Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Activities besides Chess / Piano

I'd also suggest some form of rigorous exercise. I know a lot of GT kids who have trouble going to sleep, my eldest son was one of them, right up until he began a regular exercise routine, then not only did he get to sleep a lot quicker, he became a much calmer person. For him, team sports didn't work out as he never felt like the teams he was on knew how to act like a team. His Freshman year, he took a physical weight training class and then he and I started to frequent the gym together. This was something he could do on his own, see results, control COMPLETELY, and go at his own speed......and it totally transformed him physically.

ITA. Many gifted kids enjoy and derive great benefit from rigorous exercise.

Martial arts seem especially popular, including Tae Kwon Do.

Community service, logic, arts, STEM/STEAM. My son is currently obsessed with origami!

We also enjoy nature walks/hikes. We just go out and walk around and look at stuff (birds, bugs, rocks etc). I try not to furnish too many answers ...

Drama, swim team, bike riding (with dh long rides), regular Legos

I agree with Indigo and Old Dad. Drama. Without them knowing it, getting on stage teaches kids to fail and get up again, fail and get up again. They forget lines (or somebody else does) and the show keeps going. It's really good for kids who might be afraid to fail.

It also teaches kids how to project their voice, keep their bodies still and strong, teamwork, how to share and give focus (and to take it when it is yours to take).

I think the book "Sign Me Up!: The Parents' Complete Guide to Sports, Activities, Music Lessons, Dance Classes, and Other Extracurriculars" (2003) by Stacy M. DeBroff is good, giving an overview of many activities, including some you may not have thought of. Town recreation departments often have low-cost classes. Where we live their is a weekend school run by Chinese parents that offers (besides Chinese language) classes in contest math, creative writing, art, piano, chess, gymnastics, and fencing.