Supporting your gifted child beyond academics

At The Swot Shop we are privileged to teach children who come with great academic gifts and talents.

For parents and educators alike, it is important to remember that gifted children don’t just think differently – they often feel more deeply too.

In this article we share some tips for parents on how you can nurture, not only your child’s academic gifts, but also their emotional wellbeing.

The reality is that behind strong academic ability can sit big emotions: perfectionism, sensitivity, empathy, and even feeling “different” from their peers.

Supporting gifted children means nurturing the whole child – helping them build resilience, social confidence, and a love of learning that goes beyond the classroom.

Tips for parents

• Normalise intensity – Let your child know it’s okay to feel things strongly or ask “big questions.”
• Celebrate effort, not just results – Reframe mistakes as part of growth, not failure.
• Give words to feelings – Teaching emotional vocabulary helps children name and manage their inner world.
• Friendships can also be challenging for gifted learners, especially when their interests don’t align with peers. Encourage your child to connect with like-minded children through enrichment programs, clubs, or shared-interest activities. This can reduce isolation and help them feel understood.

Finally, teach coping strategies like mindfulness, journaling, or simply taking breaks. These tools help gifted children manage setbacks and channel their intensity into confidence and resilience.

At The Swot Shop, we’ve spent over 30 years providing unique educational experiences that extend, enrich, and support gifted learners – academically and emotionally.

Explore our Parent Information Hub for resources to guide your gifted child’s journey: