We know that parents of gifted kids struggle with worries. It comes with the territory.
It can feel overwhelming when most traditional childcare strategies don't work and when people who offer their opinions have little understanding of our child's intensity or energy, or asynchronous development. And as parents, we may feel isolated from our own peers, reluctant to utter the G word due to fear that we will be labeled as elitist or insensitive or just another pushy parent.
When my kids were young, there were few resources available. There was Hoagie's Gifted Education, our state-based gifted education association (PAGE), some books, and a few research articles. Now there is an explosion of research, topical posts, and workshops that explore parents' concerns. But much of the research is anecdotal, where a small number of parents were interviewed. And most of the studies focus on child-raising practices; very few focus on the parents' lived experience.
As a parent, a psychologist, and writer who has advocated for the needs of the gifted for years, I am well aware of how the parents' experience is overlooked. Parents are sometimes desperate for advice and support. In an attempt to explore this further, I launched an online survey several years ago and was overwhelmed with the generosity of parents willing to participate. Some of the raw data from that survey have been shared in my book, The Gifted Parenting Journey.
Now, in collaboration with Kali Fedor, Ed.D., an assistant professor in early childhood education and exceptionality at Commonwealth University and past president of PAGE, we are extending this research and invite parents of gifted children ages 6-18 to participate. We are looking at a range of parenting concerns and hope to explore similarities and differences among parents of both gifted and twice-exceptional children.
This IRB-approved survey should only take 10 minutes of your time. If you are the parent of a gifted child ages 6-18 and have not previously participated in the survey I circulated several years ago, please consider participating, read the following study description, and click on the link below. I promise to share the results once the data have been analyzed. Thank you for your support.
Dr. Gail Post and Dr. Kali Fedor are conducting research related to the worries and concerns of parents raising gifted and/or twice-exceptional children ages 6-18. There is very little research currently on the lived experience of parenting a gifted child. This knowledge has the potential to inform and enhance educational programming in schools and support initiatives for parents, such as specialized programs or parent support groups. By participating, individuals help shape future practices and interventions that could better address the needs of gifted and twice-exceptional students, ultimately fostering more supportive educational environments. Please note that all information obtained from this survey will remain anonymous and confidential. The survey should take approximately ten minutes to complete.This is an extension of a previous survey Dr. Post shared a few years ago. If you previously completed the survey, THANK YOU! Your participation is complete and there is no need for you to complete an additional survey.If you are willing to participate, please click on the link below to start the survey.
(Image courtesy of Shutterstock/Ground Picture)
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