Giftedness Can Come with Baggage

Parents of gifted children quickly find out that giftedness isn't all straight A's and easy, breezy days. Gifted kids may struggle with a surprising set of social, emotional, and academic issues, such as:

  • Self-esteem issues
  • Bullying
  • Depression
  • Guilt
  • Overcommitment
  • Perfectionism
  • Procrastination
  • Anxiety
  • Control issues
  • Fear of risks
  • Unrealistic expectations
  • Test-taking troubles
  • Impatience
  • Alienation
  • Shyness
  • Oversensitivity
  • Competitiveness
  • Friendship problems
  • Organization issues
  • Attention span problems
  • Sleep issues
  • Burnout

Not every gifted child faces ALL of these challenges, but certainly some of these sound familiar if you have a gifted child. In many cases, the more intellectually gifted the child, the greater social and emotional challenges she will face. Stepping in early on, with help from your child's teacher, school counselor and/or outside psychologist, can help your child thrive -- especially if she's dealing with serious challenges or a combination of many of the issues on this list. Learn more about the challenges of giftedness (and some helpful hints). Keeping open lines of communication with your child and providing a loving and supportive home environment can help her shine and handle tough times.

Do you have additional tips for parents struggling with the challenges gifted children face? Please share them in the comments below!

 

Erin Dower is an associate editor at familyeducation.com. She can be reached at erin.dower@pearson.com.

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