On this page, you will find information about giftedness, how to support gifted children, local gifted resources, and information for various service providers and enrichment.  

Is my child gifted? Click here to find out more.

Gifted? How to get support - overview.

Evaluations+Testing

For Neuropsychological, IQ, and Academic testing, please click HERE.

Let’s Start Local! (also on Facebook)

There is a village! If you are a parent of a gifted child in Chicago or an educator for gifted children, we strongly recommend that you connect with two organizations as they aggregate area resources:

Chicago Gifted Community Center

A non-profit organization, created by parents of gifted children, with the mission to facilitate educational and emotional support for gifted children and their families. The organization holds a number of events of academic, intellectual and emotional interest for families, children, and parents and aggregates area resources and events.

Illinois Association for Gifted Children

The Illinois Association for Gifted Children empowers educators, families and communities by advancing effective practices, programs and policies to promote the development of gifted and talented children throughout Illinois. The Association has a number of legislative initiatives in Illinois to improve the quality of education.

Chicago Area Mensa - A community for people with an IQ of 130 or higher. It is mostly focused on adults.

Davidson Young Scholars: There is a Davidson Chicago Group that connects exclusively on Facebook. Contact us if you are in Davidson and need help joining the Facebook group.

Enrichment - General

Ideas for after school, summer, and weekend opportunities for gifted children. We look at these organizations as partners and collaborators.

Online: Mensa for Kids

STEAM Enrichment in the City of Chicago

Homeschooler opportunities (not specifically gifted)

http://www.illuminat-ed.com - Naperville/Fox valley area

Student Science Labs and Coding:

STEAM Annual Events:

  • Fermilab holds a number of events year round of interest to children interested in science

  • CHITAG

  • Maker Faire 

  • Suburban gifted schools may also have events open to the public.

Maker Spaces:

o   Harold Washington Library

o   Adler Planetarium

o Chicago Children’s Museum

o   Bit Space

Gifted-Specific Classes and Camps

Homeschooler:

After school or weekend:

Summer Camps:

 The various museums in Chicago all have classes and workshops that could be of interest.

Support Services

For support with specific issues, from people that understand gifted children, beyond those listed in evaluations.

Social workers:

Gifted Learning Center

Gifted Learning Center is a social emotional resource that provides healing experiences for gifted children in a small group, intellectually stimulating environment. It is essentially a therapeutic school with a social and emotional focus. 

A wonderful resource for parents raising gifted children is SENG. SENG is an organization that focuses, among other things, on supporting the social and emotional needs of gifted children and their families.

An additional SENG resource is Sheryl Stroller: https://www.stollerparentcoaching.org/. Please check our events page often to learn of upcoming workshops with Sheryl.

Special Interest: Highly, Profoundly Gifted and or 2E

HG/EG/PG: Well hello you needle-in-a-hay-stack, you. MAGE is here because of you. We specialize in PG. However, you will not find many resources here, because there aren’t many to begin with.

  • Davidson Institute: Of specific interest is a free gifted support service called Davidson Young Scholars, for children ages 5-18 with an IQ of 145 or higher.

  • PG Retreat IQ over 175? Join free and be understood! The retreat is not free but has some financial aid available. They also offer year round virtual events.

  • Private Schools and the Profoundly Gifted - An article about school options.

  • On Facebook:

    • Verified to be gifted/or to have gifted kids groups:

      • PG Retreat (add 2+ years to your child’s age for DYS PSAT/SAT requirements if you don’t know if you’d qualify and you don’t have evidence of IQ 175+), and Davidson YS (145+), all have secret groups on Facebook. In those groups, all members are verified. They are very active!

        • There are many separate groups including regional groups and special interest groups: 2E, Radically Accelerated, Anxiety, etc. (must qualify and join Davidson or you won't be let in),

        • There is a Davidson Chicago Group, you may contact us if you are in Davidson need help joining the group.

        • PG Medical Mysteries Private Discussion Group

    • Unverified:

2E

  • 2E Newsletter - This is a wonderful collection of resources and information.

Gifted Research: 

(If you are aware of a resource that we should add here, please email us.)