Supporting Parents of Exceptionally Able Kids (SPEAK)
SPEAK is a support group for parents of gifted/exceptionally able children. Incredibly bright children who need further academic stimulation outside the school curriculum and have been accepted into the DCU CTYI programme.
The Centre for Talented Youth, Ireland at Dublin City University provides specialised courses for young people with exceptional academic ability in verbal, numerical or abstract reasoning. Children performing in the 90th percentile or above in school standardised tests are likely to make good candidates for assessment, please contact CTYI, DCU for further details.
SPEAK organise talks/lectures/activities/events geared towards stimulating these children's interests - encouraging them to think outside the box - and are establishing a network of contacts - professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts - who come along and give presentations on their field. The events are informal, facilitating interaction between the children and the speakers. Our invited speakers are doing it for their own love of the subject because it's their personal, infectious enthusiasm we'd like to spread!
It is a non-profit operation keeping costs to parents minimal, charging a nominal fee, with a maximum family charge, to cover costs for speakers. Our events are aimed at families so siblings and parents are welcome. Our “Elders Evenings” are evenings for the primary school children organised and hosted by secondary school-ers on subjects of their own choosing.
Events organised so far include - archaeology; astronomy; bio-diversity; writers; music; diving to the Titanic; but we are open to ideas and suggestions for activities that would appeal to all of our children.
We also have a Coffee Morning on the last Friday of each month in Costa Coffee, Golden Island Shopping Centre, Athlone from 10:30 onwards. Our Coffee Mornings are an informal, open forum where parents can offload, share experiences and maybe suggest solutions through personal experience - all parents of gifted children are welcome to come and meet up!
Please drop us a line if you would like any further information, like our Facebook page for updates on our events and other events up and down the country that may appeal to your children.
speakmidlands@gmail.com, @SPEAK_Ireland. Visit our Facebook Page