Identify gifted girls early, before they have developed ingrained patterns of hiding. The best age for testing them is between the ages of three-and-a-half and seven. By eight or nine, their favourite response to test questions is "I don't know."

Find them peers who have similar abilities and interests. Age and sex are not that important in gifted children's choice of friends. (Parent support groups provide good networks for locating other gifted children.)

Place them in special programmes. Successful women who retain their view of themselves as gifted tend to be those who were in classes with extremely bright girls who worked hard and supported each other.

Consider early entry. Gifted girls adjust well if they are placed, from the beginning, with older peers.

Don't let them drop mathematics. Girls should be encouraged to take every maths course possible, and as early as they can get into them. Maths courses open doors that are forever closed if they are allowed to quit early.

Introduce them to female role models, whether these be executives, doctors or full-time homemakers.

Involve dad - research shows that if a father believes in his daughter, she believes in herself.

Hold high expectations. If a girl is allowed to slide by just performing what she already knows, she gradually loses her belief in her ability to master the unknown. Early challenges build self-confidence.

Avoid sex-role stereotyping. Typical girls' activities are limiting and teach passivity rather than independence.

Encourage independence and risk-taking. Overprotection breeds fear. For more information, see www.gifteddevelopment.com