When summer hits, many parents feel the pressure to keep their gifted kids constantly engaged—but research shows that rest and unstructured time are far from wasted. In this post, I share why giving your child space to "do nothing" might actually be one of the best things you can do for their development, and how I’m learning to embrace the quiet moments with my always-busy 8-year-old.

Maya is a 10-year-old fifth grader with advanced verbal reasoning and problem-solving skills. She loves reading and thinking deeply about the world around her. But along with those strengths, she also experiences high levels of perfectionism, anxiety, and sensitivity. She’s the kind of student who might crumple her paper and start over again and again—not because she doesn’t understand the material, but because it’s not “perfect.”

I recently discovered a creative thinking framework that instantly clicked for me as an ELA teacher—and it might become one of my favorite tools for working with gifted students. It’s called SCAMPER, and while it’s often used in business and design thinking, it has incredible potential in the classroom, especially for writing.

I recently had a very interesting conversation with an acquaintance who asked about my personal homeschool journey. During our discussion, I learned that she was considering homeschooling but felt overwhelmed by the abundance of information and resources available. When I first started, I did a lot of research—so many philosophies, methods, and ideas to explore! Eventually, I found my stride as a mix of Waldorf and traditional homeschooling. One thing I’ve learned is that choosing the right homeschool approach is highly individual—what works for one family (or even one child) might not work for another. Sometimes, different kids need different approaches within the same household!

Fostering a growth mindset is one of the most important factors for the long-term success of gifted learners. A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and practice. Growth mindset empowers students to embrace challenges, persevere through setbacks, and cultivate the skill of resilience. As educators and parents, we have the unique opportunity to instill these values in gifted children, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive both academically and personally. Gifted learners are often accustomed to high achievement with minimal effort and may face difficulties when they encounter challenges. By promoting a growth mindset, we can help gifted students understand that setbacks are opportunities for growth rather than indicators of failure.

Holistic learning environments are about engaging the whole student—not just intellectually, but also emotionally, socially, creatively, and physically. When students feel supported in all these areas, they’re better prepared to learn, adapt, and thrive. Holistic education goes beyond traditional academics and builds the foundation for lifelong resilience, curiosity, and empathy.

Holistic learning treats education as more than just a transfer of knowledge. It’s about creating a dynamic space where students grow in all dimensions. Each part of the learning experience plays a role in shaping a well-rounded individual who can handle challenges and engage meaningfully with the world.