I have heard that the more gifted the child is, the more trouble he will have socially. Does this seem true for all of you? In my experience watching kids who are more moderately gifted, they seem to interact better socially and not seem as out of place.!
I do seem to see this, although there are always a few super social and super emotionally mature kids who are able to overcome any obsticle, even more than usual giftedness. One or two in a hunderd is really a lot more 'usual' than One or Two in a thousand in numbers of people one experiences.
My son was placed into a social skills group one year at school, and it was part of a helpful package, but I do resent it. I play a little movie in my head for revenge. It goes like this:
((Teacher wheels in a bunch of toys on a cart to her Kindy room))
Ok children, today we are going to learn to improve our social skill. Todays challenge is how to play with children who are much more academically advanced than expected for their age. Let's pretend that this puppet is "Jimmy" a classmate who can do things that only older kids can usually do. I'll ask a question and you all brainstorm suggestions of how to deal with the situation in a way that makes everyone feel included. Remember to raise your hands.
((Holds up a pack of Yu-gi-oh Cards))
Who knows what these are?
Boy 1: A card game!
Very good! And how do you play it?
Boy 2: I know, you flip a card and do what it says under the picture. But I don't play because I can't read.
What if "Jimmy" wants to play this game with you, what would you do?
((silence and blank stares))
Come on, someone must have an idea...
Boy 1: I could ask Jimmy to read the card to me. But I tried that once and didn't really know what the words meant, even when he read it aloud.
Boy 2: I could ask Jimmy if he wants to draw pictures of the monsters on the cards, and then we could make growly sounds at each other.
Great idea! Jimmy might like that. Anyone else?
I hope that helps.
Finding older children works well for some kids. In the US there is DYS to apply for when your son turns 5 and they maintain a network. Most Gifted Conferences have a track for kids to do social activities together, see
www.hoagiesgifted.org/conferences.htm also check with your state gifted association. Be prepared to travel a bit, as possible.
Google 'It gets better' and watch a few videos and pretend that they are talking about your issue. That might help a bit with the broken heart thing.
Love and more love,
Grinity
