Gifted kids have special needs. Here are some of the things that Talented and Gifted children have told us they need help with. They need to:
- “...get my teachers to listen to me about being bored.”
- “...not get so stressed out about every thing.”
- “...find out how to get out of doing busy-work.”
- “...know what to do when I get teased for being smart.”
- “...convince my mom that I don’t always have to get A+ .”
- “...know how to get out of work I miss because of T & G class.”
- “...deal with frustration when I already know the subject.”
- “...know what to tell my parents when I bomb a test.”
- “...know how to get along better with kids who aren’t T & G.”
- “...quit acting dumb to get other kids to like me.”
- “...not feel embarrassed when kids say, ‘What’s Target Class?’”
- “...know how to get along like a regular person.”
- “...know what to say when I make a mistake.”
Gifted children are prone to certain attitudes and personality traits, which can interfere with their success:
- “Why is everyone else so stupid?”
- Can’t or won’t perform unless intellectually stimulated
- Perfectionistic, critical of self and of others
- Takes self very seriously, not able to laugh at self
- Loner, highly independent (“uncooperative”)
- Unwilling to accept facts or ideas as final (“argumentative”)
- Perceived by others as moody, temperamental or aloof
- Perceives others as shallow, lazy or incompetent
- Frustrated by set procedures (“rebellious”)
- May fail at jobs those of lesser ability do well (“lazy”)
- May feel a missionary urge to change things
- Width of interests and activities not appreciated by others
- Peers may perceive them as arrogant
- Reacted to negatively by some teachers
Services for Talented and Gifted Children at Atlanta Area Psychological Associates
- Accurate Testing to Qualify For Gifted Programs
- Advisement and Coaching for Parents of Gifted
- Performance Coaching for Gifted Children
- Test-Taking Anxiety Reduction
- Social Skills Enhancement Counseling
- Liaison Services with Local Schools