Open-ended, creative gift ideas for gifted and advanced learners: musical instruments, domino creations, coding toys, art kits, and blank books to inspire curiosity and talent development.
Category Archives: Parenting Gifted Students
Holiday 2025 Shopping Guide for Gifted & Advanced Children and Teens — Toy Ideas
Welcome to Part Three of my holiday gift-giving guide! In this installment, I focus on toys that challenge and engage gifted and advanced children and teens. When chosen thoughtfully, toys do far more than occupy time—they open doors to imagination, creative problem-solving, and intellectual growth. In my work as a gifted education coordinator and classroomContinue reading “Holiday 2025 Shopping Guide for Gifted & Advanced Children and Teens — Toy Ideas”
Holiday 2025 Shopping Guide for Gifted and Advanced Children and Teens: Game Ideas
Playing board games as a family is such a great way to build strong bonds with your children! Almost any game you play together will be fun, but some games are perfect for stoking the thinking skills of gifted and advanced learners, too. Here are a few game gift ideas that were my family’s favorites,Continue reading “Holiday 2025 Shopping Guide for Gifted and Advanced Children and Teens: Game Ideas”
Holiday 2025 Shopping Guide for Gifted and Advanced Children and Teens: Book Ideas
It’s that time of year when many families start thinking about holiday gifts—whether for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa. What can you give your gifted or advanced child that’s both meaningful and mentally engaging? Have no fear—I’ve done the research for you! I’ve curated several lists of gift ideas that provide both cognitive stimulation and funContinue reading “Holiday 2025 Shopping Guide for Gifted and Advanced Children and Teens: Book Ideas”
Bonus Idea #6 for Summer Thinking Activities: Gifted Kids and Hobbies
Hello, and welcome to the sixth and final article in my bonus series of, “How to keep your Gifted Kid Thinking all Summer.” I’m so glad you dropped in on this article! Let’s dive in! What do the following items have in common: crocheting, baseball card collecting, rock collecting, playing guitar, or baking? Do youContinue reading “Bonus Idea #6 for Summer Thinking Activities: Gifted Kids and Hobbies”
Bonus Idea #5 for Summer Thinking Activities: Volunteering for Gifted Kids
Volunteering, often overlooked as a summer activity, is beneficial for children, especially gifted ones. It fosters leadership, learning, and fulfillment. Engaging in age-appropriate service activities, such as helping shelters or organizing community projects, can make volunteering accessible to younger kids. Involving them early can enhance their development and commitment.
Bonus Idea #4 for Summer Thinking Activities: Field Trip Fridays for Gifted Kids
Hello, again, and welcome back! Today, I’m writing about my 4th bonus idea to extend my article from last summer that I reposted a few days ago: My Favorite Things: Fun Summertime Activities to Challenge Gifted Kids. When my two oldest boys were young, I was a Gifted Resource Teacher, so I had every summerContinue reading “Bonus Idea #4 for Summer Thinking Activities: Field Trip Fridays for Gifted Kids”
Bonus Idea #3 for Summer Thinking Activities: In-Home Cake Wars with Gifted Kids
One evening, back in the summer of 2020, I walked downstairs to our family room, and a show I had never see before, Cake Wars, was playing on our TV. Our youngest son was streaming old episodes of this series. He was riveted to the TV, and soon, so was I, curling up on theContinue reading “Bonus Idea #3 for Summer Thinking Activities: In-Home Cake Wars with Gifted Kids”
Bonus Idea #2 for Summer Thinking Activities: Postcard Journaling with Gifted Kids
Two days ago, in my article “My Favorite Things: Fun Summertime Challenges for Gifted Kids,” I mentioned that I would share six new summer activity ideas to keep your gifted and high-ability kids thinking all summer. Today is Day 2 of my new ideas! Here goes… Do you journal? When I was a teenager, IContinue reading “Bonus Idea #2 for Summer Thinking Activities: Postcard Journaling with Gifted Kids”
Bonus Idea #1 for Summer Thinking Activities: Scavenger Hunts with Gifted Children
Yesterday, in my article “My Favorite Things: Fun Summertime Challenges for Gifted Kids,” I mentioned that I would share six new summer activity ideas to keep your gifted and high-ability kids thinking all summer. Today is Day 1 of my new ideas! Here goes… Have you ever gone on a scavenger hunt? Whether it’s PokémonContinue reading “Bonus Idea #1 for Summer Thinking Activities: Scavenger Hunts with Gifted Children”
Teaching for Talent 