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Kite Kid Mama

Kite Kid Mama

Rising above the obstacles of giftedness

gifts for space enthusiasts
parents

Gifts for space enthusiasts

Nov 17, 2019
20+ fun strategy games for the entire family
parents

20+ super-fun strategy games

Nov 14, 2019
clinicians, educators, parents

Social considerations of imaginational intensity

Nov 12, 2019
STEM gift ideas
parents

Gift ideas for STEM-loving kids

Oct 25, 2019
school counseling friendship groups
clinicians, educators, parents

Counseling friendship groups don’t help when there’s undetected neurodiversity

Oct 16, 2019
Minecraft room ideas
parents

Fun room decor for Minecraft lovers

Oct 8, 2019
17 ways to celebrate World Space Week
educators, parents

Ways to celebrate World Space Week (Oct. 4-10)

Oct 2, 2019
Bid-on-me jars for your school's silent auction
educators, parents

33 awesome bid-on-me jar themes

Sep 15, 2019
Have a smart child who struggles? Don't miss Bright & Quirky's 2019 Smart but Struggling Student series for incredible insights, tools & strategies.
parents

Smart but Struggling Student masters series by Bright & Quirky

Sep 11, 2019
Learn about executive function skills
educators

Executive-function deficits can plague any student

Sep 6, 2019
Free bookmarks for your students
educators

Insights for teachers + free bookmarks for students

Sep 5, 2019
Fat Brain Toys’ 2019 Kidventor contest; deadline is Sept. 29
parents

Fat Brain Toys’ 2019 Kidventor contest: deadline is Sept. 29

Aug 31, 2019
Cool science experiments on the Little Passports blog | Kite Kid Mama
educators, parents

Cool experiments on the Little Passports blog

Aug 27, 2019
Teaching kids self-regulation for social-emotional success. Free webinar with Social Thinking founder Michelle Garcia Winner, SLP.
clinicians, educators, parents

Teaching kids self-regulation for social-emotional success (free Aug. 28 webinar)

Aug 21, 2019
Is he bright, but disorganized? This Aug. 25-28 free online summit can help.
clinicians, educators, parents

Aug. 23-25 free online summit re: major pain point for kite kids

Aug 20, 2019
A cozy, woodland-themed classroom students will love
educators

A cozy, woodland classroom students will love

Aug 16, 2019
How to encourage student questions (and still get through your lesson plan)
educators

How to encourage student curiosity (and complete your lesson)

Aug 10, 2019
Ways to get class donations
educators

How to let parents know what you need this school year

Aug 5, 2019
20% of kids face internal challenges most adults don’t recognize or understand. As a result, they’re harder to coach. Here's why & what helps. | Kite Kid Mama
educators, parents

How to harness the strengths of differently-wired athletes

Aug 2, 2019
Don’t give up. You can find answers – and help your child succeed. | Kite Kid Mama
parents

The difference a year can make

Jul 31, 2019
How to build trust with your students
educators

An easy way to get tremendous insights about your students

Jul 31, 2019
Don't make kids' gifts a competitionCan’t we all just accept what makes each kid unique? Let’s stop turning this into a competition – or worse yet, an excuse to mock or exclude someone. | Kite Kid Mama
educators, parents

Don’t make kids’ “gifts” a competition

Jul 20, 2019
The danger of making generalizations about parents | Kite Kid Mama
clinicians, educators, parents

Why parents of neurodiverse kids hate this meme

Jul 15, 2019
How to create winning parent-teacher dynamics that set students up for success | Kite Kid Mama
educators, parents

A game plan for great parent-teacher relationships

Jul 10, 2019
Teachers, not sure why one of your smart students is struggling? It may be due to a type of neurodiversity. Here are 20 traits & behaviors that are indicators. | Kite Kid Mama
educators

Why some smart students struggle + two freebies

Jul 3, 2019
Even the anti-bullying mom mocked gifted kids & their families | Kite Kid Mama
Uncategorized

When an anti-bullying mom mocked gifted kids & their families

Jul 2, 2019
The Problem with Potential - Kids don’t have to succeed all the time; they should have opportunities to explore & fail, too. | Kite Kid Mama
clinicians, educators, parents

The problem with “potential”

Jun 27, 2019
Summer can suck for kids who are bullied & excluded. On June 20, after another VBS camper tried to punch my son, was the day I said “no more.” Here’s what I’ve learned since then. | Kite Kid Mama
clinicians, educators, parents

The day I said “no more”

Jun 20, 2019
There’s more to giftedness than concert halls and I.Q. scores. It’s a true type of neurodiversity that affects the whole child – and it isn’t always pretty | Kite Kid Mama
clinicians, educators, parents

Understanding the gifted child’s brain

Jun 19, 2019
When you work with young kids on a daily basis, your books quickly become more “loved” than those in a public library! Here are some suggested books (with positive messages) if your reading materials are falling apart. | Kite Kid Mama
clinicians, educators

Kids’ books falling apart? Here are ideas if it’s time to replenish.

Jun 12, 2019
Gifted kids are often misdiagnosed disorders they don’t have. In many cases, this is due to lack of familiarity with common traits that are linked to their uneven brain development & “super-sensitivities.” | Kite Kid Mama
clinicians

Gifted kids misdiagnosed with disorders they don’t have

Jun 11, 2019
Most general-education teachers don’t feel equipped to meet outlier students’ needs | Kite Kid Mama
educators

Most teachers don’t feel equipped to meet outliers’ needs

Jun 6, 2019
Are the sacrifices worth it?
clinicians, educators, parents

Is this worth it? Remembering my why.

May 11, 2019
Building "social knowledge” can be far more complex that most people realize.
clinicians, educators, parents

How to help kids build “social smarts”

May 10, 2019
clinicians, educators, parents

The struggles (& strengths) of twice-exceptional kids

Apr 22, 2019
parents

Camps that are a great fit + win a drone

Apr 18, 2019
parents

BrickUniverse delivers

Apr 17, 2019
educators, parents

Improving class lists

Apr 13, 2019
parents

The best youth coach email ever written

Mar 6, 2019
educators, parents

My interview with children’s author Peter H. Reynolds

Feb 13, 2019
clinicians, educators, parents

How to help gifted kids who struggle socially

Jan 21, 2019
clinicians, educators, parents

Some bullies have nice parents

Jan 19, 2019
clinicians, educators, parents

Possible clues I missed

Jan 17, 2019
educators, parents

Why my child was the class clown, even though kids didn’t “get” his humor

Jan 17, 2019
clinicians, educators, parents

“Peer” can have various meanings, especially for kite kids

Jan 17, 2019
clinicians, educators, parents

Out of nowhere, and yet, everywhere

Jan 17, 2019
How to create a Star Wars room theme
parents

How to create a super cool Star Wars-themed room

Oct 22, 2019

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Meet Patti

Meet Patti

Thanks for stopping by. I created this site after learning why my son had been bullied & excluded since age five. It took three years to find out – mostly because of long-standing myths. That's far too long, so now I'm on a mission to help others. I explain what "the G word" is &, just as important, what it isn't. With the help of many experts, you'll also see tips for navigating this type of neurodiversity. Join me as I share what I'm learning.


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Instagram post 2179985618648919485_10025046666 This week, I'm going to lighten it up a bit. 😀 . In addition to understanding hallmark traits, like asynchronous development & various types of intensities, it's important to know what lights a "kite kid" up. 💡 . This is true for all children, of course, but even more so when they have atypical struggles that can make them feel incapable or "less than." (Twice-exceptional kids often feel this way.) 😣 . One of the best ways to support them is to nurture their strengths & interests. Help them find joy! 🤩 . Some of these kiddos love outer space because of the engineering involved in space travel. For others, it's the intrigue of far-away stars & planets, or the fun of memorizing all sorts of cool space facts! 🚀 And pretty much all of them love to ponder a good "what if" or "would you rather" scenario. Outer space provides so many opportunities for that. 👽 . If your kiddo loves space for any of these reasons, check out my latest article. (You can find it on my blog's homepage or by scrolling down to the images on my Instagram smart bio.) 🔭 . Btw, the SUPER COOL space shuttle lamp/night light pictured above (which I feature in my article) was made by #stylishgram 😍 #aspiringastronaut #kitekidmamas #outterspace #spacelovers #differentlywired #brightandquirky #raisingpoppies #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #tptteachers #teacherspayteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #assistantprincipal #schooladministrator #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #pediatricians #smartbutstruggling #socialemotionallearning
Instagram post 2179580500497547047_10025046666 I came across this quote about perspective recently & it really spoke to me. 🙌 . I've experienced such a mindset shift since learning what "gifted" really means. (Not what society thinks it means.) 🙅 . And don't even get me started on the process of wrapping my head around "twice-exceptional kids." ❗ . I've seen similar realizations by others. For example, a teacher who, I could tell, was processing how to guide a student who is beyond his age intellectually, yet much younger than his age emotionally. It's like sticking a kindergartner (emotionally speaking) into a room of 4th graders! Normally, her job is to start getting them mentally prepared for middle school. 🤯 . My dad has gone through a big mindset shift, too. He's a retired chemist who feels strongly that no one should put themselves on a pedestal. (And rightly so.) That has been his concern, but after years of hearing me talk about his grandson's social struggles, he realizes there's a lot more to "the G word" than he realized. 💡 . It's MUCH more than an I.Q. score & "potential." 😳 . When parents & teachers understand this, we start to see the whole child. The child who is desperately trying to figure out how to navigate life, despite asynchronous development, various types of intensities, constantly being misunderstood, & much more. 🧐 . #perspective #potential #wholechild #asynchronousdevelopment #overexcitabilities #giftededucation #waynedyerquote #teachersofinstagram #teacherproblems #teacherstruggles #iteachfourth #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #assistantprincipal #schooladministrator #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #pediatricians #smartbutstruggling #misunderstood #socialemotionallearning
Instagram post 2179201788325250823_10025046666 I haven’t been on Instagram long; however, anyone who is a subscriber to my blog knows what a fan I am of 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴® 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿. 🙌 . She’s an exceptionally 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵-𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁, who understands differently-wired kids on a 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 level. 🕵️‍♀️ 𝗠𝘆 “𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀” 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆. 𝘛𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘵, 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘰. . Also, Michelle has a 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 scheduled for 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟭𝟵. 🆓 If you’re an educator, pediatric clinician or anyone else, who wants to better understand this debilitating issue, I encourage you to register. There’s a link @socialthinking . If the event time doesn’t fit your schedule, no worries. Register for it anyway & her team will send you 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. ✅ . #socialanxiety #sociallyawkward #socialsmarts #socialemotionallearning #socialthinking #differentlywired #smartbutstruggling #misunderstood #kitekidmamas #raisingpoppies #brightandquirky #twiceexceptional #2e #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #schooladministrator #assistantprincipal #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #misdiagnosis #pediatricians
Instagram post 2178525291314882691_10025046666 If you read my Demystifying Overexcitabilities (OEs) posts this week, you know there's 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 more to "gifted" kids than most people realize. It's 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. . These kiddos 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟰/𝟳; not just when they're in the classroom. . Myths & assumptions are a 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦 part of 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 & 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲. And when I did finally hear "the G word," it was from 𝘮𝘺 therapist. I had started seeing her because I was depressed, largely because I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how to help my child. 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 worked, & every year, the problems got worse. . I swear, 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱. I had 𝘯𝘰 idea what giftedness "looked like" & neither did his teachers. (Most teachers don't because, unless they're getting a special education degree, they receive no training in it.) . 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 about "gifted" & twice-exceptional (2e) children, or as I prefer to call them, kite kids. Follow me as I 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 & explain what these phenomena actually look like. . #kitekidmamas #differentlywired #brightandquirky #raisingpoppies #raisinghoagies #giftedkids #2e #twiceexceptionalkids #misunderstood #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #assistantprincipal #schooladministrator #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #misdiagnosis #pediatricians #smartbutstruggling #socialemotionallearning #sethperler
Instagram post 2178012022565066095_10025046666 Remember what I said earlier today about how kids with the emotional OE can have a strong sense of justice? My son said this one morning when I was driving him to kindergarten. 😂 . #kitekidmamas #overexcitabilities #asynchronousdevelopment #differentlywired #giftedchildren #2e #twiceexceptional #raisingpoppies #raisinghoagies #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #schooladministrator #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #misdiagnosis #pediatricians #smartbutstruggling #socialemotionallearning
Instagram post 2177866010781392711_10025046666 This week, I’ve focused on what Polish psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski called 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗢𝗘𝘀). The fifth - and final - type is 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. This OE is so noticeable, when it’s present, that there’s even a book about it: 𝘌𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 by Christine Fonseca. . Kids with the emotional OE have 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 connections to people, places & things. They 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 or show 𝘂𝗻𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 for their age. (When my daughter was three, she heard “Hello” on the radio & became very bothered by how sad Adele sounded.) . Other emotions are amplified, too. If something makes them angry or someone hurts their feelings, their 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽, especially when they’re no longer toddlers. They also may have a 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻-𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. . Kids with the emotional OE also may have a 𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 & 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴. Sixteen-year-old activist & 2e kiddo Greta Thunberg is a notable example. Kite kids’ reactions aren’t always as life-altering as hers, but they’re definitely stronger than normal. I don’t think I included it in the story, but a mom in my 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 “𝗠𝘆 𝗪𝗵𝘆” article told me her son became really upset when someone in front of him didn’t hold a door open for him. It bothered him 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 & no one could figure out why he wouldn’t “let it go.” (𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 “𝘔𝘺 𝘞𝘩𝘺” 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘰.) . Do you have an example of this OE? If so, I’d love to hear it. 🙋‍♀️ . #emotionalintensity #emotionaloverexcitability #overexcitabilities #kazimierzdabrowski #bipolarmisdiagnosis #anxietyanddepression #neurodiversity #giftedandtalented #2e #twiceexceptional #kitekidmamas #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #assistantprincipal #schooladministrator #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #pediatricians #smartbutstruggling #socialemotionallearning @christinefonesca
Instagram post 2177084703843499702_10025046666 Today, I’m covering the imaginational overexcitability (OE). Some “kite kids” with this intensity can get so lost in make-believe that they lose sense of time & their surroundings. They may even have trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality. 🦄 . Kids with this OE also may love music, drama & humor. This is 100% my daughter. She sings 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 & in most cases, she makes up the lyrics as she goes. 🎵 Last month, she was learning about the life cycle of butterflies & made up a song about how they molt their skin when they’re caterpillars. Apparently, they eat all of the skin after they shed it, except for the head! There was even a verse about it being yummy. 😂 . Like all OEs, there can be challenges, too. Kids with the imaginational OE can become 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 & 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀. For the past couple years, I’ve tried to avoid taking my son into stores once Halloween decorations are on the shelves. The handful of times that I did this fall, images with the 𝘐𝘵 clown on it seemed to be EVERYWHERE. 🙄 And boy, did I hear about it. . Sometimes kids with imaginational intensity also can become so engrossed in imaginary play that they end up isolating themselves. For more on social considerations, see the article I posted Nov. 12 on my blog’s homepage. (There’s also a Recent Articles link in my Instagram smart bio.) . #imaginationaloverexcitability #makebelieve #giftedandtalented #differentlywired #2e #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #assistantprincipal #schooladministrator #slp #occupationaltherapist #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #misdiagnosis #pediatricians #socialemotionallearning #kitekidmamas2
Instagram post 2176333816774719073_10025046666 On Monday, when I described the psychomotor intensity, I said that 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 “𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱” 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱, they appear to "𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻" & 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀. . That laser focus is the child’s intellectual intensity on display. 𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀! And if you mess with a topic they’re passionate about, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗱𝘆𝘀𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 may make appearances, too. . 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 when I picked my son up from school early for a dentist appt. Unbeknownst to me, his class was just about to start an electricity experiment he’d “been waiting on all week.” 🔌 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 – even as a toddler. He was so distraught that, if someone had witnessed it, they seriously would have thought a close friend or family member had just died. (Thankfully, he at least held himself together until he got into the SUV, but it went on so long that we almost missed the appointment.) 😳 . Kids with the intellectual overexcitability (OE) have 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. They also 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀, like puzzles, brainteaser toys & strategy games. 🃏 . In addition, they’re 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀, constantly taking in – and analyzing – the world around them. 🕵️‍♂️ (When my son was three, his preschool teacher wondered if he’d become an architect someday. She said that during recess, he studied features of the building while all the other kids were running around.) 😂📐 . I could go on for a long time about this OE, but 𝗜’𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 with it. (I 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 some of you have stories of your own!) ☺️ . #intellectualintensity #intellectualoverexcitability #overexcitabilities #kazimierzdabrowski #misunderstood #giftedkids #giftedandtalentededucation #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #schooladministrator #slp #childpsychology #ch
Instagram post 2175645879271557429_10025046666 Remember how I said yesterday that the psychomotor intensity can seem like ADHD in many ways? Well, hang on to your hat, because countless people misconstrue 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 overexcitabilities (OEs) as a sign of autism. . That’s because “kite kids” with this intensity have 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀. You know: sight, sound, smell, taste & touch. . Children with a sensual OE may be particularly sensitive to pollution, or get sick from the smell or texture of certain foods. In addition, they may be very averse to clothing labels & most socks. 👕🧦 Or become dysregulated in noisy environments, like lunch rooms or school buses. 🚍 . On the flip side, however, these kiddos find more joy than most children in certain sensory experiences. For some, art & music that they enjoy can touch them on a very deep level. 🎨🎼. They also may crave mama snuggles at older ages than the typical kid. 🤗 . Parents, therapists & others, what examples of the sensual OE have 𝘺𝘰𝘶 seen? 💁 . #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #schooladministrator #assistantprincipal #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #misdiagnosis #highfunctioningautism #pediatricians #occupationaltherapist #smartbutstruggling #socialemotionallearning #overexcitabilities #intensities #dabrowski #kitekidmamas #giftededucation #giftedandtalented #specialneedschildren #sensoryprocessingdisorder #neuroscience #neurodiversity
Instagram post 2175022106398695485_10025046666 In the 1960s, Polish psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski studied kids with higher-than-average intellect. As he was doing so, he began to realize that 𝘢𝘭𝘭 of them had 𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 when it came to their interests & other aspects of everyday life. He called these phenomenons overexcitabilities. (Two other present-day terms you may hear are “intensities” or “supersensitities.”) . Regardless of which term you use, Dabrowski concluded that 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀; subsequent research has confirmed their existence. . Some “kite kids” (I prefer this to “gifted”) have all five intensities; others have fewer. But 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲. . Kite kids with 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 have higher-than-normal levels of energy. This can take the form of: . - fidgetiness - sleeplessness - nonstop talking - competitiveness - compulsive organizing - nervous habits & tics - impulsive behavior . Sound like ADHD? I know. Here’s the difference: . 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿-𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀. In fact, it's hard to get them to switch gears. They may even pitch a fit if you try due to the intellectual overexcitability (OE). Do you know a child with the psychomotor intensity? Which examples have you seen in him or her? . #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #schooladministrator #assistantprincipal #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #misdiagnosis #pediatricians #smartbutstruggling #socialemotionallearning #overexcitabilities #intensities #dabrowski #kitekidmamas #giftededucation #giftededucationprogram #neuroscience #neurodiversityatwork
Instagram post 2174510589375073884_10025046666 If you didn’t see this morning’s post, this week, I’m going to focus on acute intensities (also called "overexcitabilities" & "supersensitivities"). . I hope you’ll follow along for examples of what these can "look" like. They're often misconstrued as everything from being overly sensitive or having bad behavior to mental disorders or just plain being "over the top" about everything. . For a sneak peek at the five types, see the Overexcitabilities page on my blog. There’s also a link to it in my Instagram smart bio. ☺ . #dabrowski #overexcitability #kitekidmamas #differentlywired #brightandquirky #raisingpoppies #raisinghoagies #giftedkids #2e #twiceexceptionalkids #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #schooladministrator #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #misdiagnosis #adhd #oppositionaldefiancedisorder #bipolardisorder #pediatricians #smartbutstruggling #smartbutscattered #socialemotionallearning
Instagram post 2174202114682078239_10025046666 Early last month, I began to have a strong sense that 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴. My nine-year-old was displaying a combination of over-the-top jokester behavior & an unusually intense need for his BFF (Rudolph). And as fast as my son can be when he's running late, 𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 "𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀" 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀. 🚌 . No matter what question I asked or how delicately I asked it, 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 "𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲." I knew it wasn't, but I had nothing else to go on, even after talking with his teachers. 👩‍🏫 . Last Sunday, after playing at a neighbor's house, my son finally spilled the beans. He came home because another kid showed up & began 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗺. (The kid literally changed the rules of the game they were playing, so this behavior would be okay.) "𝗪𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀," he said. ☹ . Not surprisingly, this boy had been 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀. Mocking him, stealing his bike, & even punching him in the face (also okay because of a "new game rule"). 👊 . Once again, I find myself painfully aware 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 -- 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 -- 𝗮𝗿𝗲 when it comes to the G word. 🔍 . 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 I'll explain how this type of 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 can "look" when it comes to 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 that a Polish psychologist dubbed "overexcitabilities." 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. 🙏 . #stopbullying #madeformore #misunderstood #neurodiversity #2e #twiceexceptional #kitekidmamas #differentlywired #brightandquirky #raisingpoppies #raisinghoagies #giftedkids #giftededucationprogram #teachersofinstagram #igteachers #schoolcounselor #schoolpsychologist #schoolsocialworker #schooladministrator #slp #childpsychology #childtherapy #playtherapy #pediatricians #smartbutstruggling #socialemotionallearning #overexcitabilities #dabrowski #williamsloanecoffin
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