Gifted Children in the Real World
Gifted Behavior
Sensitivity; empathy for others; desire to be accepted by others
How Others May See It
Too sensitive to criticism or peer rejection
- Strong need for recognition
- Different and alienated
Diverse interests and abilities; versatility
Scattered and disorganized
- Easily frustrated over lack of time
- May expect continual competence
High expectations for self and others
Perfectionistic
- Rigid
- Nothing is ever “good enough”
- Continuously disappointed or discouraged
Thinks critically; is self-critical and evaluates others
Critical or intolerant toward others
- Easily discouraged or depressed
Enjoys organizing things and people into structure and order; seeks to systematize
Constructs complicated rules or systems
- Bossy, rude or domineering
- Rigid
Love of truth, equity and fair play
Difficulty in being practical
- Excessive worry about humanitarian concerns
Can see cause-effect relations
Refusal to accept feelings, traditions, or matters to be taken on faith
- Oppositional
Seems “too serious” for a child of their age
Inappropriately concerned about “adult” issues like morality, ethics, and philosophy
Adapted from Webb, J.T. & DeVries, A.R. (1998). Gifted parent groups: The SENG model. Arizona: Gifted Psychology Press, Inc.