What I don't consider a good approach is excusing behavior that's disruptive or disordered or distressing on the grounds that the child is gifted.
I agree it shouldn't be used to excuse behavior. But it can be used to UNDERSTAND said behavior and know how best to react to it. I had people who told me the best thing to do with my son who was having anxiety attacks, was to just be more 'strict' and if I just punished my child more he would behave better. In the long run, helping him learn how to deal with his anxiety helped the behavior better. (My son was melting down and screaming in the middle of class in a gifted 6th grade classroom.) Getting him help, putting in practices in the classroom such as a quite place he could go to calm down helped, and a teacher who could recognize the situation before it got bad. And I'm glad that although I had other issues with DS's elementary school & principal they were willing to understand this difference.
