Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Parenting & Discipline

Just to caveat -- my daughter is actually are really good kid and exceeds my expectations much of the time. But the times when discipline is required -- oh my, it's like preparing for battle: Read on.

Do you find it more and more difficult to discipline your gifted children? Sometimes, I feel like I'm parenting a teenager and my daughter is only 6 1/2! Every time I give her an answer of "no" she wants an explanation and "because I said so" never works. Usually, we have a good discussion and she gains understanding.

But every once and again, she explodes. My DH & I have read the book "The Explosive Child" and felt like we were reading a description of our life. We have incorporated much of the advice from that book into our lives. But the combination of giftedness & "explosiveness" sure can be draining.

Anyone else out there in my shoes?

Ha Ha! Yes... that's "normal" here. Oh, those OEs!

Yes, we are raising little lawyers...

Ditto, all of the above!

The running joke in our house is that DS6 is a Diplomat in Training.

Gosh! the arguments sometimes really drain me.. DD4 is a master of "How about 5 and a half minutes".. "But...but..but. but you cannot start counting till I ...."

Yes, my goodness yes! DD3 is so much easier to discipline than DS5, even while she's going through the pushing of buttons stage (right now... fun)!

Yep you are not alone.
I feel my DS6 turns it around trying to punish me.
Just before he told me "we are going to discuss it later when I get home"
It is like where did you come from, lately I say a lot "you are not in charge I am, you don't tell me what to do, you don't make the rules etc".
Last night for dinner he wouldn't eat so I said "we are not millionnaires so you are not getting anythign else" he says "you are not a millionnaire because you don't believe in yourself" There is always something else to say. Then all of a sudden I was in this philisophical debate.

DS is the logic king and always full of debate. I'm not sure if this will help others but we have found it very useful! Essentially, we have taught him how to argue and when an argument is over! It's not flawless and we certainly had to add in provisions for safety- but overall, it works!

http://wondertime.go.com/parent-to-parent/article/why-kids-should-talk-back.html

My 2.5 yr old already negotiates so I really dread when she is older. Playground time can either go smoothly or become a big battle with lines drawn.