Many gifted children are mis-diagnosed as developmentally delayed, according to an article in The New York Times (free, registration required). In fact, because some behaviors are similar, about 25% of gifted children are treated as delayed, and no one ever realizes they are actually gifted. It is important for parents to make sure their gifted children received the proper attention. According to the article, “Preschool and the early grades generally turn off gifted kids: they are told to stop asking so many questions and wait their turn. They need an appropriate learning environment. If not, seeds for underachievement are sown.”
Latest Additions
Developmentally Delayed, or Possibly Gifted? Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:03 am
Exercising Safely During Hot Days Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:34 am
It seems that most of the U.S. is in a heat wave right now, yet I still see lots of kids playing soccer, football, baseball and other sports. Mayoclinic.com offers a timely article with useful information on keeping your kids hydrated and ready to play, and also a guide for determining when the weather is too hot and humid for sports activities. Did you know that if your child spends a lot of time indoors with air conditioning, it is important to acclimate him/her to the outdoors 30-45 minutes per day for 8-10 days before starting strenuous sports practices? Also, if you live in a heat and humidity prone area of the country, make sure the coach measures the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) with a psychrometer. This article provides recommendations for appropriate WBGT issued by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). At a certain combination of heat and humidity, outdoor activities should be cancelled for the safety of the children.
Kudos to the Mayo Clinic for publishing this info. Many parents who are newbies to Little League, AYSO and Pony League will get their children off to a good start this season.
Remembering The Old Days Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:25 am
This post may not be particularly useful for veteran parents, or those dealing with the teenage years, but if you want to remember where you’ve been, check out these newborn pictures on mayoclinic.com. The story is titled “What a newborn really looks like.”
Sesame Allergy A Growing Concern Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:57 am
Researchers at Michigan State University have cited worldwide increases in sesame allergies. This is concerning because awareness is low, and sesame is being used in more and more foods, ointments, cosmetics, and---get this, injections. Thanks to our friends at HealthDay and Yahoo! for publishing this story.
High School Students Making Healthy Food Decisions? Wed Jul 27, 2005 2:45 pm
Well, here’s a surprise. A study found that high school students made healthier food choices just by having fat and calorie info made available to them, with no other statement about the food itself. Many of the articles and studies out there assert that kids today have grown up in the fast food age, and don’t even know what healthy food is, so this type of data is very telling. Hopefully more surveys like this one will pop up, and we can start teaching kids early to use labels, or ask for the information to help them manage their diets.
The U.S. Is Advanced, Except for Maternity Leave Wed Jul 27, 2005 2:15 pm
It may surprise some to find out that the United States offers maternity leave benefits on the same scale as countries like Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland. But, if you are a working woman who has actually tried to take maternity leave, you know that it is no surprise. We have some really messed up values in the U.S. regarding families - the message is, go out and have a family, but don’t miss any work, and if you are breastfeeding or you simply would like to bond with your baby, that’s just too bad. You’ll have to bond after work, even though the child is probably asleep since they are only about six weeks old when you have to go back to work. And, I guess companies have to make a spot for a woman to pump---I’d actually love to see the facilities. Every graduate-level educated woman that I know has stopped working after giving birth, and it’s no shocker why this happens. If these women were in Sweden, British Columbia or Australia, they might have over a year of paid leave time. The Associated Press brings us a timely article on this issue, and offers some reasons why the U.S. is lagging far behind other developed countries when it comes to our maternity leave policies.
Got Twins (or Triplets or Quads)? Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:20 am
Regardless of your children’s age, multiples present special challenges from schooling to birthday parties, and so on. There are some amazing websites and organizations out there just for parents of multiples. A good place to start is the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, because there are chapters everywhere for parents who want to share their joys and challenges. Dads should not be swayed by the name of this club, because there are plenty of dads who participate openly in the activities, and some chapters have more inclusive naming to include all parents and non-traditional families. There are also e-mail lists and magazines devoted to parents of multiples, for those who want to get more info from others who have been there done that (BTDT).
Homeschooling----uh, but wait Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:55 pm
Some parents choose homeschooling because they do not feel that public or private education will give their children the challenge that they are seeking. Here is another take on schooling outside of a social system: kids who want to become star athletes or artists. A Los Angeles Times article profiles families who have made this choice and offers some dissenting opinions. It is a tough issue because for these kids to really succeed at a sport or other venture, they really cannot participate in group activities, but are they getting the quality of education they need for the long term? The parents and students assert that they are being educated at the very highest level while pursuing their first love, but others question the message being sent. Are these kids being told indirectly that education is secondary? And what happens to them when they get older if they have to get a job where they are part of a group? Do they know how to function? Interesting questions for parents and children alike. For the rest of us, it may make us think a bit about our own children’s education choices and options.
Cheerleaders Beware Sat Jul 23, 2005 10:31 pm
Cheerleading has become dangerous business these days. This report by Deseret News in Utah says “More Utah high school students are injured cheerleading than playing baseball/softball, soccer, volleyball or wrestling, according to a report by Utah Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program.” While this only covers one state, I doubt that the cheerleaders in Utah are doing anything different that the rest of the United States, especially since there seems to be an abundance of national competitions. As a trained dancer, I used to watch the cheer team at my high school and think that they were pretty lame, but these days, cheerleaders are the real deal, doing advanced gymnastics and lots of maneuvers that require professional training. It is crucial that these students understand their bodies and how to avoid injury. If you have a cheerleader, or aspiring member of a cheer team check out this article, and make sure your child has the proper training for stunts, flips and injury avoidance.
Only in California Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:05 pm
Would you believe that the mother of a 13 year old boy let her son take over the wheel and drive to school because she had a headache? It takes all kinds I guess, but how bad does your headache really have to be to put your child in danger?
Check out this brief but unbelievable Associated Press story brought to us by NBC4.tv.
