One thing to avoid is saying, "If you're so smart, why can't you <fill in the life skill>?" That makes kids afraid to try because failure means they might not be smart. Some kids catch on to life skills and "common sense" more easily than others. For gifted kids on the spectrum, they may come to feel that academic pursuits are the only thing they're good at. Add some gifted perfectionism to the mix, and you have a recipe for a kid who resists learning life skills.