The Gifted Kids' Survival Guide for Ages 10 & Under

by Judy Galbraith, Pamela Espeland

An updated, informative book examines the problems of gifted and talented students and explains how they can make the best use of their educational opportunities, get along better with parents and friends, and better understand themselves. Original.

Genres: Education, Childrens, Nonfiction, Reference, Juvenile

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

As a former classroom teacher and specialist in gifted education, Judy Galbraith , MA recognized a clear need for books to help children and teens navigate life’s challenges. Judy founded Free Spirit Publishing in 1983 becoming the first publisher to focus on self-help materials to help young people lead better lives. Her first books, and the first titles for Free Spirit Publishing, grew out of her master’s thesis paper and they're still in print today...The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guides (for ages 10 & under and for teens).

Not having a business or publishing background, Judy learned about growing Free Spirit the hard way. “I always tell people that I’ve done just about everything wrong...once. I’m a strong believer in the importance of persistence in the face of challenges. With every mistake or bad thing that might happen in our lives, there’s always, always an opportunity to learn, improve, and grow. By modeling this mindset for children and teens through our deeds and through resources such as the ones we create at Free Spirit, we can help young people do and be their best in all areas of their lives. I grew up around books, and I firmly believe they have the power to inspire, inform, and transform.”

Judy is proud of the accolades Free Spirit’s books consistently garner from professionals, but she says, “How do we know our books really work? The letters from our readers. Almost every day we receive fan mail about how our books have helped someone. Those letters make it easy for us to stay true to our mission which is to provide children and teens - and the adults who care about them—with the tools they need to succeed in life and to make a difference in the world.”

In addition to The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guides, Judy is the coauthor of What Teens Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Shape Your Own Future; What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids; and When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers: How to Meet Their Social and Emotional Needs.

Judy served ten years on the Board of Directors of Search Institute, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and adolescents. From 2007–2010, she was a member of Minnesota 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees. In 1996, Galbraith received the E. Paul Torrance Creativity Award; in 2004, she was named the Midwest Publisher of the Year; and in 2011, she was awarded with the California Association for the Gifted (CAG) Ruth A. Martinson Award. She has appeared on Oprah and been featured in Family Circle and Family Life, as well as numerous other magazines, newspapers, and broadcast and electronic media. She is a member of the Association of Booksellers for Children, the Association of Educational Publishers, the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, and the National Association for Gifted Children.

Judy grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, received a degree in education from the University of Wisconsin at Steven’s Point, and holds a master’s degree in guidance and counseling of the gifted from Norwich University, Vermont. She is a sailor and enjoys adventure travel, reading (of course!), community activism, and taking long walks with her rescue dogs, Sally and Twiggy. Judy lives with her partner, Gary, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Outdated in general, but especially as it relates to the crossover between GT and ND (especially ADHD/autism).

I pre-read it, then skipped around with my 8 year old. There are some parts that sparked conversation with my kid and that was worth it.

[Lesli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book while trying to help my gifted child find non-fiction he was interested in at the library. Even though this book is written for children, I found this book very useful as a parent of a gifted child. Its designed for probably 8 or 9 year olds to read. The number one useful thing I read in the book was gifted children deserved to be told they are gifted, and how that might mean they differ from other kids. I had been purposely not telling my child he was in "gt program". After discussing the gt program, and his giftedness, I swear overnight my child relaxed and started behaving better with me. When thinking about it I realized the disservice I was doing for him, by ignoring "his giftedness." That is just one example of how useful the book was for me. It helped me understand what is going on in his brain a little better. A very useful book.

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, but overall, I thought it was a little too simplistic. The greatest strength is its reassuring message that being smart is a bonus and not a burden, and that it's okay to be different. It is a validating resource for young readers who may feel isolated by their abilities. The inclusion of real anecdotes from other gifted kids is a effective and provides tangible evidence that they are not alone in their experiences.

I loved that it keeps a friendly, conversational tone and has interactive features liked quizzes and quotes from other kids. The book does a great job of making gifted readers feel seen and understood. It covers issues like perfectionism, high expectations, fitting in and making friends; then in turn offers practical strategies to help kids navigate the social and emotional challenges that come with being "gifted".

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-read this book before giving it to my child - I thought it was great and think he'll get a lot out of it too. I learned some things -- this insight especially resonates.....

"Asynchronous development means your brain's moving very fast while your feelings and social skills are trying to keep up. This doesn't mean you're lagging behind emotionally or socially. Quite the opposite, you probably are more emotionally mature than other kids your age. It's just that thinking about complex issues and ideas might require a level of maturity far beyond your years."

Lots of good nuggets combining facts with the experiences of gifted kids which I think my son will relate to.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the edition is ten years old and thus shows its age at times (updated research on the brain and how it learns, lack of person-first terminology instead of “GTs,” mentions of computer labs at school, etc.), this book would be a solid resource for parents, teachers, and students identified as gifted and learning to navigate the peaks and valleys that accompany it. I recommend walking through it with your child or your students and opening up a dialogue, as not every part will resonate with every learner’s experience. This book could do much to help the “Okay, they say I’m GT, but what does that mean?” that so many kids experience.

[Callie Hornbuckle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a parent book club at my child's school, so it was really more for talking points than for content. I felt that way about the book actually - it might be a useful starting point for conversations between parent and child or between parents; not sure how useful it would be as the intended "survival guide".

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and straightforward introduction to giftedness. It’s written for 10 and under but definitely informative for parents and kids closer to the 10 year range.

Worth reading if you or your family are interested in this topic.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Katy L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book for kids identified as gifted. Addresses frustrations and challenges that they face in a traditional school system, including lots of social-emotional needs. Not an end-all-be-all, but a really great introduction book. It would be a great one for a parent to read with their child!

[Angela]

Recommended by a GT teacher. A little outdated (computer references, links, etc.), but my kid seems to be enjoying it - especially the quizzes.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written for the bright child himself, to help him figure out how to appreciate his own abilities while recognizing that "brighter than" does not mean "better than."

How do you deal with kids who like you because you are smart and funny, yet don't like you for the same reasons? Why do the kids you talk to and play with act in such conflicting ways? What can you do to build friendships? ("Don't be a show-off." "Don't try to make everything go your way -- be willing to compromise." "Be patient with people who don't see things in the same way you do." "Be kind, caring, honest, trustworthy and a good listener.")

In many ways, this is the book I should have read when I was growing up! I must have been a pretty obnoxious kid/adult until I figured out all these things for myself.

[Susan]

Review by: Susan Overton

Handbook Reference

Survival Guide for Gifted Kids?
Galbraith, J. (2009). The gifted kids\' survival guide. Minneapolis,MN: Free Spirit Publishing.

Price: $12.99

Relevance and Relationship: This book is a handbook for gifted students to better understand their learning style

Purpose: This book provides students who feel different from other students due their above average academics build confidence in their academic ability .

Format: This book is in print.

Arrangement and Presentation: The book answers all the questions a gifted and talented student would have about how they are different from other students.

Diversity: with a growing GT population, the students will be able to better understand their situation and other students will learn about GT students as well.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's written in a conversational style that I think kids will like and has nice highlights with quotes from gifted kids age 10 and under and websites for additional information.

It just was very reaffirming that a kid is still a kid, even with a "gifted" label. And even though they may feel different than other kids and that they don't fit in, they should embrace who they are. They should know they are not alone. The book is realistic and practical.

additional resources:
agirlsworld.com
iwaswondering.org
Be the Boss of Your Stress: Self-Care for Kids by Timothy Culbert & Rebecca Kajander
earth.google.com
bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody
pbs.org/newshour/extra
abcgallery.com
kids.nationalgeographic.com
makebeliefscomix.com
kidsonthennet.com

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book as my Mirror Book. Growing up as a "gifted" child I sometimes felt weird or out of place amongst friends. I would have to leave to go to special classes and sometimes even be bussed to different schools. This book is a book providing advice for young gifted children based off of 1,000 surveyed gifted children.

I also chose this as my Window Book! This book provides a realistic point of view into the world of gifted kids. I feel all students under 10 can relate and learn from he experiences of the students surveyed.

[Taleoftwopiggies · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a parent, I'm not so excited about it. Maybe the book is for kids instead of parents. It says for ages 10 and under. Mine is 7 and I don't think he likes reading it. I guess I'm not sure what the book is trying to tell kids, or parents. For a parent like me, I'm looking for more detailed suggestion on how to help exercise kid's talent, which is missing from the book. If I were a kid, maybe it helps them confirm their G/T status?? But again, it lacks technical information.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was helpful, but it is a thin little book with a few ideas for gifted kids to 1) come to understand themselves slightly better and recognize that there ARE other kids like themselves.
2) gain some ideas of ways to make school more interesting and challenging.

My daughter and I each took about an hour to read the whole thing.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what would have been better than a gifted kids' survival guide? Hanging out with more gifted kids. :-P Schuchard Elementary fail.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure that this is a great resource for kids of the appropriate age. As the parent of a much younger gifted kid, I found some good information in the book, and I'm glad I read it.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good read for kids who are gifted and need to learn about themselves. I'd recommend it for older kids- grades 5-10.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was recommended to us parents for the gifted program my son is in, but I think there was very little value to myself. I do think it would be a good book for the kids though for sure.

[Wesley and Fernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, I sure wish I had this book when I was a kid!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful guide for elementary school gifted kids.