ZCS High Ability Parent Newsletter
September, 2017 - Volume 1
Sincerely,
Kris Devereaux and Christine Squier
ZCS High Ability Coordinators
Social Development or Socialization?
As part of our Strong In Every Way initiative, ZCS is committed to developing student academic, social and emotional strengths.
A major concern of parents and educators is the social adjustment of their gifted children. Primarily we address the issue of socialization. According to the dictionary, socialization is the ability to adapt to the needs of the group. Gifted children are very adaptable, particularly girls. But at what price? If one works very hard at fitting in with others, especially when one feels very different from others, self-alienation can result. And this is exactly what we find in so many “well adjusted” gifted youth and adults. In their desperation to belong, they have given up or lost touch with vital parts of themselves.
Social development, on the other hand, is not the pressure to adapt, but a deep, comfortable level of self acceptance that leads to true friendships with others.
Lasting friendships are based on mutual interests and values, not on age. Individuals with good social development like themselves, like other people, demonstrate concern for humanity, and develop mutually rewarding friendships with a few kindred spirits. Social development goes hand-in-hand with self-actualization, whereas socialization is merely the desire to conform – often the opposite of self-actualization.
Excerpt from article by Linda Silverman, Ph.D. in her position paper from the Gifted Development Center in Denver, Colorado.
Parent Resources:
1. Genius Denied by Jan and Bob Davidson
2. Parenting Gifted Kids by James R. Delisle
3. Helping Gifted Kids Soar by Carol A. Strip
4. Gifted Kids' Survival Guide For Ages 10 and Under by Judy Galbraith
5. The Survival Guide For Parents Of Gifted Kids (older children) by Sally Yahnke Walker
6. Light Up Your Child's Mind by Sally Reis and Joseph Renzulli
7. Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism by Diane Kennedy
8. Different Minds: Gifted Children with AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, and Other Learning Deficits by Deirdre V Lovecky
Engineering Tomorrow!
On Saturday, September 30th from 10 am until 3 pm, PESC (Purdue Engineering Student Council) will be hosting the first ever Engineering Tomorrow! This STEM outreach event will be for all students kindergarten through 8th grade. Pizza will be provided for lunch!
Click here to register.