The apps I currently use with my own gifted child and recommend to my private clients.

"Understanding Giftedness: Supporting Your Child’s Unique Needs"

Giftedness is often misunderstood. Many believe it's solely about intellectual advancement. This misconception leads to viewing heightened emotionality, vivid imaginations, insatiable psychomotor activity, and high sensory responsiveness as disorders. In reality, these traits (and more) can equally be signs of giftedness. Negative expressions of them stem from unmet needs, pent-up feelings (stress, trauma, or excitement), or a lack of information about themselves, the expectations of them, and the outer world.

A More Accurate Understanding of Giftedness

A more accurate understanding of giftedness fits into six categories (four if you follow Gagné’s Differentiated Model). Your child may exhibit one, two, or all six to be considered gifted. Meeting their unique developmental needs is essential for their growth and happiness. Today, I’m sharing just a small part of what's needed to support gifted children effectively.

My coaching packages offer a comprehensive and holistic approach to address these needs.

Clarifying High Potential vs. High Achievement

Before diving in, I want to clarify my use of the term "high potential" instead of "high achievers." While high potential children can also be high achievers, achievement is not a measure of giftedness. My goal is not to push for achievements but to foster a love of learning and resilience. Achievement may follow when developmental needs are met, but it's not something to strive for as an end in itself.

I also need to add some obligatory caveats here.

Timing Matters

I separate the following apps into daily, seasonal, and annual categories for a good reason. Our culture often leads us to overestimate what can be done in the short term and underestimate the long-term. Recognising these cycles helps us set realistic expectations and build perseverance and grit in our gifted kids. I also schedule these activities for before school, not after.

Dopamine Augmentation

It's crucial to protect our children from apps designed to be addictive. Children cannot be expected to self-regulate against these features. When introducing a new app, I first use it alone. I learn about it and then turn off notifications, pings, sounds, and alerts. If they can't be disabled in the settings, I choose another app. It's that simple.

Using Grayscale: A Smart Approach

Using grayscale on screens can reduce the likelihood of developing control patterns. In our house, we use these apps in colour before midday and grayscale after. For teens, try a whole household experiment: compare a typical day’s screen usage in colour with a day in grayscale. The results can be really surprising.

Tech as a Tool of Connection

I have been fortunate to avoid using screens as a babysitter, not everyone is so lucky in this day and age. If a screen is needed to function as a caregiver, it signals a need to review our support systems and structures, which I am the first to admit is not an easy thing. Even so we need to investigate how we can make changes rather than simply learning how to manage screen time.

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Okay, so with those caveats in place, let's look at the actual programs themselves.

Elevate: A Brain Training Companion

Elevate has been a daily staple for almost two years. While it's promoted as a brain training app for ages 13 and up, it essentially offers high school English. This app covers writing, reading, spelling, vocabulary, and basic mental math, making high school math far more approachable for your child.

How We Use Elevate

• In settings, turn off all sounds and timed games to reduce stress and restore a sense of play.

• We have a shared agreement: 10 minutes a day and 5 games. Last year, it was 5 minutes and 3 games, resulting in excellent English exam results (not the goal, but an indicator of efficacy).

• Inside the app, select 'activities' at the bottom of the screen. My child can choose his games, which promotes autonomy. We also focus on potential growth areas, visible in activities screen.

• I use growth mindset phrases like, "I felt your brain growing through those challenges today," or "It seemed smooth/bumpy/tricky/comfortable today, how did it feel for you"

• We briefly discuss achievements and challenges afterward: "What’s one thing you did really well today? What was one of your biggest challenges?"

• I set up the next session: "We’ll be back tomorrow at the same time," or "We’ll skip tomorrow as we’re traveling, but play again the day after," so he knows what to expect.

  
  

Attachment Play: Strengthening Bonds

I volunteer to be the chair for Body Contact Play and incorporate Contingency Play. My child (now 10) can adjust my position, using my arms as a seatbelt or pressing a vibrate ‘button’ on me to make me wriggle. Laughter releases tension and allows learning to happen.

Look Out For:

• Some stories in the comprehension and details games can be difficult. Avoid these for kids under 8. There are 42 other games to choose from.

  
  

Note for Homeschoolers

The study section is excellent for deeper practice. Limit time to 20 minutes a day for optimal engagement.

Mathspace: An Engaging Math Resource

We’ve used Mathspace daily for the past few months and love it. It aligns with the Victorian curriculum, making it a great fit for Australian families. For US alternatives, consider Beast Academy and Life of Fred (we've used both). Aim to limit it to 20 minutes a day; 10 minutes is suitable for younger kids.

How We Use Mathspace

• Set the grade level accurately. Use WIAT results to determine your child’s level. Parents and teachers often underestimate where gifted kids are at, leading them to hide their true abilities.

• Inside the program, you'll see 'dashboard,' 'skills,' and 'textbook.' Select 'skills' and then 'all skills' to explore different sections. Doing this together promotes engagement and choice.

• Start with a 'check-in' for each section. Allow your child to choose the order, which may be challenging for parents to accept, but will bring forth cooperation in your child.

• The initial check-ins will give a score (1-3) inside each circle or leave it blank. Focus on improving scores and filling in the blanks by practicing skills and completing a shorter second check-in. Aim for them to reach mastery levels.

  
  

Attachment Play: Learning Together

We engage in body contact play while standing or kneeling beside each other at the desk. I often incorporate nonsense play, making silly mistakes. If he corrects me, I say, "Ah yes, that reminds me of the last time I was wrong back in the summer of 1846" This type of play prevents perfectionism.

Look Out For:

• Resist the urge to enforce the order or pace at which your child navigates the program. Learn alongside them and hold space for feelings.

  
  

Additional Learning Resources

Problemo - Sandpit and the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge from the Australian Maths Trust offer competitions throughout the year. These can be useful for school learners and homeschoolers alike.

How We Use Problemo and Bebras

• Spend a short time each day on one or two sandpit questions. Each level has 25-30 questions.

• At the end of the two weeks, set up mock test conditions at home and complete one of the practice tests.

  
  

Attachment Play: Transforming Tests into Fun

Make the tests into Power Reversal games, with your child as the teacher and you as the student. Let them set the space up and use playful teaching tools. Allow them to create outrageous test conditions, which can help them process their experiences around learning.

Look Out For:

• Avoid reflexive responses to drive the play or establish specific study habits. Focus on showing up consistently, and your child will embrace challenges over time.

  
  

VIA Survey: Reflecting on Character

Our family revisits the VIA Survey annually as a reflective and planning tool. The 15-minute quiz can take an hour when we slow down and discuss questions as a family. The results highlight key character traits and growth opportunities that promote self-inquiry.

How We Use the VIA Survey

• Complete the survey together as a family while planning the educational year ahead.

• Discuss the results, noting surprises and expected outcomes.

• Reflect on values throughout the year. For example, when my child felt upset after soccer, I used empathic listening to connect his feelings to a core value (fairness and equality) being challenged.

  
  

Attachment Play: Celebrating Values

One year, we pretended it was a knighthood ceremony, reading out values as bestowals. This year, we hosted a fashion show, strutting down an imaginary catwalk while reading out values in funny voices.

These are the four platforms (and caveats) I currently use, and I hope they are helpful. I would LOVE to hear any questions or queries you may have.

To learn more about my current offerings please visit www.giftedparenting.com.au