Raising Young Gifted Children

Directions:   Use the space provided to answer questions. Please answer questions as fully as possible, using 3 or more sentences if you can.  It is best to answer a few questions fully, rather than giving short responses to all the questions. If you don’t want to respond to a question, skip it and go on. You can come back and answer later if you want. Try to answer some or all questions from each category to paint a vivid picture of your experiences. Once you hit the SUBMIT button, the information you provide is collected.

You can print out the questions to think about and then answer them later, if you wish. A mailing address, fax number and email address are listed at the end of this set of questions for you to use to send in your responses.

 

[A]    When did your gifted child first read on her/his own? To what extent did you teach your child to read and to what degree did s/he teach her/himself?

[B]    When did your gifted child first walk on her/his own? Did s/he crawl a long time before walking? Please explain.

[C]    Did your child learn to talk one word at a time or in full sentences right away? Explain.

[D]   Do you think your child has a large vocabulary for her/his age? Explain.

[E]    When did you first suspect that your child was gifted or otherwise different from other agemates? What specific indicators led you to your belief?

[F]    What was the reaction of friends and family members when you shared your impressions of your child's advanced abilities?

[G]   How has your child's giftedness affected her/his relationships with agemates?

[H]   How has your child's giftedness affected relationships and interactions with siblings or other family members?

[I]     Are there any issues with socialization that concern you when you consider your gifted child's interactions with other children of the same age?

[J]     Are there any issues that concern you when you consider your gifted child's interactions with siblings or other family members?

[K]   It is often noted that young gifted children have "asynchronous development," that is, their intellectual, physical, social and emotional areas of growth vary considerably. Have you noticed this asynchronous development? Please provide examples from your child's life.

[L]    Explain your child's initial reactions to organized schooling—preschool and elementary school. In what ways did s/he fit in? In what ways (if any) did s/he not fit in? Please provide specific examples.

[M]  Do you ever question if you are "smart enough" to raise your own gifted child(ren)? If so, what issues does this raise for you?

[N]   What organizations, publications or resources have been most helpful to you in raising your gifted child(ren)?

[O]   What didn't we ask about that we should have? Explain.

 

[P]   Please provide a family surname (either real or fictitious) in the space that follows so we can track your responses in our database:

Open Narrative

The questions above might not give you enough space to fully share your family story. If this is the case, please include your story in the space below. (You can, if you prefer, send your story as an attachment to the e-mail address at the bottom of this form.)

Demographic Information

Which choice best describes the make-up of your local community:

Would your family be identified as a minority by federal definition?



In what state, territory or country does your family reside?

Please describe the members of your family (e.g., number of children, ages/grades and which are gifted; are parents gifted?; grandparents gifted?; total number of family living in household; etc.):

Describe your family make up (e.g., one biological parent, one step-parent, two step-children, one grandparent, three pets (two dogs, one parrot), etc.):

Has anyone in your family been identified as Highly/Profoundly gifted?



If yes, please describe any unique qualities this has added to your family life.

 

 

Additional Contact/Interview Consent Statement:

If you'd like to be contacted about your responses and/or are willing to take part in an interview, please place your e-mail address in the space provided. An attachment containing additional information will be forwarded to you. If you are a family member under the age of 18, parent/guardian consent must also be received.

E-mail address:  

My contact information:                     

Robert Arthur Schultz, Ph.D.
The University of Toledo
Gifted Education and Curriculum Studies
2801 W. Bancroft St.
Mailstop 924
Toledo, OH  43606
(419) 530-2466 FAX

learninglatitudes@giftedkidspeak.com

 

updated 4 January 08