And finally, my soapbox. Please don't buy into the idea that gifted kids can't control themselves because of overexcitabilities, or that they need some other kind of rules. Gifted kids need to behave just like every other kid out there. I know you're not saying they don't, but many parents think that of their gifted children. The way one handles a gifted kids' bad behavior might be a little different, but the expectation should be every bit the same. We're actually removing one of my children from our district's highly gifted program because there are so many kids in the classroom who don't behave. Their parents think their kids are precious snowflakes who shouldn't be expected to be quiet, sit in their seats or be respectful, and they literally say that to the teachers. I'm frustrated that we have to move my child, rather than the naughty children moving, but it's a losing battle. Thanks for doing your part early, to make your children good citizens.
Thank you for writing this. It is so true that parents make excuses for their gifted kids. Ever since bad behavior has been on the check list for giftedness I think parents subconsciously encourage it or ignore it. I run an enrichment club with many highly gifted kids and I have to say that they are well behaved, as are my kids, more than the mildly gifted kids. I think the worst behaved are the ones who know their kids are only above average and I often hear their parents call them "free thinkers"-- it's not free thinking when you encourage them to be that way!
There was an article published about gifted kids, saying how stressed and anxious they are at such young ages because they get tested young and feel the pressure. In my opinion it's when the parents get the results and then start treating their children differently. I've seen a lot of sad parents try to get their kids onto the club and I see how they her their children behave, compared to the ones who are actually gifted.
That feels better to have unbottled that. I'd like to see a ban on psychologists giving out IQ results, other than gifted or not gifted. The parents whose kids are 120-135 are the worst (they either desperately wish their child was gifted, or if they are gifted they desperately wish their child was profoundly gifted).
