Life’s not always a bowl of cherries for “gifted” teens. Many are beset with problems ranging from over-competitiveness to difficulty in getting and keeping friends. Tremendous pressures and the usual developmental issues combine to leave some gifted teens adrift in a sea of changes and choices. Once parents and teachers become aware of this side of “giftedness,” they can support their gifted teens and help them to cope, say resources on FamilyEducation.com.
Esteem issues. Your gifted child may realize that she has been “blessed,” but at the same time may be suffering from the “imposter” syndrome. (“Am I really that good?” crops up as a constant refrain.) Some gifted kids deny their talents, burying them under a guise of “goof” or “know-it-all”; many have trouble with self-acceptance.
“Giving” issues. Some young gifted people feel an overwhelming and constant need to give back because so much has been given to them.
Perfection issues. Talented adolescents will tell you they are perfectionists. Standards are set so high (by themselves, usually) that abilities may not match, so the gap between what’s expected (perfection) and what really happens (reality) causes a dissonance that teens just can’t reconcile.
Control issues. When the gifted child was young, she didn’t think twice about taking risks. This ability diminishes with age, perhaps because she becomes more aware of the consequences. Her responses become measured and weighed, and the need to maintain control becomes paramount.
Expectation issues. Many gifted kids experience the push-pull of what they want and what others want of them. They are keenly aware of not wanting to fall short of the expectations of others. They believe they have to prove themselves again and again – there’s no slacking off.
Impatience issues. Like most young teens, gifted students are impatient. They hope to find the easy or answer to questions. They have little tolerance for the “gray area,” and they dislike living with ambiguity. Most need to learn that investing time, whether it is in friendships, schoolwork, outside commitments, or relationships, is truly of the essence.