(5th grade). Real superstar. He was very focused on math, then by high school, he had burnt out. Did not go to college. No longer does math anything.
Yes, gifted kids can burn out. Related topics may be perfectionism, underachievement, fixed mindset, existential angst, and differentiated task demands.
Antidotes may include:
- Developing internal locus of control.
- Receiving affirmation/validation.
- Developing a growth mindset (Dweck).
- Webb's book
Search for Meaning Regarding a parent who may mention a cautionary tale about a gifted kiddo's burn-out seemingly out of the blue, some may not think of this parent's actions as engaging in schadenfreude, but rather an act of outreach, an insider's acknowledgement that gifted kids are an at-risk population, and raising a gifted child may be like a wild roller-coaster ride with its ups and downs, hairpin turns, and life turned upside down at times.
