The Gifted Kids Workbook: Mindfulness Skills to Help Children Reduce Stress, Balance Emotions, and Build Confidence

(Paperback)

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Help your gifted child embrace their uniqueness. In this workbook, a therapist offers fun activities and strategies to help children ages 7 to 12 boost self-confidence, reduce stress and overwhelm, and balance emotions. As a parent, you understand the blessings and the challenges of raising a gifted child more than anyone. Although gifted kids are often seen as intellectually and academically privileged, those same gifts can also create challenges. For example, kids are often quite aware of their differences, and this awareness can negatively impact their sense of self and confidence in the world. This engaging workbook directly addresses the psychological needs of gifted children using a powerful combination of mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and self-compassion strategies. With this workbook, your child will gain a better understanding of their unique gifts and learn essential strategies to help regulate their emotions, manage anxiety, improve mood, and navigate social relationships. Young readers will learn that they are not alone in their experiences, and that much of what others might consider to be different or strange about them, is actually quite typical within the context of giftedness. For children, feeling different from others can be difficult. With this workbook, your child will learn that they have an important place in the world, and that their gifts are something to celebrate.

Reviews

"Heather Boorman has written a book that is filling a void. Gifted children need support and guidance in their particular social-emotional and mental health struggles. It can be difficult for their parents and their therapists to know the explanations and activities that would assist these children in areas such as finding friends, perfectionism, sensitivities, and multipotentiality. Parents and therapists may, in fact, not understand these needs or may be confused and not know where to turn for help. Boorman shows the way. In simple, direct, and engaging language, these children are guided to understand the complexities of growing up gifted. And in a world that can feel harsh and overwhelming to these sensitive souls, Boorman provides specific tools so that they might find self-acceptance, confidence, and joy."
--Paula Prober, MS, psychotherapist, consultant, and author of Your Rainforest Mind--Paula Prober, MS
"Heather Boorman used her vast knowledge of giftedness to put together awesome activities that will help gifted and twice-exceptional children explore their giftedness and what it means to them. Understanding one's strengths and vulnerabilities is an important part of self-acceptance, and the activities in this book can help normalize the sometimes awkward and often asynchronous experience of growing up gifted."
--Edward R. Amend, PsyD, clinical psychologist at Amend Psychological Services, PSC--Edward R. Amend, PsyD
"I definitely recommend [this book] for teachers and parents of the gifted, although truthfully it would benefit any child."
--Lisa Van Gemert, MEdT, author of Perfectionism--Lisa Van Gemert, MEdT
"What a wonderful book! I wish I had had it when my own kids were younger. The book breaks down the key issues in giftedness in a simple but comprehensive manner and does it without being condescending or overwhelming. So many kids have only their own interpretation of what it means to be gifted, and that may be based on the misperceptions of others around them. This terrific workbook is a safe place for them to seek self-awareness, and to gain reassurance that who they are is OK. Heather Boorman really nailed it with this book."
--Corin Goodwin, executive director of GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum; and coauthor of Making the Choice and Writing Your Own Script--Corin Goodwin

Author Bio

Heather Boorman, MSW, LCSW, is a therapist, writer, and speaker specializing in supporting families impacted by the joys and challenges of giftedness/twice exceptionality. Heather founded and works at Boorman Counseling in Western WI, and also writes and podcasts to provide real support to parents who love a differently wired child at TheFringyBit.com.