The early environments which foster giftedness in children also make them vulnerable to feeling extreme pressures. The praise and power which cultivate a positive learning environment may become "too much of a good thing." Gifted children may thus internalize highly competitive pressures to be brilliant, perfect, extraordinarily creative, beautiful and/or popular. The pressures that gifted children internalize can lead to motivation or may also cause them to learn defensive patterns which lead to underachievement. Families and schools can help gifted children to cope with these pressures by providing realistic challenges and guidance. Schools which provide for the needs of gifted children will encourage them to make a commitment to their education and a contribution to society. They can learn to feel good about their personal accomplishments and about themselves.

Dr. Sylvia Rimm (Cleveland, Ohio) is the best-selling author of "See Jane Win" and "How Jane Won" as well as parenting favorites "Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades" and "How to Parent So Children Will Learn." She is the director of the Family Achievement Clinic in Cleveland and a clinical professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. The author of a syndicated newspaper column on parenting, she has appeared in Redbook and People magazines, on Oprah and 20/20, and as host of Family Talk with Sylvia Rimm. She is also a frequent parenting expert on the Today show.

Dr. Rimm will be happy to sign books that will be available for puchase at the event. Please join us for this seminar and discussion. All are welcome!

CFACT is grateful for generous support for this event from the Brookline Foundation and the PTOs of the Baker, Devotion, Driscoll, Heath, Lincoln, Pierce and Runkle schools.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Linda Swartz.