I have only been at 优蜜视频 for six months, but in that time one of the most frequent struggles I have heard from parents is how their child does not fit in socially. This is no surprise, due to the asynchronous development many gifted children experience, which causes them to develop at a different level socially than they do intellectually. This can cause kids to feel 鈥渄ifferent鈥� from their peers, leading to low social self-esteem.

Low social self-esteem is not just a problem for gifted children, but it can manifest differently and more intensely in them. Michelle Muratori, a senior counselor and researcher at the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, notes in an article for :

鈥淐ompetence and achievement are generally thought to be vital elements of self-esteem and are intertwined with a child鈥檚 evaluation and awareness of his or her own worth, so people may mistakenly conclude that gifted children are exempt from low self-esteem because they appear to be very competent and high achieving.鈥�

Muratori goes on to say that, while gifted children are not necessarily more susceptible to low self-esteem than their non-gifted peers, their self-esteem issues are more likely to be overlooked by others or hidden by the child themselves.

One of the main causes of low social self-esteem in gifted children is what . 聽Kroon notes that many gifted people have a strong need for honesty and transparency, yet many of those considered socially successful are good at knowing what is expected from them to fit in with the norm. They will often choose to protect themselves socially rather than doing what is 鈥渞ight鈥�, which is at odds with the way many gifted children think.

This can make fitting in socially difficult, since belonging to most peer groups requires some conformity. It often leads gifted kids with low self-esteem to believe they have to choose between being accepted by their peers and being true to who they are. Additionally, Kroon notes that, due to the often present, gifted kids tend to be more intense in their feelings. Often, this causes them either to stand out or try to be unnoticed, making them easy targets for teasing and bullies.

鈥淭hese students may unfortunately internalize the message that it is not OK for them to be who they truly are, which may damage their global self-esteem,鈥� said Muratori. Furthermore, , notes that gifted children are not always taught to use their many capabilities to solve the problem and need help obtaining a balanced view of their self-worth in both a social and intellectual context.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your gifted child improve their social self-esteem.

• Find opportunities for them to interact with intellectual peers. Friends are an essential component to boosting social self-esteem. Start by talking to your school鈥檚 gifted coordinator, or connecting with a gifted advocacy group in your state. (优蜜视频鈥檚 Gifted Resource Center has a state-by-state list.) Ask them about social or interest groups that would fit your child. Also, consider inquiring about parent groups, where you can foster connections for both your child and yourself. If there are no groups in your area, some parents have recommended searching online resources and connecting your child with a pen pal. Keep in mind that gifted children may not always find close friends in their age group.
• Help them recognize their contributions. Kroon notes that it is important to remember that your child is a complex person with both intellectual and emotional needs. Help them recognize their contributions in all facets of their life by making a list of accomplishments they are proud of beyond just academics.
• Don鈥檛 let them think everything is easy. that some gifted children develop the idea that, if they are smart, everything will come easily to them. This makes them more likely to quit when something, such as finding a friend group, becomes difficult. Remind them that even the best performers practice a lot and help them develop a manageable plan for overcoming obstacles.
• Seek counseling if the need arises. Sometimes, even with the best parental and teacher support, a gifted child may need counseling to deal with issues related to low social self-esteem, notes .

Hopefully, with a little help and lots of patience, your gifted child will develop a healthy social self-esteem and be able to reach their full potential in all areas of life.

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Jennifer is 优蜜视频’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator. She works closely with 优蜜视频’s social media and connects with parents and educators of gifted children regularly through social networks.

Social networks seem to be everywhere, with new networks and tools popping up all the time. You are probably using social networks already, but did you know that they are more than just great ways to connect with friends from high school? They are also excellent gifted resources.

Why Social Media for Gifted?

We know that gifted children bring both joy and unique challenges. As the parent of a gifted child, you need support and resources tailored specifically to gifted children. It is also valuable to interact with other parents of gifted children to recognize that there are others out there going through similar challenges. Sometimes, especially if you live in a rural area, these parents and resources can be difficult to find and connect with in person. That鈥檚 where social networks come in.

Social networks allow you to connect with other parents and teachers of gifted children across the country to share stories and suggestions, form support groups, and advocate for gifted children!

Plus, there are many gifted advocates, experts, and organizations using these networks as platforms to connect with you and provide you with the resources and support you are looking for.

The most popular and generally most valuable social media for gifted parents are:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Blogs

Here, I will discuss how to use Facebook as a resource. Other social media will be discussed in future posts.

Getting Started on Facebook

Since many of you are on Facebook already for personal reasons, this is a great network to start with. The same reasons you use Facebook already 鈥� networking, staying in touch with people you鈥檝e met or who do not live near you, connecting with brands you like for news and information 鈥� can be used to your advantage for navigating the network as a gifted resource.

Start on Facebook by liking pages you think will be helpful. Search Facebook for any gifted organizations or groups that you are familiar with already. Make sure to click the 鈥淟ike鈥� button on those pages so that you will see some of their updates on your news feeds. where we offer gifted news and resources and provide a forum for discussion on giftedness, so be sure to during this process.

Then, search for pages or groups that you are not yet familiar with. This will help you widen your network. Try typing the search term 鈥済ifted鈥� 鈥� or any keyword that is important to you 鈥� in the Facebook search toolbar. You will come across many pages and groups, so explore the ones that seem interesting and pick a few that look helpful and engaging to 鈥渓ike.鈥�

Posts from the pages you follow will start to appear on your news feed. See what types of content are being shared and what is being discussed.

Engage

It is easy to sit back and watch for resources and interesting conversations on these networks, and that will be beneficial for you. But, to get the most out of the resources, you鈥檒l want to engage with others.

Here are some great ways to engage with other people in the field of gifted on Facebook:

• Comment on articles posted.
• Join discussions in progress.
• Ask questions.
• Share your experiences.
• 鈥淟ike鈥� articles and posts you find interesting.
• Share posts you think your friends would like on your wall.

Keep in mind that the rules of good networking apply to social networks, as well. Make sure to offer your advice, stories, and experiences when possible. These are communities built on collaboration, so do your best to offer something in return for the great advice and support you receive from others.

You should also make sure to keep the information on your personal profile page up to date so that people you are interacting with on other pages can see who you are. It鈥檚 always nice to know who you are talking to!

Continue to Build Your Network

When you meet people in real life that can be part of your gifted social network 鈥� parents, teachers, experts, advocates 鈥� don鈥檛 forget to friend them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, or connect with them on LinkedIn later. This is especially true when you meet people at conferences and support groups. If you want to keep your gifted network separate from your other networks, create a special friend list for these contacts. That way you can post things specifically for those friends you think will be most interested.

Like any network, the more you build your social network, the more you will get out of it. There are many parents of gifted children looking to connect with other parents of gifted children on social media. There are also many gifted professionals on social media looking to create or provide a personal learning network (PLN) online. Take advantage of social media as a resource for support and learning about your gifted child.

How has using Facebook as a resource on giftedness helped you? Please share your experience in the comment section below.

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