MT AGATE and ParentsIt takes a village. Specifically, it takes both educators and parents to raise productive, well-adjusted gifted children. Recognizing that, we welcome parents as full members of MT AGATE. We also provide multiple services for you and your gifted children:
|
|
Parent Support Groups in Montana
You're not in this alone!
Sometimes, it may seem like other parents resent when you talk about your gifted child. "You've got it so easy", they think, not realizing that gifted kids pose their own set of challenges. But there are other parents out there who "get it". By working cooperatively with them, you may help meet your family's needs and even bring about positive changes in your local school system.
Consider participating in one of the local groups for parents (and educators) of gifted children:
If your city isn't listed, but you'll like to help get a group started, check out some of the resources about starting a parent group on the Texas Association for the Gifted's website.
Each group evolves to meet the needs and interests of its members, which may mean informative presentations, informal sharing, lobbying school administrators for changes, supporting school board candidates, running extra-curricular programs...you name it!
SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) emphasizes the importance of parent support groups.
SENG Model Parent Groups (SMPGs) bring together 10 to 20 interested parents of gifted and talented children to discuss such topics as motivation, discipline, stress management, and peer relationships.
The co-facilitators of the group, though they are knowledgeable about parenting and about educating gifted/talented children, do not attempt to give expert advice to families. Instead their facilitation provides a non-judgmental and nurturing atmosphere.
The parents of the high-ability children are themselves a rich resource of information, and they are able to get fresh ideas from other parents and from A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, the book around which the sessions are organized. The groups meet weekly for 8-10 weeks.
More details...
Sometimes, it may seem like other parents resent when you talk about your gifted child. "You've got it so easy", they think, not realizing that gifted kids pose their own set of challenges. But there are other parents out there who "get it". By working cooperatively with them, you may help meet your family's needs and even bring about positive changes in your local school system.
Consider participating in one of the local groups for parents (and educators) of gifted children:
- Columbia Falls - ACT (Advocates for Children with Talent) - focuses on advocacy - contact Jenny Jarvis @ 406-892-2778 or 249-9685
- Missoula - POINTS - contact Caroline Lonski and Julie Merritt at [email protected]
If your city isn't listed, but you'll like to help get a group started, check out some of the resources about starting a parent group on the Texas Association for the Gifted's website.
Each group evolves to meet the needs and interests of its members, which may mean informative presentations, informal sharing, lobbying school administrators for changes, supporting school board candidates, running extra-curricular programs...you name it!
SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) emphasizes the importance of parent support groups.
SENG Model Parent Groups (SMPGs) bring together 10 to 20 interested parents of gifted and talented children to discuss such topics as motivation, discipline, stress management, and peer relationships.
The co-facilitators of the group, though they are knowledgeable about parenting and about educating gifted/talented children, do not attempt to give expert advice to families. Instead their facilitation provides a non-judgmental and nurturing atmosphere.
The parents of the high-ability children are themselves a rich resource of information, and they are able to get fresh ideas from other parents and from A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, the book around which the sessions are organized. The groups meet weekly for 8-10 weeks.
More details...
