Just joined today...
I've known since my son was 1 year old that he was gifted, but I'm only now seeing some of the problems that go along with that. I am so new to this sort of thing and would appreciate any advice!
First question--Because he's reading on a level way past 2nd grade, he uses a lot of words that the other kids don't even know. I'm worried that they're going to pick on him because of this. Should I talk to him about trying to "fit in," or would that be unfair to him?
Second question--He's bored stiff in school. The school he goes to doesn't have a GT program, and even though I think they would work with me on getting him some enrichment, I don't want to make him feel even more different from his classmates. Or is that also unfair to him?
Third question--He's incredibly awkward and self-conscious in public. Is there any way for me to help him work on that?
I was also a GT child, and my childhood was SO painful because even though my parents acknowledged the academic issues they completely ignored the social ones. Because of this I worry about my son, and I want to do everything I can to make his childhood as free of this emotional pain as possible.
My husband, incidentally, was also a GT child but to an extreme--he was studying enzymes in leech saliva by age 12. Because my husband's experience growing up was so different from mine, he doesn't see the importance of helping our son "fit in" as much as I do and wants to focus more on encouraging him to develop his talents.
I would definitely appreciate any thoughts!
