The Secrets to Raising a Smarter Child
Published by Rupa Publications — a practical guide for parents seeking to understand and nurture their child's intellectual and emotional potential, drawing on nearly three decades of experience in gifted education and assessment.
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With nearly three decades of experience in gifted education, psychology, assessment, and talent development, Dr. Inderbir Kaur Sandhu is widely recognised as one of Asia's leading specialists in identifying and developing gifted and high-potential learners. Holding a PhD in Psychology (Gifted Education) from the University of Cambridge, she has dedicated her career to understanding how exceptional potential develops — and how schools and families can recognise, support, and nurture it. Today she is the academic and clinical backbone of GiftedKids.in.
Her work spans the full continuum of gifted education: early identification and cognitive assessment, teacher training, talent development, social-emotional support, programme design, and policy-level consultation — always combining global best practice with a deep respect for local cultural realities. She is an accredited WISC-IV and WISC-V assessor and a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Having lived and worked in India from 2009 to 2017, Dr. Sandhu brings first-hand understanding of the educational, cultural, and social forces that shape gifted learners in the Indian context. During that decade she partnered with schools, universities (including the University of Delhi), educators, and families on teacher training, differentiated instruction, and the social-emotional needs of gifted children — the period in which her path first crossed with co-founder Kunwer Sachdev. She is especially known for championing the children traditional systems overlook: underachieving gifted learners, highly sensitive children, and twice-exceptional students whose potential rarely shows up in exam scores alone.
International leadership & global contributions
Dr. Sandhu's work extends well beyond individual schools and families to strengthening whole systems of talent development. Most recently she was appointed an Expert Consultant to the International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO), where she contributes expertise in gifted education, pedagogy, teacher development, and pathways for nurturing future scientific talent — helping participating nations build ecosystems that identify and develop high-potential students in science and innovation.
She has collaborated with universities, ministries, schools, and professional associations across Singapore, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom, delivering keynote addresses, invited lectures, and professional-development workshops for educators, psychologists, school leaders, and policymakers. She is also actively involved in developing culturally responsive approaches to intelligence assessment that better reflect the diversity of learners across Asia.
Current appointments & affiliations
Consultant, National Gifted & Talented Education Centre (PERMATApintar), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia · Expert Consultant, International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) · Associate Faculty, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) · Faculty Member, The School of Positive Psychology (TSPP), Singapore · Visiting Lecturer, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia · Honorary Advisor & Life Member, National Association for Gifted Children Malaysia · International Affiliate, American Psychological Association (APA) · Editorial Board Member, Journal of Social Education Research (Singapore).
Earlier roles include Tutor at the University of Cambridge, faculty at Universiti Putra Malaysia and SIM University Singapore, School Psychologist at Raffles Girls' School, and Principal Mentor at Wavecrest Ltd. Singapore.
The Secrets to Raising a Smarter Child
Published by Rupa Publications, Dr. Sandhu's book distils decades of practice into accessible guidance for parents — tackling common misconceptions about intelligence, giftedness, and how children actually learn. She has also contributed to academic works including the chapter "Unlocking Giftedness: An Introduction to Giftedness for Teachers in India" in Springer's Dynamic Learning Spaces in Education, and served for over a decade as resident psychologist for Brainy-Child, an international gifted-education publication.
Her role at GiftedKids.in
Dr. Sandhu is the scientific and clinical foundation of everything GiftedKids.in does — from identification frameworks and assessment guidance to the resources and community content the platform produces. She ensures that what families receive is grounded in evidence, culturally informed, and practically useful.
"Every gifted child deserves to be seen, understood, challenged, and nurtured. Potential should never be left undiscovered simply because it does not fit conventional expectations."
