Customer Reviews

On the Social and Emotional Lives of Gifted Children

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A good book on a too often forgotten subject: the social and emotional lives of gifted children. Parents, teachers, and especially counselors of the gifted should all read this book, and perhaps begin to understand...

Tracy Cross brings together years of columns from Gifted Child Today, but instead of sounding "dated," these columns offer good ideas and actions for today. Research on the social and emotional aspects of giftedness is slim; Cross combines his knowledge of this research with experience, resulting in a readable, useful, look into these unique kids' lives.

Cross begins by examining beliefs about gifted children, and determining their needs... mostly the same as the needs of all children, but often forgotten in the concern for their giftedness. The mixed messages that gifted children receive from their peers, teachers, and other adults cause much of these children's confusion about their place in the world. Cross continues with relationships and communications, including an often misrepresented subject: suicide among the gifted. Solid ideas are enumerated for providing social and emotional support, right along with parenting, guidance, and educational support for gifted children. He finishes with a quick review of the history of gifted children in our society and a glimpse of the future, and what we need to do to get there.

I was expecting this book to provide information on the social and emotional lives of gifted children, based on the title. Yet this skimpy book provided absolutely NO information or insights. The author states in the book that he believes there are no social/emotional differences between gifted and non-gifted children. The book is thrown together from disparate columns he had written for a magazine, including a disproportionate amount of information on teen suicide(because it is his specialty), even though he provides information that gifted teens have a suicide rate equal to or less than the overall teen population. A complete waste of time and money!

Cross states that there is not sufficient evidence in research to claim that gifted children have social and emotional needs that are qualitatively different or mutually exclusive of their non gifted peers. I knew at that point I would like the book. I have read to many articles and books on this subject in which authors claim unique social and emotional needs present in gifted children, but I am still searching for the evidence of their claims. Cross takes this on directly. He clarifies that the social and emotional needs of gifted children are functions of their talents and social interactions within their peer groups and communtities. Meaning that the social and emotional needs of gifted children are related to differences rather than giftedness. I found this a refreshing perspective, a perspective with which I as an educator can work. I have read other books and research articles by Cross, and I appreciate the fact that he wrote this one for parents and educators. The language is clear and accessible, but there is a profound sense of understanding resonating from his text. Cross contributes tremendous insight into understanding the lives of gifted children. I would recommend this book to all educators and particularly to parents of gifted children.

This book gives a clear explanation of the unique needs and characteristics of gifted children. As an educator, I took away new insight into my own gifted students. I also learned new techniques and skills to use in my classroom. It is well laid out and organized. I feel this book meets a crucial need in the education of gifted learners.