Gifted Children

Every Mensan began life as a gifted child. What was it like for you? What would have helped you? Did a stultifying school system label you as a "discipline problem" or as "attention challenged" as you took apart everything moveable in your house to see how it worked? Back then, a single word of encouragement from even one adult would have been so important.

As your Gifted Children Coordinator I, Bonnie Ann Burgard-Ross, am responsible for being available for contacts regarding children who were like you. Questions for the Coordinator range from getting a gifted child into Mensa to finding scholarships to arranging communication with pen pals. I can be reached either through this e-mail link or at 480-969-0847.

The Greater Phoenix Mensa Scholarship Program is an important part of our gifted children program. For any questions this page doesn't answer about the Scholarship Program, please contact our local coordinator, Joan Fallon.

Most of our calls come from parents who worry about how to handle a gifted child and how to bring out the child's highest potential. At such times, it helps to have someone who has the time to patiently listen, who keeps records of their calls and concerns, and who can refer to lists of counselors and psychologists in our area who specialize in children.

As your Coordinators, we can make use of my experience working with children in the field of education. We can direct you to information about the enrichment programs offered by our local public schools as well as Valley charter and private schools. ASU runs a Program for Talented Youth that can be reached at 480-727-7450. I am sometimes asked to speak in public on behalf of gifted kids in Mensa. Please do call on me if you think my thoughts on this subject would be useful to your group.

Gifted children have a heightened curiosity that enables them to integrate well, with only a minimum of chaperoning, into grown-up Mensa functions. When you plan a function where children may be present, please be sure to present appropriate activities with members projecting constructive behavior models. Feel free to suggest more Mensa activities oriented toward children. Would you like to see this Gifted Children page become a place where gifted children themselves can communicate? Would you like to see a Kids SIG formed in Greater Phoenix Mensa? How about nationwide communication among gifted children?

If you are looking for an alternative to the lack of gifted programs in the public schools, and are interested in enrolling your 13 to 18 year old in Community College classes for credit, please contact your local college. Children from the 7th to 12th grade can enroll in Alternative Delivery course work with parental consent and testing scores. If you want to get in touch with Mesa Community College, call 480-461-8105.

http://www.azgifted.org/ is a great site for gifted-child parents in Arizona. It is a local organization that has a lot of reference material, gifted programs, scholarship information, an on line forum for parents and more.

The Arizona Science Bowl is a chance for gifted kids to show their stuff. Find out about what local Mensan Gene Holmerud is doing to help.

Rio Salado Community College offers dual enrollment courses for high school students, to betaken for advance college credit. You can also arrange for concurrent enrollment in Alternate Delivery classes taken at home or, depending on availability, in your child's public school.

Be a pioneer! Enroll your child in one of these programs. Get together with other parents doing the same and approach the public school system and your Community Colleges with requests for programs like these.