Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children TPP 86a: Dr. Mike Postma on the Plight of Gifted & 2e (Twice Exceptional) Children
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Apr 3, 2026 Dr. Michael Postma, educator and author who founded Gifted and Thriving and leads SENG, shares his work with gifted and twice-exceptional learners. He discusses the social-emotional struggles of bright kids, asynchronous development, school gaps and inequities, small accommodations that help, and why holistic development must drive education for these students.
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Growing Up Gifted With Little Support
- Michael Postma grew up gifted with ADD and Asperger's in the 1970s–80s and coped largely by camouflaging and relying on athletics and a few supportive teachers.
- He struggled with asynchronous development and depression into adulthood, which led him to study and work in gifted education.
Holistic Development Is Academic Foundation
- Holistic development means building social-emotional, executive, physical, and artistic competencies alongside academics.
- Twice-exceptional students often have advanced frontal cortex development but delayed limbic/emotional regulation, causing asynchronous challenges.
Teacher Prep Overlooks Gifted And 2e Needs
- Teacher training rarely includes meaningful gifted or twice-exceptional education, so many teachers lack tools to identify or support these learners.
- Some states (e.g., Ohio) are starting to require more gifted training, but it's still uncommon.
