends and peers, A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children moves into a challenging subject: twice exceptional children. If after reading this chapter, you need more information on these amazing and frustrating gifted kids, read an entire book on the subject: Misdiagnosis And Dual Diagnoses Of Gifted Children And Adults: ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger's, Depression, And Other Disorders. "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children concludes with valuable information on the gifted child in school, including gifted identification and educational 'fit' for the gifted child. This educational 'fit' is what parents of the gifted child are searching for, and Webb offers great ideas on how to find it. And if you need help, A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children offers suggestions for seeking good professional help - not all professionals are created equal. "All in all, A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is the single book you need to get started as the parent of a gifted child. Every parent should read this book!" |
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Cassie Peterson, Parent Advocate, Contributor, Parenting for High Potential "Looking for a comprehensive guide that provides practical advice about parenting gifted children? A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is an outstanding resource to help you understand the gifted child in your life. Unlike the many parenting guides that gloss over the characteristics of gifted children with bullet points and checklists, this book provides parents with solid explanations for some common behaviors of gifted children, as well as insight into the underlying causes for those behaviors. Webb and colleagues show how effective communication and a strong relationship with your child are critical in managing the social and emotional issues that may arise as your child grows. "What distinguishes (this book) from other parenting books is that it offers practical advice and concrete strategies for managing the social and emotional events in a gifted child's life. Based on the authors' clinical experience and research, as well as contributions from parents, Webb and colleagues show parents how to establish positive discipline and foster self-management in their children by providing choices, encouraging children with 'expectant praise,' and using natural consequences. The authors help parents adjust their own behavior to avoid engaging in power struggles or inadvertently reinforcing destructive behaviors, such as perfectionism and self-criticism, in their children. Though specifically directed toward issues in parenting gifted children, the book provides strategies for effective communication and positive discipline that are helpful for parenting all children. "Throughout the book, the authors supplement their advice with a wealth of references, everything from suggested reading for children to resources for parents of twice-exceptional children. A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is truly an extraordinary parenting book. It satisfies a parent's quest for solid information and practical advice on managing social, emotional, and cognitive issues like no other text. This book should be required reading for all parents." |
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David Rodgers, Families Online Magazine "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children contains useful information for those parenting or grand-parenting a typical child, a smart child, or a gifted child. In fact, the book is useful even to those without any parenting responsibilities if they are interested in replaying their own childhood through an adult lens... I found the embedded table and list summaries of important concepts a good way to keep track of main threads of the discussion. It was refreshing to read sections where the authors explained points of view that didn't agree with their own... "It is easy to recommend this book as both a how-to and reference manual. I wish I'd had it available to me as I parented my two gifted children." (View complete review at http://familiesonlinemagazine.com/parenting-book/gifted-children.html) |
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F. Richard Olenchak, Ph.D., P.C., Director & Psychologist, Urban Talent Research Institute, University of Houston & Past-President, National Association for Gifted Children "Heretofore, there has not been such a wonderfully insightful, fascinating, and comprehensive guidebook as this one. A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children will undoubtedly become a 'must read' for all adults who are confronted with the day-to-day challenges inherent to bringing up a gifted child." |
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iParenting Media Awards' Reviewer "I think that this is the best special population parenting book that I have ever seen. The collaboration of authors from different fields is obvious and stellar. The chapter breakdown in the Table of Contents is specific and precise. This book is devised to be a handbook for a challenging job." |
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iParenting Media Awards' Reviewer "This book is akin to having a staff of specialists on-call in your bookcase. As long as a parent is a motivated reader/researcher, this book is worth its weight in gold. Along with providing answers, I think it will help a parent focus her questions in order to learn what she needs to know from the individuals working with her child." |
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Jan Davidson, Ph.D., Co-founder, Davidson Institute for Talent Development & co-author of Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Minds
"This book is destined to become the classic guide for parents of gifted children. The key topics covered are essential ones, and this book provides much wisdom and new information." |
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Jill Adrian, The Davidson Institute for Talent Development "A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children is an essential resource for all families of gifted children. As stated in the book’s Introduction on page xxi, 'the emotional health of a child cannot be understood without considering the family. And the family cannot function well without understanding the emotional needs of the gifted child.'"(View complete review at http://www.gt-cybersource.org/Record.aspx?NavID=2_0,2_0&rid=14128) |
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Jim Delisle, Ph.D., Professor of Gifted Education, Kent State University "(A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children) is filled with strong and specific advice that parents of gifted kids will certainly take to heart. (It) offers a comprehensive analysis of what it takes to parent a gifted child." |
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Joanne Rand Whitmore Schwartz, Ph.D., Former Dean, College of Education, Kent State University, Kent, OH "Parenting is the most important influence on the development of a child yet nowhere do individuals get educated about parenting. Gifted children often can be much more challenging for parents, and without understanding their characteristics and needs, parents can miss the opportunity to help their child learn to understand themselves and make wise choices for their lives. This book is an outstanding resource for parents--one much needed and hopefully will be read by all parents of gifted children." |
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Judi Conrad, President, Progressive Solutions, Inc. "I am impressed. First, it is easy to follow and a good read. Second, the information is wonderful! Third, you feel like you are just talking and listening to a friend. Excellent book!" |
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Judith Smith, Gifted Education Communicator "Parents of gifted children are often surprised to discover that there are few sources of information they can turn to for advice and support...A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is a welcome source for questions that parents of gifted children have... "...this book is a practical guide that offers both reassurance and resources. The tone is conversational and includes many real life examples while simultaneously citing the research that underlies the text." |
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Lorel Shea, BellaOnline's Gifted Education Editor "This is by far the most comprehensive book about gifted children that I have seen. It covers a broad range of topics, yet still manages to be quite detailed and 'meaty'. An entire 19 page chapter is devoted to the characteristics of gifted children. In addition to the usual checklist, the chapter also looks at Dabrowski's overexcitabilities, the gifted child's sense of humor, imagination, etc. The authors embrace an open and flexible definition of giftedness, and offer alternatives to the 'one test' model of selection. "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is a guidebook brimming full of practical suggestions on how to raise a gifted child. If you buy just one book on gifted children, this should be it. I recommend it to both veteran 'gifted parents' and those with young children who are just starting to explore the world of giftedness. Whether your child is moderately, highly, or profoundly gifted, this book will have meaningful information and helpful suggestions for you. "Chapter five deals with establishing discipline and teaching self management, while chapter eight is all about acquaintances, friends, and peers. Chapter 11, complexities of successful parenting, features a list of six responsibilities for parents: 1.accept and appreciate the child's uniqueness 2.help the child like herself and relate well to others 3.help the child develop a relationship and sense of belonging within the family 4.nurture the development of values 5.teach the child self-motivation, self-management, and self discipline 6.help the child discover his passions, and commit to letting him explore "This chapter also contains sensible advice on how to avoid parental pitfalls such as enmeshment, adultizing the gifted child, or over empowering the gifted child. Parents are encouraged to care for themselves and be sure that they are modeling healthy attitudes and behaviors. "If the inquisitive reader wants to explore further, the back of the book is filled with an impressive number of endnotes and references to published studies and other works pertaining to child development and giftedness. The authors, Webb, Gore, Amend, and DeVries, are all well respected members of the gifted education community. They have many years of combined experience as teachers, counselors, and parents of gifted children. Their collective wisdom shared here is a real treasure." |
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Mihyeon Kim, Gifted and Talented International, August 2008 Issue "As the mother of a potentially gifted child and an educator in the gifted education field, I was pleased to read A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, by Webb, Gore, Amend, and DeVries. It provided me with thoughtful insight on issues gifted children may have and an excellent opportunity to deepen my understanding of giftedness and its various aspects, including the intellectual, social, and emotional needs of the child. Furthermore, this book suggests practical ways to overcome the problems and issues raised and provides helpful recommendations for optimal parental support for gifted children... "I enjoyed reading this book. I know, as a parent of a gifted child, the issues this book raised are very real for parents. It gave me the opportunity to think over many issues about parenting gifted children, such as balancing discipline and supporting the uniqueness of gifted children. It is a readable and practical book. It clarifies the confusion over gifted-related definitions. Since the authors are professional in the field, this book explains gifted students' emotions and behaviors while relying heavily on psychological principles to guide parents towards a happier and more positive interaction with their children. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone--not just parents but also teachers, interested in the exceptional needs of gifted children and how they may best be provided." |
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Paige Stretton, OAGC Review "When four of the most informed minds in gifted education and psychology are brought together on the subject of parenting gifted children, an extraordinary resource is the result. A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is a commanding volume with depth and insight into the reasons for many of the gifted behaviors that parents question. With chapters on definitions and characteristics, the text offers an additional level of comprehension of the lives and minds of gifted children and their families. It reminds those living this gifted life that there are folks who really understand the many challenges and joys faced each day. This additional understanding can be explained only by the authors' years of experience. Reading chapter after chapter written by professionals on subjects such as communication, motivation and underachievement is unbelievably reassuring. They really get it." |
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Paula J. Hillmann, Ph.D., Educational Psychologist and Executive Director
Advanced Learning Resources, LTD, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
"This is THE book that every parent of advanced learners and clinicians who work with them must have! ...I have recommended it as a key resource to colleagues who specialize in gifted education." |
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Raymond D. Fowler, Ph.D., Former President & Chief Executive Officer, American Psychological Association "...an invaluable guide for parents, grandparents, and others who love a gifted child. At 400 pages, it is not as long as the manual for a home computer, but much more important and far more interesting." |
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Robert Heckel, Ph.D., ABPP, Feedback "It was a real delight to encounter this work that provides both professionals and parents with guidance, insights and courses of action in providing the gifted children and adolescents with optimum growth experiences. The authors are a savvy and experienced group who have presented an outstanding work that is at once rich in the history and research on the gifted, balanced by practical guidelines extremely valuable to every reader... "This work is most valuable, a very worthwhile addition to your library, one to recommend..." |
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Sheila Smith, District Coordinator, Gifted/Talented Programs, Los Angeles Unified School District "The vignettes about children are so real that the reader is instantly familiar with the situation. This reference is a 'must have' for parents who face the day-to-day challenge of nurturing a gifted child. The authors distinguish between 'valuing a child for his/her achievements and valuing a child because he/she is worthwhile.' This is the most fundamental step in raising a gifted child. Just as adults are not all alike, our children do not respond to 'one size fits all' treatment. Learning how to see your child and how to teach them to cope with differences is truly a parental challenge." |
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Suki Wessling, Gifted Children Examiner "Parents often wish their children came with an owner's manual. If there is anything that comes close to being an owner's manual for parents of gifted children, this book is it... "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is a great starting point for educating yourself about the needs of your gifted child and the possible pitfalls you may face as you raise and educate him or her. However, more important than the actual information in the book are the pointers about how to learn more about giftedness, schools, and your child's emotional health and educational success. If you're just starting down the road to helping your gifted child, especially a younger child, this book offers a straightforward 'owner's manual' that will guide you through the challenges you and your child will face." |
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Sylvia Cochran, Families Online Magazine "The joy of having a gifted child frequently pales as the child enters the preteen years. Sometimes the rollercoaster ride of parenting a child that is slightly different from her/his peers starts even earlier. A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children takes mom and dad through various aspects that are surefire stumbling blocks. They include discipline, peer relationships, over- and underachieving, stress, and dealing with out-of-control emotions. "What makes (this book) so valuable is its reliance on popular parenting materials to adapt a workable parenting plan for the gifted child. Moreover, this very fact also makes the book entirely readable and useful for the parent whose child is either not gifted or has not yet been recognized for her/his giftedness. "The reader should know that the authors do not write in a conversational or 'girlfriend' style; instead, this is a borderline scholarly book. It does not lend itself to reading over a cup of tea or a bag of Doritos, but instead requires the use of a highlighter, notebook and page markers. This is the kind of parenting book that is valuable for years to come and will most likely require repeated reading as a child's behavior and actions change. It applies to the teen as much as it does to the nine-year old. "A note to Christian/religious parents: Faithful parents sometimes make the mistake of forcing a child into a predefined mold of what a 'spiritual child' should look like or how s/he should act. While this book is decidedly secular in approach, it nevertheless has a lot of bearing for the Christian parent as well. "Remembering that a child was given individual gifts, abilities and strengths (that might set her/him apart from peers) goes a long way to avoid exasperating a smart or gifted child. This book is sure to help the faithful parent chart a due course." |
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The Parenting Shelf, Midwest Book Review "Written by the team of James T. Webb, Ph.D., Janet L. Gore, M.Ed., Edward R. Amend, Psy.D., and Arlene R. DeVries, M.S.E., A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is a well-rounded resource written especially for parents and lay readers. Chapters cover the characteristics of gifted children, emotional concerns such as unhappiness and depression, guidelines for aiding gifted children in the social development when they often have more in common with a notably older peer group than children their own age, concerns for 'twice-exceptional' children who are gifted in one area and disadvantaged in another, and much more. Extensive endnotes, references, and an index round out this sensible, 'must-have' for parents of gifted children." |