SENGinar - Beyond Labels: Cultivating Our Unique Gifts

Labels, even positive ones, can be limiting because they may stifle risk-taking and growth. As parents, educators, and other members of the gifted community, we must work to help gifted children recognize their inner potential and teach them to harness it without becoming paralyzed by the burden of expectation. In this conversation, Melissa will explore how we can help gifted children cultivate their unique essence and set them up for success.

About the Presenter:

Melissa Bernstein is an entrepreneur, creative, and working mother of six. In 1988, Melissa and her husband co-

founded Melissa & Doug out of their parents’ garage. In the years that followed, they built Melissa & Doug into a wildly successful company. Melissa has spent the last 30 years helping children discover themselves, their passions, and their purpose through open-ended play. She estimates that she has built more than 6,000 toys in the last three decades!

Despite the early and sustained success Melissa experienced, she spent her life struggling with existential depression. In

2020, after her own personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Melissa co-founded Lifelines. Through Lifelines,

she is using her unparalleled creativity and imagination to reinvent well-being products and experiences and help adults

strengthen their resilience, stay grounded, and unlock their full potential.