NDAGC Webinar Newsletter
October 2020
NDAGC Webinar Library
If you missed our webinar, you can find it archived in our NDAGC Webinar Library. Just visit the Membership Portal. You can now earn 1 Professional Developmental Credit for attending these webinars: NDAGC Homepage. Contact Yee Han Chu at yhc.ndagc@gmail.com for more information.
Understanding The Gifted Child: Exploring the Social-Emotional Needs of the Gifted
October Webinar Hosts
Beth Ustanko
Emily Jones
Webinar Highlights
Webinar Overview
1. asynchronous development
2. emotional intensity
3. misdiagnosis and dual diagnosis
Asynchronous Development
“Asynchrony is the term used to describe the mismatch between cognitive, emotional, and physical development of gifted individuals.”
How parents/educators can help
- Find a mental age match instead of a chronological age match
- Bibliotherapy
- Help children understand giftedness
Connect with other parents
Keep educators/parents informed about the child
Emotional Intensity
“Giftedness is more than a student’s score on an IQ test or his or her performance on a series of academic tests. It involves every aspect of the person, including cognition, personality, and social-emotional development.”
-Fonseca p. 2
How parents/educators can help:
- Build a solid foundation by setting clear expectations and consequences
- Establish appropriate boundaries
- Opportunites for contribution in the household/classroom
- Develop a common emotional language
Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis
"Some of our brightest, most creative children and adults are misdiagnosed as having behavioral or emotional disorders such as ADD/ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or Asperger's Disorder. Many receive unneeded medications and/or inappropriate counseling as a result.” (2005)
It is often difficult to diagnosis gifted children because giftedness shares many characteristics as ADD/ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, etc.
Similarities
What are the similarities between giftedness and ADHD/Autism/Anxiety/Trauma?
- concentration impairment
- sensory input/output challenges
- poor social skills
- emotional regulation impairment
- memory recall
How to Support Gifted Students
How to Treat the Whole Child
There are many ways to treat the whole child
- Psychosocial Investigation
- Psychological Testing
- Individualized Interventions
- Treating Symptoms not Diagnosis
- Parental Involvement
Interventions
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
Child-Parent Psychotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Group Therapy
Caregiver/Education Support
Provide Stimulation
Boundaries, Expectations, and Limits
Choices
Validation
Modeling of Emotional Regulation
Meet Needs with Accountability
When to Seek Help
Parents/Educators should seek help if they notice any of these signs:
- School Work is Impacted Negatively
- Behavior Causes Caregiver Distress
- Negative Impact to All Areas of Functioning
- Aggression
- Self-Harm/Suicidal Ideation
- Withdrawal/Decrease in Pleasurable Activity
Webinar Feedback
"Knowing the name of the counselor is a helpful resource to refer parents to who may inquire outside help when dealing with the social-emotional need of their child."
-Stacy Anderson Gifted and Talented Teacher
Lewis and Clark Elementary
Resources
Website Resources
Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students
Misdiagnosis
Some of My Best Friends Are Books
Thank You for Joining NDAGC!
Email: info@ndgifted.org
Website: ndgiftedchildren.org/
Location: 4265 45th St S, Fargo, ND 58104, USA
Phone: 000000000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NDGIFTEDCHILDREN
Twitter: @DakotaGifted