An explanation of what it means to be highly sensitive, as well as a summary of the many pros and some cons of being a HSP.

Our social media community and the 优蜜视频 staff weighed in on their favorite movies featuring gifted children and young adults.

We asked our community what websites for gifted kids they recommend. Here are ten of the top suggestions. Tell us what you’d add!

We had fun celebrating National Scavenger Hunt Day! Learn about the wide-ranging benefits of scavenger hunts, from fun to educational, in today’s blog post.

This fall, we announced the 2017 Caroline D. Bradley Scholars! We are excited to welcome them to the 优蜜视频 community.

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Roald Dahl鈥檚 Matilda is a precocious young girl who can teach the world a lot about gifted kids. Here are 12 lessons from the novel.

Stories of ten child activists from around the world who fought for what they believed in, to inspire children and adults alike.

There is a need for new strategies in identifying gifted students of diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all gifted children.

Because overexcitabilities are often talked about as though they are problems to solve, we wanted to highlight some of the more delightful elements of overexcitabilities in gifted children and adults.

Because so many things come naturally to the gifted child, highly able students often do not learn how to study until it is too late. Mark provides some tips for helping gifted students develop study habits.

Like this post? to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

Debbie Abilock (1999), the Co-founder of Educational Vision & Content, identified five facts about gifted readers:

1. Gifted readers are skilled, flexible readers who read often;
2. Gifted readers monitor their reading;
3. Linguistically rich texts are especially suited to gifted readers;
4. Gifted readers use other strengths in response to听听 the听听 particular demands of the text; and
5. Gifted readers are passionate readers who find books to love.

For gifted readers, finding a book that sparks their interests and contains a character they can relate to is part of the delightful experience of starting a new adventure. However, it鈥檚 often difficult to find books that portray strong, female leads who display gifted traits. So, I’ve compiled a list of books that may be of interest to young, gifted female learners. These stories include rich language, complex plots, and female protagonists who are inquisitive problem-solvers. Due to the variability in gifted children鈥檚 reading skills and interests, the books are not categorized by age or grade level.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne is a poor orphan who lacks social graces and education; despite this, she has a rich and sophisticated fantasy life and an optimistic and generous spirit. Because Anne acts according to her instincts and not according to a code of manners, she unintentionally defies expectations of proper ladylike behavior.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L鈥橢ngle

Meg Murry is a high-school-aged girl who is transported on an adventure through time and space with her younger brother and her friend to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from evil forces.

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

This is a story of a strong friendship between a farmyard pig named Wilbur and a grey spider named Charlotte. Wilbur is a spring pig, and he is distressed to learn that he is being fattened for slaughter in the fall. Charlotte resolves to save Wilbur.

Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey

Menolly loves music and hopes to live out her musical dreams as an apprentice Harper, but quickly encounters hostility from a number of her male peers and masters. With the help of new friends, teachers, and her nine tiny, colorful dragons, Menolly finds that her musical talents may be stronger than anyone could imagine.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

Twelve-year-old Claudia decides to run away from home with the help of her little brother, Jamie. With Jamie’s money and Claudia’s smarts, they bust out of the suburbs end up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Kira is an extraordinarily talented young girl who finds herself suddenly orphaned and taken to live in a mysterious government compound near the center of her village. There she meets other equally talented and creative children, and together they discover the truth about themselves, their parents, and their society.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Eleven year old Harriet is an aspiring writer who hopes to become a novelist. She keeps a journal filled with her observations about her classmates, friends and the people she sees in her neighborhood every day.

Hild by Nicola Griffith

Hild, the king’s youngest niece, has a glimmering mind, powerful curiosity and a natural, noble authority. She鈥檚 born during a time when Britain is experiencing great change as small kingdoms are merging, frequently and violently. She becomes a captivating woman and a pivotal figure of the Middle Ages: Saint Hilda of Whitby.

A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

Mia has synesthesia, the mingling of perceptions whereby a person can see sounds, smell colors, or taste shapes. Forced to reveal her condition, she must look to herself to develop an understanding and appreciation of her gift.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda is a precocious girl who lives with her mean parents and bratty brother. Ignored at home by her family, she escapes into the wondrous world of reading, exercising her mind so much she develops telekinetic powers.

Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee

Millicent is a certified genius. By age 11, she’s been on TV shows, won the state math bowl, and has been on the Dean’s List every semester in high school. However, she can鈥檛 seem to figure out how to make and keep friends and knows she doesn鈥檛 have much in common with average kids. All of that changes when her mom enrolls her in a girls鈥� volleyball program for the summer.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms by Kate Douglas Wiggin

Rebecca is one of seven fatherless children, but is full of fun and strange ideas. She leaves her family at Sunnybrook Farm and goes to live with her two aunts in Riverboro. There she goes to school for the first time, embarks on a madcap scheme to sell soap, nearly runs away, and befriends a kindly stagecoach driver who helps her repair her family’s fortunes.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl, who up until听 now has been homeschooled, starts school at Mica High as a tenth grader, where Leo is starting his eleventh grade year. Stargirl’s entrance to school is a big deal for all the students and she immediately causes a commotion with her wacky outfits and even wackier behavior

Saving Lilly by Peg Kehret

Erin and her friend refuse to go on a field trip to the Glitter Tent Circus because of the sad lives of circus animals. Erin is determined to force Mrs. Dawson to change her plans or she’ll stage a sit-in at school. She also discovers that Lilly, a mistreated elephant, is about to be sold to a hunting park. She goes on a quest to save Lilly before it鈥檚 too late!

Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

The enthusiastic Ramona is having a hard time starting first grade. Her teacher can鈥檛 seem to understand her and she doesn鈥檛 get along with her classmates. She faces quite a few challenges as she tries to make it through the first grade. But, as tough as it is, she is determined to be brave.

Rowan Hood: Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest by Nancy Springer

Thirteen year old Rosemary is orphaned when her beloved mother dies. She’s grown up among the woodland creatures her mother loved and has never met her father, the outlaw Robin Hood. So she decides to change her name to Rowan, disguise herself as a boy, and undertake a dangerous journey in search of Robin Hood.

Toliver’s Secret by Esther Brady

When her grandfather is injured, 10-year-old Ellen Toliver replaces him on a top-secret patriotic mission. She disguises herself as a boy and manages to smuggle a message to General George Washington.

Yolanda鈥檚 Genius by Carol Fenner

After moving from Chicago to Michigan, fifth grader Yolanda, big and strong for her age, is determined to prove that her younger brother is not a slow learner but a true musical genius.

Books have the magical ability to ignite our imagination. They can transport us into an uncharted world and even transform how we see ourselves and the world around us. If you鈥檇 like to expand your search for books with gifted characters, here are a few websites to get you started:

Also, if you have a book recommendation, feel free to share them in the comments below!

Resources: Abilock, D. (1999). Librarians and gifted readers:听 Myths and facts. Knowledge Quest 27(5), 30鈥�35.

Like this post? to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

25 of Our Favorite Gifted Kid Movies
Our social media community and the 优蜜视频 staff weighed in on their favorite movies featuring gifted children and young adults.

The Bright Side of Overexcitabilities in Gifted Children
Because overexcitabilities are often talked about as though they are problems to solve, we wanted to highlight some of the more delightful elements of overexcitabilities in gifted children and adults.

Developing Study Habits and the Gifted Student

Because so many things come naturally to the gifted child, highly able students often do not learn how to study until it is too late. Mark provides some tips for helping gifted students develop study habits.

Mindfulness and the Gifted

优蜜视频 parent and Academy instructor Linnea Pyne discussed Mindfulness as a tool used to address a variety of the needs of gifted children.

12 Lessons About Gifted Kids from Matilda

The lovable title character in Roald Dahl鈥檚 Matilda is a precocious young girl who can teach the world a thing or two about gifted kids.

Gifted 101

For those who need a place to start, we have shared some essentials听that should help as you seek more information on the gifted child.

Beneath the Surface: Twice-Exceptional Children

Twice-exceptional (or 2E) students 鈥� those who are both gifted and have a learning disability 鈥� have unique needs and challenges that often go unseen and unmet.

College Selection and Admissions for Gifted Students: Resources

Gifted students and their families face special challenges during the college search and application process.听 优蜜视频 parent and independent college counselor Kate Duey shared some of her favorite resources on the topic with us.

2015 Caroline D. Bradley Scholars Named

Congratulations to the newest class of Caroline D. Bradley Scholars! This year鈥檚 29 Scholars represent 14 states and a wide variety of academic and personal backgrounds.听 We are ecstatic to have each and every one of them as members of the 优蜜视频 community.

Diversity and Gifted Children: Are We Doing Enough?

There is a need for new strategies in identifying gifted students of diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all gifted children.

Like these posts? 听to receive more information and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

1. August Rush (PG)
2. Big Hero 6 (PG)
3. Billy Elliot (R)
4. Bridge to Terabithia (PG)
5. Dead Poets Society (PG)
6. Finding Forrester (PG-13)
7. Gifted Hands (NR)
8. Good Will Hunting (R)
9. Goonies (PG)
10. Harry Potter series (PG-13)
11. The Imitation Game (PG-13)
12. The Incredibles (PG)
13. Little Man Tate (PG)
14. A Little Princess (G)
15. (PG)
16. Meet the Robinsons (G)
17. Mr. Holland鈥檚 Opus (PG)
18. October Sky (PG)
19. Rain Man (R)
20. Real Genius (PG)
21. Rushmore (R)
22. School of Rock (PG-13)
23. Searching for Bobby Fischer (PG)
24. Spellbound (G)
25. Weird Science (PG-13)

Not surprisingly, many of these are adaptations of novels, as there are a plethora of .

If you are celebrating the Academy Awards this weekend by enjoying a movie, we hope it will be one about a gifted kid!

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What are your favorite gifted kid movies? Please share in the comment section below.

April 2 is International Children鈥檚 Book Day, so we thought it would be fun to highlight some great children鈥檚 books for gifted kids. Here are five of our picks:

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Hermione is clearly gifted, as evidenced by her perpetual thirst for knowledge, heightened sense of justice, advanced academic acceleration, adult-like wisdom, and sharp intuition. The series also appeals strongly to kids who feel “different” and those with imaginational overexcitabilities.

Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald Sobol
Both Encyclopedia Brown – named thus for his wealth of knowledge and understanding – and his bodyguard, Sally Kimball, exhibit qualities of gifted children. Encyclopedia鈥檚 intuition allows him to solve his police officer father鈥檚 cases by listening to the evidence, closing his eyes, thinking, and asking a single question that leads Encyclopedia to the solution. Sally and Encyclopedia work together to solve neighborhood cases using their abilities to observe and intuit at a level that most young children are unable to understand.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Harriet thrives on routine, she is obsessive and, similar to the other characters on my list, she has the ability to observe and process information at an accelerated rate. She struggles to thrive in relationships with the other children in her class, yet she shares a deep connection with her nanny, Ole Golly.

Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss
As with most of Dr. Seuss鈥� stories, Bartholomew and the Oobleck relays a moral lesson through a story that uses quirky and creative language, made-up, whimsical words, and silly but complicated names. Bartholomew Cubbins, King Derwin of Didd鈥檚 page boy, would not necessarily be considered gifted, but the story itself might appeal to gifted children. It is longer and more advanced than many Dr. Seuss stories and emphasizes the importance of gratitude for our world, no matter how boring it may seem at times; the value of humility; and the importance of sincere reconciliation. Oobleck is a sticky, thick substance that blankets the town and completely hinders everyday life, and though it may appear to be one of Seuss鈥� famed word concoctions, oobleck is, in reality, a viscous substance made from corn starch.

The Boxcar Children series created by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Each of the siblings in this series exhibits at least one gifted quality: Henry鈥檚 innate intelligence and abundance of knowledge; Jessica鈥檚 ease in an adult role, meticulous particularity, and fearlessness; Violet鈥檚 sensitivities and love for animals; and Benjamin鈥檚 acute curiosity comprise many of the traits with which a gifted reader might identify.

As a bonus, here are some additional recommendations from our Facebook fans and blog readers:

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L鈥橢ngle
• Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
• A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

We also recommend , whose books our gifted kids cannot get enough of!

Want to receive more recommendations plus gifted resources and tips straight to your inbox? Sign up for the 优蜜视频 e-newsletter!

In case you missed any of these, we wanted to take this opportunity to share the five most popular posts from the last year:

1. 
   The lovable title character in Roald Dahl鈥檚 Matilda is a precocious young girl who can teach the world a lot about gifted kids.
2. 
   In this day and age of technology, more and more web-based resources are becoming available at our fingertips. Here are some great online educational resources.
3. 
   Lisa is a mother with a dilemma: 鈥淓very time I support my daughter鈥檚 need to look beautiful, I go through mental gymnastics.”
4. 
   鈥淭here is a right way to approach your school work and a wrong way,鈥� Lisa says. 鈥淏ut this isn鈥檛 a story about getting my son to do his homework the right way. This is about learning to accept his way.鈥�
5. 
   Is an aspiring Ph.D. in the sciences better served by an undergraduate education at a liberal arts college or a research university? Certified College Counselor Kate Duey explores this topic.

And, as an honorable mention, the most popular post in our Many Faces of Gifted series: ! Before Arden was six years old, he had already been interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, met Al Gore, been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live twice, and received a personal letter of encouragement from Bill Clinton.

We are so glad that you have found this blog helpful, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with valuable resources and information.

Please remember that this blog is for you, and we want to share what you want to see. We always .

Here鈥檚 to a great third year!

Which post has been your favorite? We鈥檇 love to know. Please share in the comment section below.

Like this post? Please share!


photo credit: via

1. We moved into our new home!

Thanks to a generous gift by a longstanding 优蜜视频 supporter and friend, we are excited to be in our new home!

2. was awarded the inaugural NAGC Global Awareness Network Annemarie Roeper Award.

优蜜视频 is the first organization to receive the Annemarie Roeper Award presented at the 2013 National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) National Convention by the NAGC Global Awareness Network. The award, in its inaugural year, is presented to one individual and one program 鈥渨hose efforts further develop global awareness for and by gifted children and those who are concerned with them. Annemarie Roeper, co-founder of the Global Awareness Network, held profound insights into the multifaceted inner world of gifted children and deeply understood the need to foster global awareness to reflect the unique perspectives of gifted children and to respond to their inherent concerns about the world they live in.鈥� We were honored to receive this award and to be in the amazing company of the first individual recipient, Dr. Linda Silverman.

3. 优蜜视频 community members gathered to discuss 优蜜视频鈥檚 strategic plan.

In September, 30 优蜜视频 staff members, board members, parents, and alumni gathered to discuss the direction of 优蜜视频. It was a fun and productive weekend, and we look forward to the next steps in this process as we plan for 优蜜视频鈥檚 continued growth. We greatly appreciate all of those who took time out of their busy schedules to help us with this crucial part of the strategic planning process. Keep an eye out for more information as we continue this process in the coming year.

4. and alumni celebrated a wide variety of successes.

Laura Ball, a CDB alumna from the class of 2006, received the prestigious Thiel Fellowship. Several CDB Scholars were named to the U.S. Math Olympic Team, and several will be on teams representing the U.S. in history, math, and science at an international level. 2013 Scholar Vinjai gave a . 2011 CDB Scholar Anirudh was selected as the winner of the United States Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP). 2010 CDB Scholar Kiran was selected as a Montage Memory Maker for his creation of web-based nonprofit Waste No Food. Fifteen new young students were also named .

5. 优蜜视频 honored two valued members of the 优蜜视频 community, Dr. Henri Ford and Mr. Stan Kong, at the .

In October, we hosted more than 90 guests at the home of 优蜜视频 supporters Kate Duey and Bob Malchione for the Moonlight & Stars Benefit Dinner. The evening brought together program alumni, Mentors, parents, board members, and supporters for a lovely evening celebrating 15 years of 优蜜视频 and honoring Dr. Henri Ford and Mr. Stan Kong for their service to 优蜜视频鈥檚 Apprenticeship Program and the Los Angeles community. The event raised more than $11,000 to support 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs for gifted youth. Thank you to all who attended and all who supported this event!

6. We launched Genius Day, a new initiative for our continuously developing Academy program.

These days of deep learning give students the opportunity to work with an expert in the field as they uncover the contributions of a person we consider a genius. The first Genius Day focused on Charles Darwin, while students in the .

We also offered听15 new Academy classes over the course of 2013 and gained many wonderful new Academy instructors. New classes included: Academic & Personal Strengths Coaching, Chemistry Lab, Egyptian Mythology, the Female Hero in Myth & Literature, , Primary Advanced Language Arts, Primary Advanced Math, Rube Goldberg History & Creation, and many more!

7. The gifted community found new resources and support in 优蜜视频 social media.

Thousands of visitors viewed the 优蜜视频 blog over the past year, with many resources for parents of gifted kids proving helpful and popular. 鈥溾�� was our most popular blog post, as it struck a chord with many who identify with the beloved children鈥檚 book character. On , 优蜜视频 also reached a milestone of 1,000 fans.

8. 优蜜视频 hosted seven free .听

优蜜视频 hosts monthly talks to explore ways to meet gifted children鈥檚 particular needs and learn more about this amazing group of young people. These meetings are intended primarily for parents of gifted children to provide support and community in the midst of the joys and challenges of raising a gifted child. In 2013, speakers included 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden, parent Sharon Duncan, gifted expert Dr. Joanna Haase, 优蜜视频 President Elizabeth Jones, past program participants, and college counsellor Kate Duey.

9. Students, parents, and supporters gathered for .

In July, 115 students, parents, and supporters of gifted education gathered at USC for 优蜜视频鈥檚 Summer Spotlight 2013, an event designed to showcase gifted students and the programs we offer to meet their needs.

10. saw a second successful year in Colorado.

Twenty-four campers from across the country joined us for . This was the second year of Yunasa West, a second location for our pioneering Yunasa summer camps, and it proved to be yet another memorable and magical year!

11. Three new staff members joined our team.

• Lauren Albrecht, Development Coordinator
• Louise Hindle, Academy Coordinator
• Min-Ling Li, Program Coordinator working with Apprenticeship

12. Forty-two high school students from across the country came to Los Angeles to work with eminent Mentors through our .

These students worked in fields such as biomathematics, ethnomusicology, architecture, physics, pediatric medical research, industrial design, and more. Apprentices gained hands-on experience in their area of study. Sneha, a Media Relations and Social Media Apprentice at USC, .

13. And, most importantly of all, 优蜜视频 programs supported more than 200 bright young minds!

As you can see, 2013 was a great year for 优蜜视频, and we could not have done any of this without your support.

Philanthropic support for 优蜜视频 was extremely strong in 2013. We continue to receive tremendous support from families who have benefited from 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs as well as from friends of the work we do. Thank you to all who contributed this year and to the numerous volunteers who assisted in our programming, marketing, and fundraising efforts. Thanks to you, we are able to deliver our unique and highly customized programs to even more bright and eager learners across the country.

Thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to an amazing 2014!

Interested in 2014 programs? Applications and information for all 2014 优蜜视频 programs are now available .