• Home
  • About
    • Kite Kids 101
    • Uneven development
    • Overexcitabilities
    • My goal
    • Why “kite kids”
    • Contact me
  • Educators
    • Traits of giftedness educators should know
    • How educators can help kite kids
    • Resources for school teachers, counselors and administrators
  • Clinicians
    • Traits of giftedness doctors should know
    • How to help gifted patients
    • Resources for clinicians
  • Parents
    • The day I knew
    • The G Word
    • Ways to make your child feel valued
    • Parent tools and resources
    • Self-care for kite kid moms
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • Tools for influencers
Kite Kid Mama

Kite Kid Mama

Rising above the obstacles of giftedness

how to help teachers during the pandemic
educators, parents

How to support teachers during the pandemic

Aug 15, 2020
Shirts that convey love, inclusion and a growth mindset
clinicians, educators

Shirts that convey love, inclusion and a growth mindset

Aug 6, 2020
Like any group of individuals who are outside the norm, myths and stereotypes abound when it comes to “gifted” children. what do educators need to know about these kiddos? Here’s what they wish you knew.
educators

What “gifted” students wish their teachers knew

Jul 31, 2020
We're relocating & need to find a new school. Why building social-emotional competencies are what I’m looking at first, even though my oldest is “gifted.”
educators, parents

Navigating school choice when a child is neurodiverse

Jun 19, 2020
educators, parents

What kids can learn from big societal challenges

Jun 14, 2020
How educators can leverage their distance-teaching skills during School Breaks
educators

School Break side job: virtual teaching

May 26, 2020
What has Leah Kuypers learned since publishing her top-selling curriculum? Watch her live-stream presentation for best practices & common misconceptions.
clinicians, educators, parents

Zones of Regulation creator Leah Kuypers to share best practices June 26

May 8, 2020
clinicians, educators, parents

Why we should never forget the emotions that accompanied COVID-19

Apr 23, 2020
Free webinars that take social-emotional learning (SEL) to the the next level
clinicians, educators, parents

Take social-emotional learning to the next level

Apr 8, 2020
Ways to express all of our COVID19-related emotions
clinicians, educators, parents

Ways to express all of our COVID19-related emotions

Apr 3, 2020
online learning for bright and quirky kids
parents

Online learning for bright & quirky kids

Apr 1, 2020
online learning for adults
Ideas to inspire

Enrichment for grown-ups

Mar 26, 2020
distance learning for kids and you
educators, parents

Remote learning & enrichment ideas for kids

Mar 25, 2020
parents

Topics & featured experts for the 2020 Bright & Quirky Online Summit (March 12-16)

Feb 25, 2020
clinicians, educators

A great way to compare points of view & build social competencies

Feb 8, 2020
extroverts with social anxiety can be difficult to understand
clinicians, educators, parents

How to navigate social anxiety in kids who are extroverts

Jan 26, 2020
when an extroverted child develops social anxiety
clinicians, educators, parents

When an outgoing child develops social anxiety

Jan 25, 2020
demystifying executive-function deficits
clinicians, educators, parents

Demystifying executive functions: what they are & how to teach them

Jan 24, 2020
Ways to show your class spirit on Valentine's Day
educators

Ways to nurture students’ hearts & minds on Valentine’s Day

Jan 11, 2020
signs of anxiety
clinicians, educators, parents

Common, but often overlooked, signs of an anxiety disorder

Dec 16, 2019
Four lessons that Frozen 2 conveys beautifully
clinicians, educators, parents

Four messages that Frozen 2 conveys beautifully

Dec 1, 2019
ideas for teacher gifts
educators, parents

Teacher gift ideas

Nov 30, 2019
Gifts for Potter Heads
Ideas to inspire

Need gift ideas for a Harry Potter fan?

Nov 29, 2019
Why it's essential to remember a “gifted” child’s true age
clinicians, educators, parents

Why it’s essential to remember a “gifted” child’s true age

Nov 26, 2019
gifts for space enthusiasts
Ideas to inspire

Awesome ways to teach kids about space

Nov 17, 2019
clinicians, educators, parents

Social considerations of imaginational intensity

Nov 12, 2019
Christmas gift ideas
Ideas to inspire

Gift ideas

Nov 9, 2019
school counseling friendship groups
clinicians, educators, parents

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

Oct 16, 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

Silent auction themes for young bidders

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

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
Ideas to inspire

Some of my favorite finds on Etsy

Aug 9, 2020

Posts navigation

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 13 Next

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.


Want to know when I post a new article? Subscribe here.
 

Affiliate links:

This site contains affiliate links. I use any income they generate to help offset expenses related to this blog & its social media accounts. Learn more

My articles on Pinterest:

My Instagram feed:

This morning, my 8-year-old was putting on her @bu This morning, my 8-year-old was putting on her @burtsbees lip⁣ balm as I drove her to school. “How long does it take to finish one of these?” she asked. “About the same as a glue stick?” 🤔⁣ . ⁣ “Maybe,” I said. “It depends on how often you use it.” 🤷 ⁣ . ⁣ “Yeah,” she agreed, as I continued driving. “But definitely not as much as erosion. That would be 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺!” 🤨 . ⁣ This child is always trying to put things in context, even in ways⁣ that seem 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 unrelated to everyone else. 😂
Selling a house and finding another one, in anothe Selling a house and finding another one, in another state, is⁣ stressful. Especially when inventory is tight, you have a differently wired kid, and there’s a pandemic going on. 😨 ⁣ . ⁣ So far, we’ve lost one bidding war, then won another one, but⁣ ended up dissolving that agreement during the due diligence phase due to concerns we were told about. 😬 ⁣ . ⁣ As the deadline looms to vacate this house, I was super⁣ stressed yesterday morning. 😣 I asked my 3rd grader, as she ate her breakfast, how to do the “box breathing” she’s been learning about in school. 🧘 ⁣ . ⁣ As I stood in front of the sink, with closed eyes and meditation hands, I began to laugh. 😄 ⁣ . ⁣ “That’s a good sign,” she said. ⁣ . ⁣ “Did they teach you in school that laughing means it’s⁣ working?” I asked. ⁣ . ⁣ “No, but laughing has to be a good sign,” she smiled. . ⁣ One day – and moment – at a time, friends. Sometimes that’s⁣ as far into the future as we can handle. And that’s okay. 😉
I often talk about SEL and self-reg because they'r I often talk about SEL and self-reg because they're essential life skills. I saw an awesome post, though, that highlighted an 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗮𝘁 to teaching these competencies. 🧐 ⁣ . ⁣ In it, @brittfrank talked about how 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 dysregulation is good. In some instances, it's a sign that something is truly wrong...and we shouldn't stuff it down or brush it off. 🙅 ⁣ . ⁣ "It is GOOD to be dysregulated in the face of oppression.⁣ It is GOOD to be dysregulated in the face of abuse. ⁣It is GOOD to be dysregulated in the face of trauma. ⁣⁣Emotional regulation practices that do not honor and validate dysregulation quickly turn toxic," she said. 😖 ⁣ . ⁣ I could not agree with this more. 🙌 ⁣ . ⁣ Sometimes our amygdala, the part of our brain designed to alert us when there’s danger, sets off alarm bells too often. We (or our kids) panic or act out in ways that are 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 bigger than the size of the problem. 🧠 In other instances, however, there 𝘪𝘴 something big going on. And we shouldn't ignore or try to pacify it. 😣 ⁣ . ⁣ Keeping this distinction in mind, and ensuring kids know the difference too, is essential. 👏
When I saw this pillow in a store recently, I coul When I saw this pillow in a store recently, I couldn't resist buying it. It had some pom-pom tassels on the sides, which were too frilly for my taste, but I knew it would be perfect if I cut them off. I love how it looks sitting on the chair across from my desk. 😍 Even the font and colors feel calm and comforting. 😌 ⁣ . ⁣ These days, I need a lot of encouragement to keep going and to remember that everything will be okay. My husband has changed jobs twice since May, and both roles have required us to relocate. (Thankfully, we never did the first time, but now, we are.) We went under contract quickly with this house, but now, we can't find a place to live where we're going! 😬 ⁣ . ⁣ If you've been following me for a few months, you may remember that I read a great book called 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘱 that explained how to find a school that's a great fit for your child. Because of my oldest kiddo’s struggles with social anxiety, I realized that rather than looking at gifted programs first, I needed to begin by talking with school counselors. And finding out what type of SEL and self-reg support they offer. 🧐🧠 ⁣ . ⁣ We already lost one house we put an offer on so, to be on the safe side, I've booked an "apartment" (terrace level of a house) through @airbnb for the last two weeks of October. The house isn't zoned for any of the four schools I've identified, though, so now, I'm not sure if I'll be: homeschooling (while doing freelance work), registering my kids for a school they may only attend for a couple weeks or months, or just signing them up for @codeninjas camps and online courses through @outschool. 🤷 ⁣ . ⁣ My stomach is in knots with all these unknowns, but again, I'm holding out hope. 😅 Hope for a house that fits our needs (without making us house poor) and hope that my 2e kiddo (and his little sister) thrive in their new school, whenever I can enroll them there! 🙏🏼
You can do it. Focus on your why and celebrate eve You can do it. Focus on your why and celebrate even the smallest of wins. Those accomplishments add up over time. 💪
Sometimes even small indulgences help lift your mo Sometimes even small indulgences help lift your mood. 🌈 ⁣ . ⁣ I got these cuties 2-3 years ago and they still perk me up each time I wear them. I continue to get compliments on them, too. 😊
🐟 You matter and you're making a difference, ev 🐟 You matter and you're making a difference, even if it doesn't feel like it some days. Just keep swimming...and remembering "your why." 😘
I've grown so much over the past two-and-a-half ye I've grown so much over the past two-and-a-half years. I understand things that never made sense before; not just about my son, but many other people, too. Through all the reading, webinar watching, and just plain observing the world around me, I've had many a-ha! moments. And noticed things that were never on my radar before. 🤯 ⁣ . ⁣ If you don't already do this, I hope you'll start. When we step away from our echo chambers, and start listening to others' experiences and perspectives, it's amazing what we learn. 😳 ⁣ . ⁣ This level of understanding connects us. 🤗 ⁣ . ⁣ And we desperately need more of that in such a divisive world. 🤝
On Aug. 30, 2019, I began using Instagram to help On Aug. 30, 2019, I began using Instagram to help 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 about "kite kids," even though I had never used this platform before. I had no idea what I was doing and, truth be told, I still don't! I'm figuring it out as I go. 😂 ⁣ . ⁣ Heck, I just began using Instagram stories last week! 😅 ⁣ . ⁣ I may have a shortage of social media skills, but what I 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 have is a shortage of is 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰. Too many kite kids grow up being 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 and 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱. So do their moms. And in way too many instances, they aren't even identified because they don't look or act like society's perception of what "the G word" is. 🤔 ⁣ . ⁣ Complicating matters further are parents trying to get their smart kids into gifted programs. Having never experienced the intensities, sensitivities, social isolation and money-sucking interests that often come with this type of neurodiversity, they have 𝘯𝘰 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 what they're hoping for. 😅 ⁣ . ⁣ Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade my kids for the world, but it's a lot sometimes. And I don't even have one of the kids that barely sleeps. (Oh, those moms' stories!) 😬 ⁣ . ⁣ Anyway, if you're an educator or therapist, and you've read this far, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿. To be open to the fact that what you've heard about these children and their moms is rarely true, when it's true neurodiversity. Sure there are exceptions, but isn't that the case everywhere? 😉 ⁣ . ⁣ And kite kid parents, thank you for following along, too. I 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 🤗 ⁣ . ⁣ Love and light to all of you. ✨ Have a great Sunday.
When my son was in kindergarten, I used the conver When my son was in kindergarten, I used the conversation starters that everyone was saving on Pinterest. (You know, the 30 Questions Better than "How was Your Day?" articles.) Those prompts worked for a little while, but before long, I was looking for more. "What did you eat first for lunch today?" and "If a space ship appeared in your classroom, and beamed someone up in it, who do you wish it would take and why?" weren't cutting it anymore. 🤨 ⁣ . ⁣ I've purchased several conversation card packs since then. A couple are listed in my Ways to Make Your Child Feel Valued web page (Parents section). 🖱 ⁣ ⁣ Pictured above are two prompts from the conversation starters we're using now.☝ We love the questions that this pack contains. They've generated some great dinner conversations. "If you could erase one event in history, which would it be and why?" was another recent one that resulted in a good discussion. 🧐 And "What's your favorite quote?" warmed my heart; even as 3rd and 5th graders my kids had wonderful answers for this. 😊 ⁣ . ⁣ It's a challenge sometimes to keep dinner conversations interesting, but good prompts really help. And discussing "small stuff" keeps the lines of communication open – making it more likely that they'll come to us about the big stuff. 🤗 ⁣ .
This happened last night. ☝️ He practically ga This happened last night. ☝️ He practically gasped as he realized that he'd had Moosey for years, yet he was only now making this important observation. 🤯 . After a moment of serious talk to confirm what moose eat, he concluded that, although incorrect, Moosey looks better with his eyes facing forward. (You dodged a bullet, stuffed animal manufacturer.) 😂 . Then, there were giggles and what my son dubbed a Cute Off (like a Dance Off, but to decide which stuffed animal was the cutest). 😅 . For the longest time, I didn't know observations, like the predator vs. prey instance last night, were unusual. It was just my son being his normal, cute little self. 😊 Now, I know better, though. 🧐 The way he thinks seems unusual to other kids (and adults) sometimes. And that's okay. It's just how he's wired. The more we understand "kite kids," the better they'll be able to understand – and accept – themselves. And there's nothing more important than that. 🤗
Christmas in July? 🎅 I've got you beat, Hallma Christmas in July? 🎅 I've got you beat, Hallmark Channel. In 𝘮𝘺 house, this little guy is always present. July, August, September... Wherever my oldest child goes, Rudolph goes. And when Rudolph "talks," his voice sounds more like Elmo than the character from the movie that airs every December. 😊 ⁣ . ⁣ Because of my kiddo's age, he hides Rudolph if he thinks anyone may see him. But this little guy is with us every single car ride. And when my son has a therapist appointment, he smuggles Rudolph in there, too. 😎 It's the one place he feels safe bringing his little buddy; this part of him that's so important and real, but that he realizes he needs to hide to avoid strange looks and bullying. 😔 ⁣ . ⁣ Now that school is convening in person again, this is what my passenger seat looks like on my drive home. 🚙 I must say, he has always been a great co-pilot. 😉 ⁣ . ⁣ If you're a new follower of mine, my 5th grader is what's called a twice-exceptional learner. Or, I would actually say, a twice-exceptional THINKER because 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 of what makes 2e children unique is how they 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁 the world. 🌎 ⁣ . ⁣ Kids like him are advanced intellectually (mine is in the 99th and 97th percentiles for math and reading, respectively). However, their social-emotional competencies tend to be on the opposite of the bell curve. Few aspects of their development are "normal" for their age. 📊 ⁣ . ⁣ Understanding this – and honoring it – are essential for the child's mental health. 🤗
About me

About me
My inspiration

My inspiration
Disclosure

Disclosure
Praise

Praise
Contact

Contact

Kite Kid Mama

© Copyright Kite Kid Mama 2020. Theme by Bluchic.