Intro

Being the parent or caregiver of an academically gifted child is both an opportunity and a challenge. It can be incredibly rewarding to witness all they can achieve, and equally difficult to resist becoming overly invested in their success. 

For our first Gifted Minds episode, I’m joined by Ned Johnson, author of The Self-Driven Child and founder of PrepMatters, a company that provides tutoring, college planning and test-prep services. He has years of experience working with gifted children and their families, and deep insight into how we can best help gifted kids when it comes to academics. Hit play to hear our conversation about: 

• His philosophy on how to approach academics with our kids [02:33];
• How to keep your gifted child open to communication about academics [04:40];
• How to support children with perfectionistic tendencies [09:32];
• How to support gifted children who are under-performing, disengaged, or anxious [11:32];
• How to inspire younger children’s love of learning and intrinsic motivation [15:22]; and
• How to approach academics as kids move into their teen years [18:51]. 

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways! 

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips to help ensure your gifted and talented kids survive and thrive in academics. 

Links and Resources

• Check out the video version of this episode on the Gifted Minds YouTube channel. 
• Visit the PrepMatters website.
• Join the Self-Driven Child facebook group.
• Order a copy of The Self-Driven Child.
• Follow Ned Johnson on Twitter.
• Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

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About Ned Johnson

Ned Johnson is an author, speaker, and the founder of PrepMatters, an educational company providing academic tutoring, educational planning and standardized test prep. A professional “tutor-geek” since 1993, Ned has spent more than 40,000 one-on-one hours helping students conquer an alphabet of standardized tests and honing his insights on communicating with students and parents. A battle-tested veteran in the fields of test preparation, anxiety management, and student performance, Ned coaches kids on how to manage their stress while simultaneously motivating and empowering them to reach their full potential. He has written for the New York Times, The Telegraph, U.S. News & World Report & The Washington Post and co-authored three books, including the national best-seller The Self-Driven Child. 

Podcast Credits

• Executive Producer and Host: MacKenzie Price
• Executive Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media 
• Senior Producer: Amanda Avery
• Senior Editor: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
• Marketing: Patrick Harrell
• Video Production/Editing: Kevin Smith, Picturebox Productions
• Music Producer: Dyami Wilson