Summer Camp, PD, Kratom, and More

IT’S SUMMER… and our first two items today deal with summer camp, which can be a tricky deal for families with 2e kiddos.
— The Washington Post ran an “On Parenting” perspective piece two days ago that focused on the extra support kids with special needs might require at camp — and who pays for that support. At one extreme is the accommodation of sending a therapist to camp along with the child. Also addressed: how some camps build extra supports into their fees; whether insurance might pay for some supports; and giving a child the right to the same summer experiences as neurotypical peers. Find the article.
— TiLT Parenting’s most recent podcast is with a summer camp organizer and author of the book Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults. Debbie Reber says that besides the topic of the benefits of camp, “I also asked Audrey to share her insights with us about things like how to communicate with camp staff about a child’s neurodivergence, how to find the right summer camp, how to support a differently wired kid before and during camp, and more.” Find the podcast.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa offers PD in gifted ed during the summer. It’s not apparent from the course capsules on the summer PD page whether twice-exceptionality is explicitly addressed in any of the offerings, but Belin-Blank is a 2e-aware and 2e-friendly institution. Find out more.

fNEWSLETTERS
— Heard about “kratom”? We hadn’t, until we read this week’s newsletter from the Child Mind Institute. The newsletter says, “Kratom is an herbal supplement that high school and college students are drinking as tea, believing it to be a natural way to boost focus and take the edge off anxiety. It requires no prescription and it’s easy to buy at head shops and online.” It’s also addictive, says the article. To us, the red flag for the 2e community is the phrase about taking the edge off anxiety, a frequent co-occurrence of twice-exceptionality. Find the newsletter.
— GHF’s latest missive contains a collection of seven myths about giftedness. You’ve read at least some of them before, but maybe you’ll find a few that are new and will give you a laugh… or a cry. Find the myths and other GHF news.

SCIENCE, MEDICINE, RESEARCH
— Nutrition, from Healios. “Children who consumed sweet or salty snacks and sweetened beverages had lower standardized test scores, while kids who drank water regularly performed significantly better on a switching task, according two different presentations at Nutrition 2019.” Find the write-up.
— Pollution, from Physician’s Briefing. “Early-life exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is associated with a reduction in fundamental cognitive abilities, according to a study recently published in Environmental Health Perspectives.” Find the study write-up.
— BPA, from Science Daily. “Transgenerational bisphenol A (BPA) exposure may contribute to autism, according to a mouse study.” Find the study write-up.

Spotlight on 2e Series Booklets
A progressive and discriminating state education agency just purchased two complete sets of the Spotlight series, presumably in preparation for the next school year. Does your district or school need to stock up on any of the booklets — or on all of them? Find out more.