Top 6 Books You Should Read To Support Your Child (+ 2 Gifted Resources)
We know that children fare best when their parents are involved in and supportive of their learning. To start, here are several useful resources I would recommend for parents (I’ve also added two resources at the bottom, which I found useful both as a parent and as a teacher when teaching gifted students).
1. “How to Tutor Your Own Child” is a good resource if you wish to support your child’s learning at home (and have the time to do so!). Koestler Ruben breaks down helpful approaches to help reinforce your child’s love of learning at home.
2. We’ve heard of IQ (the Intelligence Quotient), a somewhat dubious assessment of a person’s intelligence. What does deserve our attention is the notion of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) — the ability to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions in a positive way, and to handle interpersonal relationships effectively and empathetically. We now know that EQ is more closely correlated to an individual’s success than IQ.
3. Social Intelligence builds on the idea of EQ, and extends this idea to successfully navigating social interactions and a person’s self-awareness in the midst of them. It develops from experience with people and reflecting on how those interactions went. SQ builds tact.
4. One of my personal favourites, “Grit” delves into the importance of resilience and perseverance and helps explain how this coping “muscle” can be developed. This is particularly important when it comes to supporting our kids, because the best learning often happens where effort meets frustration. Persisting with this frustration and engaging it, rather than moving away from it helps build confidence, self-reliance and insight.
5. Sometimes making big shifts in a short amount of time can feel overwhelming, and can be unsustainable over the long-run. But significant positive change can build from the cumulative impact of tiny shifts we make in our routines and daily habits. Having kids pack their bags the night before helps reduce morning overwhelm and allows them to be more prepared and intentional about the day ahead.
6. Inspirational memoir by one of the most memorable professors that builds on his incredible ‘Last Lecture’, this book gives handy tips about how to get things done and achieve your childhood dreams. However, more than this, it lets us in on one incredible example of how to face adversity with grace.
7. Children identified as ‘Gifted’ often process their environments and interactions differently than other learners. One of these key traits is faster processing speed, and a greater intensity when it comes to their emotions and interests. ‘Giftedness’ can be a misnomer, as this label often comes with its own set of challenges, and children identified as ‘gifted’ are as at high a risk of dropping out from school as are students with other exceptionalities and special needs. “Understanding Your Gifted Child” pulls back the curtain to help parents of “gifties” better understand and support their kids.
8. One key trait of children identified as gifted is their craving of intellectual stimulation. But they also require positive coping skills to help navigate overwhelming social situations. This is a good starting point for parents who wish to take this challenge on at home.
sp*rk curiosity 