Many gifted children will find ways to
entertain themselves if given alone time during the summer, but you don't want
your kids lounging in bed until the late afternoon or spending the majority of
their time alone. The summer months are the perfect opportunity to quench their
thirst for in-depth exploration of topics that grab their interest. Gifted students can
also improve their social skills and self-confidence while discovering new
interests if you provide structured summer activities that match your child's
personality. Consider these activities to get head start on planning your gifted learner's next summer.
Selecting Camps for Gifted Children
If you can't provide a structured learning
opportunity that will help your child grow at home, consider signing them up
for a summer camp. A residential camp can immerse children of all ages in
memorable social experiences while they develop new skills or explore a topic
of interest. If you want to keep your child closer to home or they don't feel
comfortable staying overnight, commuter-based camps are available through many
nonprofit organizations and universities.
The National Association for Gifted Children recommends that parents look for camps that
meet all of these guidelines:
- Focused on one skill or academic area
- Adequately staffed with leaders possessing a high level of knowledge and talent in the skills or academic areas explored at the camp
- Advanced curriculum tailored to the needs and interests of gifted students
- Structured to include an evaluation or analytical process that will measure each participant's growth
Notice that this list rules out general camps
where kids roast marshmallows by the fire and swim in the lake all day. Some
camps may offer those fun summertime activities, but they should also have a
strong focus on an academic interest or skill that your child wants to explore
in more depth.
Immersion in Higher Education
If you know that your child will one day
attend an ivy-league college, summer is the perfect time to prepare them for
that inevitable future. The Summer Institute for the Gifted gives exceptional children between the ages of
five and 17 the opportunity to explore some of the best American centers of
higher learning through residential and day programs. Some of the schools
offering programs include Princeton, Berkeley, UCLA and Yale. Note that these
programs may require travel and other expenses if your child is accepted.
Learning through Travel
If you don't want to send your gifted child to
camp and you have some free time, consider creating opportunities for learning,
family bonding and tons of fun by traveling together. You may enjoy weekend
getaways or academic-based trips during the school year, but the summer months
are your opportunity to give your child an experience that will further their
interest in a particular subject.
For instance, a trip to France is perfect for
a teenager with an intense interest in the French language and culture. If you
have a talented chef in the family, reward them with a culinary tour of Ireland or Italy. If you can't afford international travel,
there are ways to do this closer to home. A child interested in marine life may
enjoy swimming with the dolphins or a trip to the National Aquarium. A tour of
every zoo in your region may help an animal lover learn while having fun.
Steal some
of these ideas to help your child grow, and you might not hear "I'm
bored" every five minutes next summer.
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