Do you have a gifted, highly capable child? Learn what’s normal, what to expect as he or she grows, and about the importance of academic challenge at a talk titled, “What Parents Need To know About Smart Kids from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 in the commons at Bainbridge High School.
Austina De Bonte, president of the Northwest Gifted Child Association, will share information about what’s normal and what to expect as gifted children grow, and the importance of academic challenges.
Many parents are surprised to learn that their child’s unique “quirks” are actually well-studied social and emotional behavior patterns that appear across large populations of highly intelligent children. Whether it’s refusing to wear shirts with buttons or tags, overreacting to the slightest criticism, gravitating towards adults and older children, forgetting to turn in their homework, anxiety about trying something new, or preferring a book to a party, these and many other perplexing behaviors are common in the smart, gifted, and highly capable population.
In addition to parenting highly capable children, De Bonte helped inaugurate the Northshore School District’s Highly Capable Programs Advisory Board and has extensive knowledge of the current research around gifted kids. Her talk will be particularly helpful for parents, teachers and community members wondering whether to nominate a child for the Bainbridge Island School District’s Highly Capable Program.
