Intricate thought processes and complex emotions are held in delicate balance in the gifted individual. Gifted children not only experience deep feelings, but also are more in tune with the depth and variety of feelings experienced by others. They develop more asynchronously than others, and often feel unable to relate to age-mates. When they are forced into a mold that doesn’t fit, they begin to experience their differences as deficits. All who interact with them must understand their unique characteristics. Then they can learn to appreciate themselves and develop their own unique paths. We will explore the emotional needs and social realities of gifted children and discuss ways to nurture their full development.

Linda Kreger Silverman, Ph.D., licensed clinical and counseling psychologist, is the founder and director at the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development and its subsidiary, Gifted Development Center, in Colorado. She has been studying the psychology and education of the gifted since 1961 and has written over 300 articles, chapters, and books.