First I would like to say that I am so *relieved* that we are not the only ones dealing with sleep issues. Our DD sleep issues played a huge role in finding out that she was profoundly gifted about a month ago. After leaving her very pure montessori pre-K for a traditional private school Kinder she had a harder and harder time falling asleep at night. After a few months in Kinder she was staying awake until 11 some nights. We couldn't figure out how to get this child to sleep after 5 plus years of no sleep issues.
I think it was extreme boredom on so many levels. She was incredibly engaged in her Montessori. She had been able to pick up her materials in the K-2 classroom while still 3 and 4 years old because she had mastered all of the preschool material so quickly. In kinder they had her circling for letter recognition and she is reading at a 4th or 5th grade level and memorizing the material. The dramatic change in environment led to insomnia and depression, which led us to having her assessed. I am so thankful in some ways that it happened somewhat early in her school life.
For the sleep in the meantime we developed a system to help her fall asleep. I agree with everyone about it relying on ROUTINE. For us having time to talk about all the "worries" is really important. We are Catholic, so we taught our daughter to give some of her worries to God. When she had worried about the same thing over and over to a point where she was torturing herself we meditated with her and taught her to "give" them up to God. Every night she reads about a whole book so she needs to be in bed early so she can have at least an hour if not two hours a night to read. Then we use Pandora Meditation station when "Reading Time" is over. Like others, we are only allowed to use the restroom once before there is a consequence. I think with gifted kids, another important thing I am learning is being reasonable and flexible within very strict boundaries is the balance. Its not easy but it works. We tend to be pretty strict but we have found that a flexibility and reasoning pays off as well. No one method works forever.
Last edited by alliesebas; 04/08/12 04:52 PM.
