News & Tips for Parents
Entries by Barbara Klein, Ph.D., Ed.D. (414)
Summertime Learning: A Way for Students of All Ages to Develop New Interests and Catch Up with Difficult School Work
Gifted Students Are Special Learners with Unique Needs
After a long year of learning, most students need a break from the academic and social pressures of school and homework. Indeed, educational stress can be intellectually and emotionally debilitating and exhausting for students of all ages. The trend toward objective testing has also intensified the pressure for students to show what they have achieved and what they still need to learn. Because of the emphasis on technology for instruction, students often rely on screens too much when looking for creative choices for summer fun and learning. Setting up an educational plan that expands your son’s or daughter’s interests and focuses on their learning issues that need more attention is a crucial way to make good use of the summertime.
In-person or online classes (possibly one-on-one) that will excite and refine your son’s or daughter’s interests will help your child develop parts of his or her identity. Boredom and too much focus on screens and video games will be greatly reduced. Arguments about time spent online or on the phone will hopefully be resolved. Your house will be calmer and run more smoothly. Parenting will be more effective. Children will get their work completed without drama.
For example, your son really loves science, especially black holes or nuclear fusion, but he has some difficulty with math. His parents can provide help and advancement in both subjects. A math tutor can come to the house to work on concepts that your son finds challenging. And very high quality or gifted classes exist in every area you can imagine. Maybe in-person in your hometown there are teachers and friends who serve the special educational needs of gifted children and provide the “best” summer classes for unique learners to explore their special often-esoteric interests.
The value of a summer camp that includes children of all abilities is also very critical. Social skills are difficult for gifted children and teenagers to learn especially when they are surrounded by high achievers and very quick learners. Practice is very very helpful in social situations that are diversified differently than the school they attend during the school year.
Solving the Problem of Finding the Right Summer School, Classes or Camp
It may at first sound easy enough to find an interesting learning experience for gifted kids. However, finding the right class and tutor can be a serious challenge without the help of other parents, teachers, and friends who know about asynchronous development. Gifted kids have learning highs and lows, and prefer to totally evade and avoid what they see as their “lesser” subjects. In actuality, the easy classes can be hard for them because they can become bored. As well, the importance of interacting with other emotional intense gifted students is unbelievably helpful as a way of expanding your child’s education, easing their learning challenges and developing their personality.
Summer classes, tutors, and experts’ advice can engage your gifted son or daughter and build their capacity to work through material that is a struggle. Social knowledge and self-esteem are almost always developed in the new learning environments of summer school and summer camp. I have seen that some educators are very capable of expanding students’ learning styles, while others do not have the experience and understanding to achieve these lofty goals. You want your children to love to learn, to work hard enough at learning, and to find their specific passions. These are life-long goals and practices that contribute to personal and professional success. Enthusiasm from parents, teachers and other students promotes deep and meaningful learning, or at least provides a solid foundation for it.
Deciding What Your Son or Daughter Needs from Summer Learning
The first step is to evaluate the learning problems to be addressed. The most effective way to do this is to talk with all of the teachers and your child. Listen most carefully to the teacher who best understands how your child learns. Review report cards and homework. Talk with your son or daughter to find out what they want to do over the summer. Combine what your child’s imagination is looking for (their passions) with the actual problems your son or daughter needs help with. Remember the importance of socialization with other gifted kids, which will build self-confidence and self-esteem. Getting your child out of the house will make your summer life easier and calmer. You will be a more effective parent.
Figure Out How to Accomplish Your Goals for Summer Learning
You may have the most brilliant and creative plan, but how do you put your thoughts into action? In my own experience, finding other parents with similar specific needs for their children is most effective. Engaging the help of smart parents, relatives, siblings, and your spouse will reduce chaos.
Conclusions
Summer is a good time to provide your children with creative activities that could refine their identities and social skills. Parents are constantly worried about too much screen time. But new classes and social experiences can develop friendships and students’ unique talents. Take a wide perspective and work on encouragement, remediation and social learning. Summertime may be the best time of the year to find and encourage your children’s interests.
Hands-on Advice
1. Explore classes, camps and travel experiences for children the same age as your children.
2. Find parents whose children have experienced the same extracurricular actives that you are interested in. Take their knowledge seriously.
3. Carefully consider what your child wants to do and what they are wary or unsure of.
4. Are there any friends who could accompany your child? Friends reduce fearfulness and improve social skills.
Barbara Klein, Ph.D., Ed.D.
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Raising Twins to Be Individuals and Trusted Friends: A Parenting Group for Caregivers of Twins
Parenting twins is a difficult and joyous experience, no matter how old your twins are. Of course, young twins present different issues than school age twins and teenage twins. Even adult twins need to get comfort and advice from their parents, which can be related to fighting and stress between each other. Learning to parent your twins is a valuable tool for both the parents and the twin children. After 40 years of writing and consulting with twins and their parents I have concluded what is most essential about raising twins to be individuals and also get along as twins and as friends.
The purpose of this group is to teach through interaction with other parents and caregivers of twins how to develop individuality and resolve separation anxiety, fighting and competition between twins at all ages. Language acquisition issues, meeting new friends and finding special interests will be discussed and referred to in the readings for this group. Questions that parents have about how to solve their own problems with their twins will be answered in every meeting.
Groups will meet once a week on Zoom. Attendance at each group and arriving on time are crucial. Readings are optional but highly suggested. Please email me at drbarbaraklein@gmail.com or call me at 310-592-5507 if you are interested.
Summer Plans for Gifted Kids
Summer can be an exciting and revitalizing time for gifted children who really need and enjoy non-structured activities that revolve around their interests and passions. Summer is the best time to nourish your child’s inner life―their dreams and talents. After nine long months of homework and school schedules that promotes academic learning, bright kids need free time to explore!!!!
In our rigid, standard-driven educational environment, parents can forget the value of play and spontaneous or non-directed activities. When children play their own games they develop a sense of who they are. When kids play with old friends and new friends, they gain confidence in themselves as individuals who are comfortable in their social world. Playful experiences enhance the ability to be creative. Free time is me time; and children need me time as much as their parents.
Kids and their caretakers need a break from their routines. And parents can provide these open-ended experiences by not over-scheduling the summer vacation. Even if the neighbor’s children or your sister’s children have a regimented vacation plan, try to be more open-minded. Let your child explore their world from their own unique vantage point. You will be delighted and surprised by what your child chooses and how relaxed they seem. When school starts in fall, your child will be ready to take on the challenge.
Free activities that are fun, creative, and engaging include:
1. Hiking and swimming
2. Museum trips
3. Story-reading at the library or bookstore
4. Yard and lemonade sales
5. Puppet shows
6. Visits to the zoo and different types of gardens