Blog Articles

Welcome to Gifted — Did You Know?, a weekly blog for the parents and educators raising and supporting gifted and twice-exceptional children. Each post is short, practical, and grounded in more than two decades inside classrooms, district offices, and living rooms — exploring the surprising, sometimes counter-intuitive truths about how gifted minds actually work. One week you might read about why "smart" can quietly hide real struggle; the next, why the most overwhelmed parent in the room is often the one who sees their child most clearly. Posts alternate between insights from my two books — Supporting Your Twice-Exceptional Child and A Gifted Parent's Handbook — so over time you will build a full, balanced picture of the gifted and 2e experience. If you have ever looked at your brilliant, complicated, intense child and thought there has to be more to this than anyone is telling me — you are in the right place. These children are capable, complex, and gifted first. Let's make sure they are seen.

— Adam C. Laningham, M.Ed.

Adam Laningham 5/11/26 Adam Laningham 5/11/26

A Child Can Be Years Ahead AND Years Behind

Did you know that a single child can function like an adult in one area and a much younger child in another — on the same day, in the same hour, sometimes in the same conversation? This is called asynchronous development, and it is one of the most defining features of the gifted and 2e experience. It is also one of the most confusing…

Adam Laningham 5/4/26 Adam Laningham 5/4/26

Gifted Doesn't Always Mean Straight A's

Did you know that some of the most gifted children you will ever meet are not the ones bringing home perfect report cards? Giftedness is one of the most misunderstood words in education. Most people hear it and picture a compliant, high-achieving student who loves school and lives for gold stars. But giftedness is not a performance…

Adam Laningham 4/18/26 Adam Laningham 4/18/26

When "Smart" Hides the Struggle

Did you know that some of the brightest children in a classroom are also the ones most likely to be misunderstood? Parents and teachers often assume that a child who reads two grade levels ahead, speaks with unusual vocabulary, or reasons like a small adult must be doing just fine. But for many gifted children, that very brilliance becomes a kind of camouflage — hiding real, significant struggles underneath.

Adam Laningham 7/28/25 Adam Laningham 7/28/25

Finding the Best School Setting for Your Gifted Child: A Guide for Parents

Gifted children often have unique learning needs, social-emotional intensities, and asynchronous development that don’t always fit neatly into traditional classrooms…

Adam Laningham 6/30/25 Adam Laningham 6/30/25

Asynchronous Development and The Gifted Brain

A gifted child may feel like their mind and emotions are speaking two different languages —

Adam Laningham 6/27/25 Adam Laningham 6/27/25

Social & Emotional Learning - Why It Is Essential For Gifted Learners

It is important to create safe spaces where gifted children can connect with intellectual peers, voice their concerns, and celebrate their uniqueness.