Preparing for Gifted Program Test

My second-grader is always at the top of her class. The teacher has recommended that she be tested for the district's gifted program. I know it is really excellent, as several of my friends have children in it.
Since her admission to the program is based in part on a special test, I wonder how I can help her prepare for it. Will there be samples of similar tests that I can find online for her to take? Are there any other resources that would help her ace this test? How can I help her cope if she doesn't get in the gifted class? -- Gifted Child
Answer: Your child's teacher or the gifted-program coordinator can tell you about what tests are being used in the selection process. The school may be using an IQ test, such as the WISC or Stanford-Binet. These test materials are closely guarded by their publishers, although there is general information about them online. There is also the possibility that the school is using an achievement test. Your child could already be familiar with this type of test.
If you are bound and determined to find sample tests for your child to take, a search engine will help you find them online. We talked to several experts on gifted education who don't think this approach will serve you well. It definitely could pressure your child and even cause test anxiety. Also, what happens if your child enters the program and can't keep up?
What's best is to follow the common-sense advice of making sure your child has a good breakfast and is rested on the test day. Furthermore, reading to your child consistently, giving her a wide variety of experiences and playing memory, math and logic games will be far more effective than trying to outguess any test.
If you avoid making a big deal of your child being in the gifted program, she will cope very well if she isn't. And you can handle not being the parent of a child in the gifted program by remembering that many other bright children will not quite meet the selection criteria.