Building Resilience in Gifted Children: Fostering a Sense of Autonomy and Confidence

Presenter: Shayna Whitehouse, Ph.D.

Resilience is a multifaceted developmental trait that consists of personal and individual strengths, a sense of autonomy and ability to problem solve. Resilience allows individuals to face adversity and see hope in the final outcome. The development of resilience is enhanced with support and interaction from family, school and community. Our gifted children often have elevated sensitivities, anxieties, and aspirations of perfection. As parents and educators, we can help our children manage these sensitivities and anxieties by promoting their resilient thoughts and self-perceptions. This presentation will focus on the definition of resilience and methods parents and educators can use to support the development of this construct within our gifted students.