It has been a year since the pandemic caused havoc, chaos and culminating to eventual acceptance that this will be our norm for now, full of anxiety and stress. Most children and families have adjusted to our pandemic norm, from online learning, zoom meetings, parents/guardians turning into homeschool teachers whilst working from home, and having to adhere to safety protocols on a daily basis, whether taking a walk outside your neighborhood, or going into the grocery store.

Because of such added stress and anxiety, parents and children need some type of support, activity or other types of de-stressors to be able to cope.

Below are some articles, podcasts, reading materials to help parents and their children on how to cope and maintain a healthier social, emotional and mental well being: from tuning in to funny and silly podcasts to alleviate or ease the tension and sadness, to hearing and learning how children can be supported emotionally. These resources are found on our Gifted Resource Center webpage.

This is a podcast about raising kids who love learning. Listen to how others help inspire kids to view their world with play, passion and fascination. Podcasts such as talks about self-care and that parents must take care of themselves in order to take care of their children. But what about our kids, especially those who are gifted and twice exceptional? How do we help them learn coping skills and emotional regulation? How do we help them identify what they need to take care of their own bodies and souls?

The Deep End is a blog written by Stephanie Tolan, which she hopes will help create a space to discuss the needs and challenges of being a gifted child. A recent blog post 鈥淲ellbeing 鈥� A No Limits Approach鈥�, talks about what does wellbeing mean to children with non-ordinary minds and non-ordinary needs, and more than that鈥攃hildren living, suddenly, like the rest of us, in utterly non-ordinary times

The Fringy Bit is a website started by the parents of three 鈥渇ringy鈥� kids. They use this term to describe children who are gifted and those who experience other forms of neuro-diversity. Through their website, they have created a blog and podcast, focusing on creating a community for the parents of gifted children. Heather Boorman has a background in clinical social work, and her husband Jonathan is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Enjoy their bonus podcast episodes on 鈥淨uarantine Quips鈥�, that include short episodes talking about strategies, support, silliness and whatever else comes of Heather and Jon鈥檚 mouths and minds.

Help your gifted child embrace their uniqueness. In this workbook, a therapist offers fun activities and strategies to help children ages 7 to 12 boost self-confidence, reduce stress and overwhelm, and balance emotions.

Designed to provide support for the difficult job of parenting and teaching gifted children, “Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students: Helping Kids Cope With Explosive Feelings” provides the resource parents and teachers need to not only understand why gifted children are so extreme in their behavior, but also learn specific strategies to teach gifted children how to live with their intensity.

This blog provides resources for gifted children who struggle with anxiety. In addition to posts and discussions specific to giftedness and anxiety, the site also offers a purchasable 鈥淭aking Time for Me鈥� journal to help children manage their anxiety through mindfulness and gratitude.

TiLT Parenting was founded in 2016 by Debbie Reber as a podcast and community aimed at helping parents raising differently-wired kids do so from a place of confidence, connection, and joy. Debbie is passionate about the idea that being differently wired isn鈥檛 a deficit 鈥攊t鈥檚 a difference. She hopes to change the way difference is perceived and experienced in the world so these exceptional kids, and the parents raising them, can thrive in their schools, in their families, and in their lives. Check out the podcast with Dr. Michele Borba on 鈥淗ow to Help Kids Thrive in an Anxious World鈥�.

Understood is dedicated to shaping a world where millions of people who learn and think differently can thrive at home, at school, and at work. Several featured resources are available such as 鈥淗ow to help your child manage a fear, 6 signs your child is resilient鈥�.

This book by Allison Edwards guides readers through the mental and emotional process of where children鈥檚 fears come from and why they are so hard to move past. Edwards focuses on how to parent a child who is both smart and anxious. She brings her years of experience as a therapist to offer fifteen specially designed tools for helping smart kids manage their fears.

Additional Resources:

CDC鈥檚 Stress and Coping webpage provides resources and information on how to deal and cope with stress, such as coping with job stress, adults experiencing stress from Covid-19, responding to loss, and coping and support for children.

CDC developed the to help support parents, caregivers, and other adults serving children and young people in recognizing children and young people鈥檚 social, emotional, and mental health challenges and helping to ensure their well-being.

Living through a pandemic has not been easy. For gifted children particularly 鈥� whose advanced cognitive abilities are often coupled with heightened intensity 鈥� It鈥檚 been especially challenging to adjust to this 鈥渘ew normal.鈥�

While intellectually understanding the situation we face, a young gifted child may not yet possess the emotional vocabulary to process what鈥檚 going on around them. This can cause anxiety, stress, and can seriously affect their overall wellbeing.

At Yunasa Summer Camps for Gifted, campers learn to practice mindfulness to calm their busy mind, and to fully be in the present moment without judgement or fear. As writer Stephanie Tolan shared, 鈥済ifted children can spend a lot of time in their minds, mindfulness can help the gifted child to slow down, and focus on their bodies and how they are responding to their environments鈥︹��

Practicing mindfulness is learning to be more aware 鈥� of the present moment, of one鈥檚 bodily sensations, of one鈥檚 emotional state. By recognizing that there are other aspects of the self in addition to their mind, gifted children learn to integrate their whole self 鈥� the social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual 鈥� as they approach decision-making and emotional response with confidence and resiliency.

Practicing mindfulness during the pandemic can be a very important tool for gifted children to weather this storm with their inner strength. 优蜜视频 has created a monthly Mindfulness Calendar to share with families. To get your February calendar, please visit here.

Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about our Yunasa camps and how we plan to run a safe camp, please visit our program page.

On February 9, 2019, 优蜜视频 celebrated its 20^th anniversary! The event took place at Annandale Golf Club with over 100 guests in attendance. Student volunteers played music, facilitated jeopardy and mingled with guests. One family even put on a photo booth for the event! It was truly a wonderful night filled with old and new community members celebrating 20 years of friendship and services for gifted youth.

The evening also honored several key players in 优蜜视频鈥檚 development as an organization: . The honorees flew in from all over the country for the occasion.

Student speakers, Nico and Alondra, shared about their experiences with 优蜜视频 and the impact that the programs, teachers and support have had on their life.

After dinner, a there was a DJ, dancing, desert, more jeopardy and photos.

All in all the evening was a wonderful success. Thank you to all of those who helped support this event, including: Dennis Finnerman, Jill Hawkins & MHP Events, the sponsors and guests. We are so grateful for all of you!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Giant Sequoia

The Bradley Foundation
The Burke Family

Jeffrey Pine

Betsy Jones & Ted Mergenthaler
The McDonell Family
Teri and John Valentine

Live Oak

The Balbuena Family
Becky and Peter Knell
The Lee Family
Math Academy
Parents of Alexander Miller
Rodriguez, Horii, Choi & Cafferata, LLP
The Tracey Family

Media Sponsor

Pasadena Now

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As part of the festivities, we will be honoring two groups instrumental to the founding of 优蜜视频.

优蜜视频 Senior Fellows

The Senior Fellows have years of experience working with gifted youth and shaping gifted discourse. Their expertise was crucial to the development of 优蜜视频 through the research and implementation of the awarding winning camps.听 Their years of service as facilitators at Yunasa and advisors to 优蜜视频 remain invaluable.

Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden is a licensed psychologist who has worked holistically with thousands of gifted and profoundly gifted children, adolescents, and adults for more than 35 years. In her adjunct educational consulting practice, she has helped parents, educators, and administrators understand and accept the multifaceted inner world and needs of gifted individuals. Dr. Gatto-Walden additionally provides two-day comprehensive family retreats, entitled 鈥渆ducational consulting and family renewal,鈥� which blend counseling and consulting services. She is a featured speaker at gifted conferences and educational workshops throughout the nation.

Michael M. Piechowski, Ph.D. is the author of Mellow Out, They Say. If I Only Could: Intensities and Sensitivities of the Young and Bright and Living with Intensity (with S. Daniels). Earning a PhD first in Molecular Biology and later in Counseling Psychology, he served as a faculty member at three universities and one small college. He has published extensively in the areas of emotional development, developmental potential of the gifted, and emotional and spiritual giftedness. He is one of the original designers of Yunasa. In 2016 he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by SENG and the NAGC Global Awareness Network Annemarie Roeper Award.

Stephanie Tolan, M.A. is author of 27 books of fiction for children and young adults, including the Newbery Honor Award-winning novel Surviving the Applewhites and Applewhites at Wit鈥檚 End, Listen!, Welcome to the Ark, Flight of the Raven, and Ordinary Miracles. Her non-fiction writing includes Guiding the Gifted Child (co-author), Change Your Story, Change Your Life, and an article about highly gifted children that has been translated into more than 40 languages, 鈥淚s It a Cheetah?鈥� She is a well-known lecturer and advocate for highly gifted young people.

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

The has been a pivotal supporter of 优蜜视频 since the organization鈥檚 inception. Their generosity has assisted 优蜜视频 in its general operations, public policy efforts, and technology program.

In 2014, with generous support from Sarah D. Barder, The Bradley Foundation has continued to fund the 听 initiative. 听Since its inception in 2002, the program has awarded 293 high school students with merit based scholarships. These students are provided with the resources and guidance to find and attend an optimally-matched high school program that meets their unique intellectual and personal needs. This guidance and support continues throughout their high school careers.

Support from The Bradley Foundation has enabled 优蜜视频 to serve thousands of gifted children over the years and continues to help us fight for a population very much in need of services.

Join the Celebration!

Join us on February 9th at our 20^th Anniversary Celebration, to be held at The Annandale Golf Club of Pasadena, and help show our appreciation for these and other exceptional advocates for gifted education.

To sponsor and/or purchase tickets or a program ad to the event, click .

The word unique is very often misused in our country. It means 鈥渙ne of a kind.鈥� So something has to be either unique or not unique. It can鈥檛 be very, or especially, or extraordinarily. And I cannot be more unique than thou.

I define the term to begin this post because it鈥檚 important to start with the understanding that every single human being is unique. Even among identical twins, the two humans who can fit under the category of 鈥渕ost alike,鈥� the individuals are not actually identical, as any pair of them will attest. Their genetic makeup may be the same, but their experiences are inevitably different, so the adjustments to attitude, belief, and feeling that those different experiences create lead them down paths that, no matter how similar, are clearly separate. This is what keeps the concept of cloning from being the creation of identical beings. There, too, different experience would inevitably create separation. Difference.

The reason I think this word and the principle it represents is worth writing about in this particular moment is that the culture we live in, though it has always found differences tricky to deal with, is especially challenged just now. We categorize people by differences, and then all too often treat people (and value them) not as individuals, but by category, as if that is all we need to know. The attributes we use to create those categories are infinite. Sex/gender, age, skin color, athletic prowess (or lack thereof), religion or belief system, social status, income level, nationality. Well, you get it. Infinite categories.

This categorizing is natural to humans; it can and does provide us useful, even necessary information. But it can also lead us astray. Judging people by the category we鈥檝e assigned them can be harmful, to them and to us. While creating a category shows us differences, it simultaneously helps us forget that many more aspects of humanity are shared among us all. It enhances our human tendency to think in terms of them and us, and can exacerbate competitiveness and encourage hostility. This has happened, for instance, through all the decades since Gifted became a category, and the arguments about it continue without pause. These arguments often lead both those inside it and those outside of it to oversimplify complex realities and downplay or ignore entirely basic human needs on both sides.

In 2012 I wrote a blog post on The Deep End titled It is much longer than this post, but is closely related. The 鈥渨ho鈥� of a person is the individual beingness–uniqueness. The 鈥渨hat鈥� is a category. That piece, the second one I posted on my then brand new blog, was written for its intended audience, those within not just the gifted category, but the highly to profoundly gifted category. After more than 30 years interacting with parents (and being one myself) I knew all too well how easy it can be to lose sight of the individual beingness of one鈥檚 child while trying to be sure that his or her category needs are met.

I stand by that blog post today. But I am also acutely aware of those 鈥渂asic human needs鈥� that all humans have no matter what categories they fit into, or how those categories are perceived by those outside of them. Having moved to upstate New York to be closer to family, I now spend rather a lot of time in New York City, and I am constantly reminded, as I travel on its subways, of the uniqueness of every single human individual鈥攖he extraordinary differences among us! For right now, when our country is wracked by hostility over our differences, I think we more than ever in my own recent memory need to do our best to wrap our heads (and more especially our hearts) around the paradox inherent in the original motto proposed and established by the founding fathers in 1776 that used to be on our currency鈥�e pluribus unum. We are many. We are each unique. And we are also One.

Quantum physics tells us we are 鈥渟tar stuff.鈥� And yet we are vastly different from stars. It tells us that we are energy because everything is energy, that we are therefore related not just to each other, but to elephants and mice and trees and orchids. Our kids have the capacity to 鈥済et this,鈥� but we need to 鈥済et it鈥� as well and do our best to hold onto it even as we work for the benefit of our children鈥檚 particular category.

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Upon accepting my position at 优蜜视频 I sought to learn more about giftedness in order to communicate our message in the best way possible. I was familiar with giftedness in a general way through my background in educational nonprofits, but wanted to learn more about the joys, struggles and nuances of the youth we serve.

Fortunately there are many resources out there, enough to satisfy a research junkie such as myself. Some of my favorites are:

Stephanie Tolan鈥檚 widely-read essay was one of the first recommended readings on giftedness I explored. Using the metaphor of a cheetah鈥檚 speed, Tolan makes the case that you can鈥檛 judge giftedness on one trait alone. If schools are using academic performance as the sole measure for placing students in gifted programs it is easy for bored, unchallenged children not reaching their full potential to be left by the wayside. The use of metaphor was helpful to understand the complex nature of giftedness and the trouble schools face in identifying and serving these individuals.

Hoagies is a more than just the page the name suggests, it鈥檚 a whole website filled with gifted resources. The section is a comprehensive primer on all things gifted, including links to everything from scholarly articles to funny anecdotes about the everyday lives of gifted children. Carolyn K. puts a lot听of time into curating the page and it shows. A must-read for anyone looking for information on giftedness.

While not a gifted-specific resource, NPR covers gifted issues in the context of the broader education system. I find this useful to discern the attitude toward giftedness outside of our community and to see how gifted issues correlate with those being experienced by the system as a whole. The coverage often has a focus on the needs of economically disadvantaged gifted students and those who come from non-English speaking homes.

Lastly, I need to give credit to 优蜜视频鈥檚 鈥淲hat is Gifted?鈥� webpage. The page is an overview on the common characteristics of gifted youth, including an explanation on underachievement in the gifted. Most helpful to me was the glossary of terms often used when referring to giftedness and gifted education.

There are more resources available than I can possibly name in a blog post, so I encourage you to do some further digging beyond this list.

What is your favorite resource for those new to giftedness?

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Nicole LaChance听graduated from Michigan State University听with听a B.A. in Journalism before moving West in pursuit of milder winters.听Prior to joining the 优蜜视频 team, she spent time working in marketing for an architecture firm and completed two years of national service in the AmeriCorps program. Over the past few years she has worked with听nonprofits to听communicate their message and impact to the world around them, work she is excited to continue at 优蜜视频. When not at the office, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling wherever she can and making bad puns.

优蜜视频鈥檚 pioneering unite highly able youngsters with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

When I sat down to write a blog post on the wonder of Yunasa and Yunasa West, I was completely baffled as to how to begin. I sat, hands stagnant upon my keyboard as I searched for words that would adequately capture the essence of this magical summer. When I am thwarted by writer鈥檚 block, I often feel compelled to turn to the words of a beloved author or poet for inspiration. And so, I begin this blog with the words of Hafez, a Persian poet from the fourteenth century.

鈥淲ith That Moon Language鈥� by Hafez

Admit something: Everyone you see, you say to them, 鈥淟ove me.鈥�
Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise
Someone would call the cops.
Still though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.
Why not become the one who lives with a
Full moon in each eye that is always saying,
With that sweet moon language, what every other eye in
This world is dying to hear?

At Yunasa last year, I was deeply moved by the overall acceptance I witnessed as the uniqueness and individuality and quirkiness of each child was celebrated by the entire group. I never experienced anything like that amongst my peers as a child, and I felt grateful that a place exists where such unconditional acceptance envelopes each young person. This year, I was especially struck by the wisdom of the campers at both Yunasa and Yunasa West.

I watched, in awe, as campers 鈥� both new and seasoned 鈥� intentionally reached out to include some of the more shy and timid children; I listened, in awe, to conversations between campers that reflected profound insight and deep thought; and I shared conversations with quite a few campers whose empathy and self-understanding touched me deeply. This year, the Counselors in Training (CITs) at Yunasa in Michigan decided to orchestrate a 鈥渇riendship panel,鈥� or an open discussion with the entire population of campers about issues pertaining to relationships amongst friends. The younger campers had lots of questions, both general and specific, and the CITs demonstrated the type of wisdom one encounters within clusters of brilliant philosophers. They led an enlightening and interesting conversation that could easily have continued for hours.

Both camps were marked by traditional Yunasa Programming: Heart of the Matter 鈥� small group sessions with clinical psychologist and Senior Fellow Patty Gatto-Walden; Fellows鈥� Workshops, e.g., Emotional Life of the Brain with Michael Piechowski, Energy Healing with Stef Tolan, Archetypes: The Four-Fold Way with Shelagh Gallagher and Dan Tichenor, and Psychosynthesis Scenarios with Jim Delisle; Counselors鈥� Workshops, e.g., Duct Tape Crafts with Darcy, Russian Fairy Tales with Paul, Soccer with Lucy and Steph, History with Wade, and Music Improv with Ethan; traditional camp activities 鈥� zipline, giant swing, high ropes, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, and hammockville; Psychosynthesis 鈥� daily guided meditation in small groups; and evening activities such as the Variety Show, Campfire, Social, and Movie Night (we watched Big Hero Six). Special guests of Yunasa West 鈥� Louise Hindle and Dr. Amy Gaesser 鈥� offered workshops on poetry and EFT, respectively. Dr. April DeGennarro, our special guest at Yunasa Michigan, offered two compelling workshops pertaining to the identity we display on social media.

At Yunasa West, each psychosynthesis group performed a skit to demonstrate one of Dabrowski鈥檚 overexcitabilities. The Fellows, counselors, and I laughed hysterically as our wise young campers harnessed their creativity and impressive theatric talent to portray individuals who exemplify the intellectual, sensual, imaginational, emotional, and psychomotor overexcitabilities. Although we all laughed 鈥� a lot 鈥� their dramatic depictions were not far from reality!

This year, we read Listen! by Stef Tolan to correspond with the Yunasa theme, which was also 鈥淟isten.鈥� We chose this theme because listening to our bodies, minds, spirits, emotions, and, of course, listening to one another is imperative as we seek balance. At Yunasa, we aim to pay attention 鈥� to listen closely 鈥� to the world around us, even as we sit silently amongst the trees, absorbing the sounds, colors, life, and history of our surroundings. Listening and mindfulness are closely related. As I listen, I grow attentive to the way my body feels and what that means; I am able to gauge my emotions with a deeper sensitivity; I am more equipped to empathize with others.

I have now participated in three Yunasa camps, and each time, I come home with a heightened sense of attentiveness. My interactions with the Fellows, campers, and counselors of Yunasa help me return to a vibrant place of attention. We miss so much when we dwell inside our heads, bend our heads over our phones, and stare blankly as we move through life. Thank you, people of Yunasa, for existing and for inspiring.

And with that, I shall end this blog post in the same way it began.

鈥淭en times a day something happens to me like this 鈥� some strengthening throb of amazement 鈥� some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.鈥�
鈥揗ary Oliver

Be Yourself

鈥淚t is very frustrating not to be understood in this world. If you say one thing and keep being told that you mean something else, it can make you want to scream. But somewhere in the world there is a place for all of us, whether you are an electric form of decoration, peppermint-scented sweet, a source of timber, or a potato pancake.鈥� 鈥� Lemony Snicket, The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story

“Never be ashamed! There’s some who’ll hold it against you, but they’re not worth bothering with.” 鈥� J.K. Rowling

鈥淏e who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don鈥檛 matter, and those who matter don鈥檛 mind.鈥� 鈥� Dr. Seuss

You are Unique and Special and Complex; Embrace It

鈥淭here’s such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I’m such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn’t be half so interesting.鈥� 鈥� L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

You Will Find Your Tribe, and It Will Be Magical

鈥淜indred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.鈥� 鈥� L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

鈥淲e are all a little weird and life鈥檚 a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.鈥� 鈥� Dr. Seuss

Use Your Talents to Make the World a Better Place

“‘We can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts.'” 鈥� Madeline L’Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” 鈥� J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter

Do Not Be Afraid of Failure or Obstacles

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” 鈥� Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Live in the Present

鈥淵esterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.鈥� 鈥� A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Embrace Life鈥檚 Quiet Moments

鈥淚n this modern world where activity is stressed almost to the point of mania, quietness as a childhood need is too often overlooked. Yet a child’s need for quietness is the same today as it has always been鈥攊t may even be greater鈥攆or quietness is an essential part of all awareness. In quiet times and sleepy times a child can dwell in thoughts of his own, and in songs and stories of his own.鈥� 鈥� Margaret Wise Brown

Dream Big

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream” 鈥� C.S. Lewis

鈥淟isten to the mustn鈥檛s, child,
Listen to the Don鈥檛s
Listen to the shouldn鈥檛
The Impossible, the won鈥檛s
Listen to the never haves
Then listen close to me 鈥�
Anything can happen child,
Anything can be.鈥�
鈥� Shel Silverstein

鈥淗ow do we know imagination isn’t just a different way of knowing something? A message from outside.鈥� 鈥� Stephanie S. Tolan, Welcome to the Ark

Listen to Your Heart

鈥溾�楨yes are blind. You have to look with the heart!鈥欌�� 鈥� Antoine de Saint-Exup茅ry, The Little Prince

Believe in Yourself

鈥淧romise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.鈥� 鈥� A. A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

What are your favorite lessons from children鈥檚 literature? Share in the comment section below.

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Related reading:

Brianna has worked at 优蜜视频 since 2011 and with gifted students since 2009. She graduated from Biola University with her BA in Humanities and English and is particularly interested in how literary art can inform issues in human psychology about how individuals conceive of themselves and make decisions.听

The word 鈥渘ormal鈥� is often casually batted across the field of developmental psychology, and I shudder at the implicit limitations of such a word. Sure, 鈥渘ormal鈥� is a practical point of reference for understanding how children grow, in what ways and at what ages. When used descriptively, it can be a useful tool for seeing general patterns of physical, cognitive, and emotional development. The harm seems to come when we choose, often without realizing, to see normative development through a prescriptive lens. To prescribe 鈥渘ormal鈥� as the measure of a healthy, happy child may confine us to a definition too narrow to allow the perspective that each child is a unique instantiation of life, and therefore will develop in his or her own unique way.

For those parenting a child at either end of the bell curve, the normalcy lens can cause more trouble than not. Any parent of a gifted or special needs child (or in some cases, the twice-exceptional child) can attest to the fact that, if normal is the rule, their child is indeed the exception. For these parents, it can be a challenge to let go of normative expectations and accept their child鈥檚 distinctive development.

These variations from the norm can be hard to define. Gifted has often been conflated with achievement and accolade, with success being the primary identifier of a truly gifted child. This seems a narrow perspective, considering the thousands of across America, to give one example. It also fails to account for the notion that gifted children don鈥檛 develop in a linear, synchronous way. Parents often speak of their gifted child embodying many ages at once, oscillating from an 鈥渙ld soul鈥� to an emotional 3-year-old from one minute to the next. Imagine, for instance, the gifted child who spends her weekends learning computer languages like Java and C++ but who falls to pieces if asked to perform a repetitive task like copying vocabulary words ten times. How can we best define this simultaneous abundance and lack, which to us can appear so out of the norm?

In 1991, a group of gifted education specialists (both parents and professionals) came together to ask the听question 鈥� 鈥淲hat is gifted?鈥� They gathered in Columbus, Ohio, (giving them the name 鈥淐olumbus Group鈥�) to search for听an answer to this deceptively simple听question. One member, Stephanie Tolan, recalls: 鈥溾�e agreed that in almost every way these children were out of sync with expectations, norms, and averages鈥� (Off the Charts, 14). Indeed, the gifted child will no doubt disappoint or confuse the parent who prescribes to normative expectations.

From their discussion, the Columbus Group conceived of the concept 鈥渁synchrony鈥� to describe the basic features of the gifted child. Their child-centered 鈥� not product or achievement centered 鈥� definition has been adopted by many gifted organizations (优蜜视频 included), schools, and educators as the most inclusive explanation of the gifted individual.

鈥淕iftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counseling in order for them to develop optimally鈥� (Columbus Group, 1991).

For young gifted people, the pressure for normalcy can easily sneak its way into their self-perception, either through internal or external influences, or both. Acceptance of their giftedness as an integral part of self is crucial during childhood and adolescence, as they are in the most critical stages of development. Asynchrony, not normalcy, should be the lens through which we understand the growing gifted individual, and should provide educators and parents alike a better framework for helping them to learn and grow into their best possible self.

If you are interested in learning more about asynchrony, I strongly recommend . Among the contributors are 优蜜视频 Senior Fellows, Dr. Michael Piechowski, Stephanie Tolan, and Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden, as well as Yunasa Fellow, Dr. Shelagh Gallagher. We are honored to have an ongoing relationship with some of the most renowned experts in the field today. To learn more about it or order it online, please visit .

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Jennifer is a recent addition to the 优蜜视频 staff and attended Yunasa for the first time this summer. 优蜜视频鈥檚 pioneering unite highly able youngsters with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

Yunasa 2014 left me breathless 鈥� perhaps because this was my first Yunasa experience, or perhaps because Yunasa is a special and unique hub of safety, growth, and unparalleled camp-magic. The afternoon of Sunday, July 27, campers began to filter into the conference center of Camp Copneconic in Fenton, Michigan; some brows were knitted, some smiles were uncertain, some faces looked thoughtful. Several of the kids seemed to float, others skipped, many hugged with excited ferocity, quite a few squealed and jumped up and down as they spotted a friend. The older campers 鈥� deemed either EL for 鈥楨merging Leader鈥� or CIT for 鈥楥ounselor in Training鈥� 鈥� whose bonds with one another are indurate after years of Yunasa, dispersed to welcome the younger campers, show them to their rooms, and initiate ice-breaking exercises. Kids who seemed a bit apprehensive were directed to the table of Yunasa Buddies, cuddly stuffed animals donated by staff and campers meant to offer a bit of comfort throughout the week.

On the first night of camp, Newbury Honor Award winner and 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow Stephanie Tolan led a group discussion on her work, Flight of the Raven, the second book in a series about four gifted youth who combine powers to save a violent, troubled world. I was immediately struck by the depth and intelligence of the conversation; the questions the campers asked were interesting and insightful. And so mature. Was I sitting in on a college literature course or was I watching a summer camp unfold?

During the rest of the week, the Fellows offered a variety of workshops about topics such as literary archetypes, the emotional life of the brain, 鈥済ifted gripes鈥�, contemporary music, line dancing, energy healing, and soul collage 鈥� the art of assembling randomly selected pictures torn from assorted magazines into a piece that, once finished, renders an interesting reflection of the artist. Yunasa Fellow Dan Tichenor headed the Rube Goldberg team, a committed group who worked all week to create a highly complicated machine with the sole mission of turning a single page in a book. In twenty years, Dan has seen only one Rube Goldberg machine that actually fulfilled its purpose. This year, the Yunasa team succeeded! The page was turned.

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Each camper was assigned to a psychosynthesis group, which was led by one of the Fellows and met each day to practice guided imagery and mind-calming techniques. Everyone also had the opportunity to participate in Heart of the Matter, a session in which groups were able to discuss the issues they have dealt with throughout the year with Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden, 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow and licensed psychologist.

Unity amongst the campers began to form on Sunday night, and by Monday, the day of the Opening Ceremony and Spirit Journey, genuine connections were becoming apparent. The solemn respect, acceptance, and love of these campers seemed to permeate the circle surrounding the campfire.

To develop their physical selves, campers participated in various high adventure activities like Creek Freak 鈥� a zipline that sends campers soaring over an expanse of rocky creek, Tower Zipline 鈥� a higher version that catapults the truly courageous from the top of an enormous tower, the Giant Swing, and a high ropes course. Some of the more leisurely activities included fishing, archery, canoeing, and Hammockville 鈥� a glorious conglomeration of trees where campers set up hammocks and relax.

Every Yunasa evening offered a special camp-wide activity. The leadership campers organized a beach party and subsequent campfire…

A movie-themed social…

And a Variety Show.

An ice cream social and the Closing Ceremony were held on the final night of camp.

In a post-camp survey, one of our fabulous leadership campers articulated, “The friendships I have made and inner confidence I have gained has made this year’s Yunasa experience totally valuable in a way that I couldn’t ever have imagined. Even though the past five Yunasas I have been to were amazing and life-changing, this one left me truly speechless.鈥�

For me, watching these incredible kids emerge from their comfort zones to reach out, forge deep friendships, grow emotionally, and take physical risks was an inspiration and a delight.

See more photos from camp!