Summer Thinking

​Summer is almost here.  Families spend the summer months in many different ways.  That is what makes us unique.  Even though we may live in the same community, state, region, or country, individual families have traditions, practices, and characteristics that are uniquely theirs.  

Give yourself and your children permission to enjoy the summer respite and laze around on hot summer days doing things your family likes to do.  If you have scheduled special activities for your gifted child remember to spend some time doing nothing but being together, with time to think.

While gifted children often have vast interests they also need time to think and ponder.  Sometimes parents, teachers, and other adults may accuse children of not doing something; paying attention, completing a task, or something else, when they are actually engaged in thinking.  Time spent thinking is important.  Children need time to absorb and comprehend what they see, hear, touch, taste, smell, feel, read, and experience.  We need to give children time to do this.  The brain is an organ that needs exercise just like any other part of our body.  What we must realize is that work done in school does not always equate to exercising the brain, especially for gifted children.  School schedules are packed with specific activities that must be completed on a strict timeframe.  Even if the class is boring for the gifted child, there is no time to think and ponder.

For many gifted children time to think and ponder is almost more valuable than the act of learning because if one does not have time to think and ponder, then one cannot engage in deep learning and exploration.

Enjoy relaxing this summer.  Both you and your children need time to relax, think, and have fun.