What Causes Gifted Children to Underachieve?
There usually are complex causes, so it is important not to oversimplify the problem. Gifted children may not understand why they are underachieving. Usually school and home causes combine to set this pattern in motion.
Possible School Causes
Lack of challenge
Too much or too little competition
Conflicts with teachers
Unidentified learning disabilities
A move to a more or less difficult school
Peer pressure
Lack of opportunities to be creative
Lack of structure or too much structure in the classroom
Mismatch between students' learning preferences and intellectual strengths and the classroom strategies, expectation, and environment
Possible Home Causes
Conflict between parents
Overprotectiveness by parents
Overempowerment of children
Too much or too little attention
Health problems
Sibling rivalry
Feelings of pressure
An anti-work attitude or overemphasis on work
American National Association for Gifted Children
|
