In today鈥檚 media and news, I feel like I hear more stories about the benefits of sharing emotions and discussing mental health than I ever did growing up. This is a wonderful thing and through popular media including television and movie portrayals and celebrity confessions, we are growing more accustomed to talking about historically taboo or just unknown topics surrounding emotions and mental health.

With great strides being made in these conversations, it seems important to discuss emotional intensity among our country鈥檚 brightest, and sometimes most vulnerable, youth.

The 聽has a great explanation for why gifted youth tend to experience more intense emotions, saying, 鈥淚ntellectual complexity goes hand in hand with emotional depth. Just as gifted children’s thinking is more complex and has more depth than other children’s, so too are their emotions more complex and more intense.鈥�

Gifted youth are often more aware of and affected by their surroundings. Children who feel things with great intensity experience the world in a different way than their non-gifted peers. Emotional or physical reactions to events can last longer for gifted children. These experiences of heightened stimulation observed in many gifted individuals are referred to as intensities or聽Overexcitabilities. Polish psychologist identified five overexcitabilities and their associated behaviors:

1. Psychomotor: Characterized primarily by high levels of energy
2. Sensual: Characterized by a heightened awareness of all five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing
3. Emotional: Characterized by extreme emotional sensitivity
4. Intellectual: Characterized by deep curiosity and thought
5. Imaginational: Characterized by vivid imagination and visualization

The first step in managing intense emotions is identifying and understanding them. If you think your child exhibits overexcitabilities, talk to your child about how they feel and react to certain situations. Healthy discussions around expressing emotions make everyone feel safer and more understood. Starting these discussions at a young age enforces good habits for the future.

How exactly do these overexcitabilities manifest themselves? It varies from child to child, but there are common associated with all five overexcitabilities.

• Psychomotor responses can include pacing, rapid talk or use of hand gestures
• Sensual responses can include sensitivities to clothing textures, food tastes or a need for physical displays of affection like cuddles or hugs
• Emotional responses can include intense feelings of empathy or compassion, depression, anxiety or loneliness
• Imaginational responses can include visualizations, use of metaphorical speech, dreaming or magical thinking
• Intellectual responses can include constant curiosity, deep thinking or a propensity towards solving puzzles and problems

Understanding what emotional intensities are and the behaviors associated with them can help with misdiagnosis or just plain misunderstanding. While some of the more extreme behaviors associated with overexcitabilities can be worrisome for a parent or educator, such as a child鈥檚 depression or anxiety, there can also be a wonderful bright side to overexcitabilities.

Some of the benefits of overexcitabilities can include:

• Empathy and compassion towards others
• A desire to solve major world problems
• Creativity
• A high sense of self-awareness
• Enthusiasm
• High energy

Intense emotions don鈥檛 always need to be feared or regulated. They are what make so many gifted children wonderfully unique. However, for the times that overintesities do need to be managed, here are some strategies:

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Outdoor physical activities such as going on walks, hikes or playing at a park
• Quiet reflection time
• Journaling or drawing
• Encourage discussions about how your child feels and why they feel the way they do

I hope this blog post helps with identifying and managing intense emotions in a gifted child. 优蜜视频鈥檚 also hosts a list of books, articles, programs and professionals that can be used as additional sources of information about overexcitabilities.

When you recognize that your child may be gifted, and has not been identified as such, or has been identified as gifted but is not reaching his/her potential, then you will need to advocate for your child so they will receive the most appropriate services.聽 Children have a right to a safe, academically challenging and positive experience in school. (Kim Pleticha, Publisher/Editor Parent: Wise Magazine)

Advocating for your child requires research, preparation, identifying your child鈥檚 interests, strengths and skills, knowledge of the school system, and tenacity. Once you are ready to advocate for your child, here are some suggestions:

• Your first ally is your child鈥檚 teacher. If you are able to, volunteer at least a few times in the classroom so that you may observe how your child is performing; understand how the teacher addresses the individual needs of each student; and most importantly, develop a working relationship and rapport with the teacher.
• Start collecting documentation about your child, such as reports or observations from the teacher, and/or the coordinator; student work, test scores, report cards.
• Don鈥檛 wait until the first Parent/Teacher Conference to talk to the teacher.
• Familiarize yourself with the curriculum, the contact information of the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) coordinator at your school, the types of assessments that are administered.
• Find out the assessment and identification process at the school or the district, and when the process starts. Some schools or districts begin the process at 2^nd grade, others at 3^rd聽 Some schools will identify students during their second semester in kindergarten.聽 Some districts will accept private assessments, some do not. At times, it is helpful to have a private assessment from a psychologist or consultation services from Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频), to provide as supporting documentation. Access the school district website to find out about their Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program.
• Grade or subject acceleration may be an option. Acceleration allows students to move up a class or grade that matches their academic and cognitive abilities. It includes matching the level, complexity, and pace of the curriculum to the readiness and motivation of the student[1]. Examples of acceleration include early entrance to school, grade-skipping, moving ahead in one subject area, or Advanced Placement (AP). Research what your school鈥檚 policy is on acceleration.
• It is important to know that any type of testing administered by the school requires parent permission. Therefore, you must be informed if and when your child is being tested, the type of test being administered to ensure that it is appropriate, and that your permission is required to administer the test.
• Develop a plan that includes compromises because you are working for the best interest of the child. Parents are encouraged to think in terms of effectiveness, rather than correctness. Quite simply, this means searching for the most effective educational arrangement for your child that addresses the greatest proportion of her or his needs rather than looking for the 鈥減erfect鈥� situation[2].
• Familiarize yourself with the terminology, i.e. differentiation, cluster grouping (for a complete list, go to nagc.org, Glossary of Terms).
• Research and join national and local advocacy groups such Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频), National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), The Davidson Institute, Acceleration Institute, Support the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG), and Hoagies Gifted Education Page. Join local parent groups, such as the Gifted Support Group at 优蜜视频, and attend workshops and parent conferences that provide information on gifted students and programs.

Resources:

• Educational Advocacy for Gifted Students, Julia B. Osborn,聽 2001
• , The聽 Templeton National Report on Acceleration, 2004
• NAGC’s

To learn more about how 优蜜视频 advocates for gifted students, visit our page.

References

[1] 鈥淎 Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America鈥檚 Brightest Students, Vol. 1鈥�, The聽 Templeton National Report on Acceleration, 2004

[2] http://www.davidsongifted.org/Search-Database/entry/A10558

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This is where a role model in the form of a mentor can be beneficial to a gifted child. Mentors allow children trying to understand their unique gifts and talents an avenue to share interests, passions, thoughts and doubts in a constructive, supportive space. 聽According to Sandra Berger in her article 鈥溾��:

One of the most valuable experiences a gifted student can have is exposure to a mentor who is willing to share personal values, a particular interest, time, talents, and skills. When the experience is properly structured and the mentor is a good match for the student, the relationship can provide both mentor and student with encouragement, inspiration, new insights, and other personal rewards.

For gifted children, the potential benefits of a committed mentor are numerous and can contribute to both short and long-term success. Berger notes that parents often notice mentors have a 鈥渕aturing effect鈥� in helping students narrow down their many talents and interests into focused educational and career goals.

Some questions to ask when considering mentoring for your child:

1. What are their goals and interests?
   Whether it鈥檚 learning a new skill, emotional support or academic assistance, mentoring covers a wide-range of areas. Talk with your child about what they are looking to get out of a mentoring relationship and what will make them feel most supported.
2. Does your child understand the role of a mentor?
   Ensure your child understands the mentor is not a friend or parent. Explain the limitations and expectations of the relationship, both for them and for their mentor.
3. Is your child committed to spending time with the mentor?
   Some children think they are ready for a mentor, but are then disappointed with the time it takes out of an otherwise free period they could be exploring other interests. Set clear and realistic expectations for both the mentor and the child.

If you have determined a mentor is right for your child, the Davidson Institute for Talent Development has published on finding a mentor.

Additionally, 聽offers high-potential secondary students externship opportunities where they can receive mentorship from distinguished professionals and gain hands-on experience in a field of their interest.

Each externship is custom-designed so students grow intellectually and personally, while making pertinent and lasting connections with their mentors and peers.

Visit our site to today!

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