The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids: How to Understand, Live With, and Stick Up for Your Gifted Child

Rating:
Summary: Excellant Resource
Review: As a Mother of such a child, I have to say this is a book I often refer to again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but slim in some areas
Review: At this point, I don't need much of the information in this book, since my children are in a school that caters to the (Gardener's) multiple intelligences of all children. All children will be challenged and not allowed to fall into the underachievment cracks.

Having said that, I found some useful information here to understand my daughters and my own (lousy) gifted education. I've always hated pull out programs and it was nice to have confirmed that they just don't work. Understanding the characteristics of "the gifted child" will hopefully help me parent my girls more appropriately, and not expect more from them than they are emotionally capable of doing.

I think they could have done a better job of including more real stories of what families go through instead of the brief "wow! gifted education is great!" sort of blurbs they have. I always seek more resources so I'd like to see more included.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but slim in some areas
Review: At this point, I don't need much of the information in this book, since my children are in a school that caters to the (Gardener's) multiple intelligences of all children. All children will be challenged and not allowed to fall into the underachievment cracks.

Having said that, I found some useful information here to understand my daughters and my own (lousy) gifted education. I've always hated pull out programs and it was nice to have confirmed that they just don't work. Understanding the characteristics of "the gifted child" will hopefully help me parent my girls more appropriately, and not expect more from them than they are emotionally capable of doing.

I think they could have done a better job of including more real stories of what families go through instead of the brief "wow! gifted education is great!" sort of blurbs they have. I always seek more resources so I'd like to see more included.

Rating:
Summary: great resource
Review: Believe it or not, two weeks ago I was pretty much convinced that my seven year old son had Asperger's syndrome--loosely defined as high functioning autism. Why? Because he is more comfortable around adults than kids, is extremely bright but has terrible handwriting and can't tie his shoes, is something of a perfectionist, hangs back from peer groups, and displays inappropriate anger and frustration in his multiage class.

What a damned relief to open this book right to page 41 and read the two paragraphs entitled The Motor Skills Gap. As a matter of a fact I laughed right through that whole section, Living with Your Gifted Child, because it described my son so perfectly, and even gave me some insight into my own childhood behaviors.

No matter where you are in the process of parenting a gifted child--discovering that you actually have one, figuring out how to best help your child be at their best emotionally, or working within the school and even the state legislature to bring about supportive programs--this book has lots of guidance and suggestions, especially for more reading. The book itself is a bit of a quick read--I got it at 3 pm and at 8 pm am sitting here writing about it--but I can see that it's something I'll refer to over and over again as various issues come up.

Will I ever be able to answer my son's (incessant) questions about what happened before the Big Bang? No. But with help from this book and books like it, I'll be able to help create a supportive environment that will help him get the answers he needs.

Rating:
Summary: The survival guide for parents of gifted kids
Review: I am so pleased with the suggestions in this book. I am even happier that they WORK! I needed to read this book a year ago but did not know about it. If I had I could have saved my son a year of grief and the wondering "what's wrong with me?" The book gives an excellent view into the what and why of GT kids. I also am relieved to know that the isolation that accompanies my son's talent is very normal but should be monitored. The book leaves you with a clear perspective.

Rating:
Summary: Wow! Finally some help. Practical, applicable advice.
Review: I bought this book by chance and it has been a great help for us with our 8 yr. old son. At some points, it's too "older kid" heavy...so if you're looking for a book w/ advice on dealing with young Gifted Kids this probably isn't for you. BUT, if you've got school age kids and are beginning to think about or are currently dealing with a gifted kid in school you can get a lot of help in how to deal with all the quirks these kids have and do at home/school. It's helped me help my perfectionistic son. Good luck!

Rating:
Summary: Helpful - with good resources.
Review: If you are the parent of a child classified as gifted and you feel like you need some help this book is a good place to start. It provides easy to understand, common sense approaches to the unique problems faced by the parents of gifted children. It also provides excellent sources of information for further research.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful - with good resources.
Review: If you are the parent of a child classified as gifted and you feel like you need some help this book is a good place to start. It provides easy to understand, common sense approaches to the unique problems faced by the parents of gifted children. It also provides excellent sources of information for further research.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent primer for parents of exceptional children
Review: Now in a substantially revised & updated edition, The Survival Guide For Parents Of Gifted Kids: How To Understand, Live With, And Stick Up For Your Gifted Child by parental consultant, educator and gifted children advocate Sally Yahnke Walker is a straightforward, sensible guide to parenting and advocating in behalf of a gifted child, especially when dealing with local schools and school boards. Individual chapters address discovering and living with gifted talents, handling problems such as sensitivity and a smart mouth, and working for improvement in the local school curriculum. The Survival Guide For Parents Of Gifted Kids is highly recommended for non-specialist general readers as being an excellent primer for parents of exceptional children everywhere.

Rating:
Summary: Not as comprehensive as I'd hoped....
Review: While naming so many famous social outcasts and school failures who were phenomenally advanced, this book goes on to tell about the social affability and drive 'GT's have. My experience with such children has been about 50/50, half socially fine and willing and able to get on with studying, the other half way over in the other end of this spectrum. This book makes far too little mention of the second half, which I found most disappointing, as it is the second group which perhaps needs more understanding and encouragement.