Are you friends with your kids on Facebook? Whether out of concern for their online safety, or simple curiosity about their online (and offline) activities, the majority of parents who use social media (92%) say that they monitor their kids’ Facebook use to some extent.

The problem is that the presence of so many adults on Facebook is, in part, causing teens to leave the social network in droves.

Many of these teens are migrating instead to new, smaller networks, where adults have less of a presence. Apps and social networks like Tumblr, Instagram, and Snapchat, are still tiny compared to the Facebook juggernaut, but they are rapidly growing, with teens making up a large percentage of their user bases.

Social media is popular with the vast majority of teens; 90% have used a social networking site. However for students in online schools in particular, whose friendships may form and grow online, and whose friends may be located far away geographically, social networks can play an even more important role in their lives. It’s so important then for kids to understand how to use these networks safely and responsibly, and for parents to be aware of what their kids are up to online.

Gifted students may find it difficult to be challenged in a brick-and-mortar school. These advanced learners often benefit from the ability to take more advanced courses in specific subjects. This flexibility allows them to reach their full potential and learn at their own accelerated pace.

But how do you know if a child is an advanced learner?

Children can often be filled with an endless stream of “why is the sky blue” type questions. But if a child is regularly inquisitive, it might be an indication that he or she could learn at a more advanced pace in their areas of interest. And if children ask those questions with a sophisticated vocabulary, they may also be advanced learners.

Early reading skills can also be the sign of a gifted child. If children show an interest in books and become independent readers, they may benefit from being challenged. Another indication is if they retain the details of what they read in a book or heard on TV with great accuracy.

In addition to taking advanced courses, students can take part in clubs and enrichment activities that feed their interest in particular areas, such as in-person sessions about dinosaurs or talking to professionals about a math career.

Whatever their interests and aptitude, many students can benefit from advanced learning programs. To help you identify if advanced courses would be a good fit for their child, review this list: