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| The Stress of Being Gifted and Talented. |
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| Author : John Krienke
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Confront the source of stress.
Ask the teacher for an extension. Help your child learn to say "no" gracefully. Suggest skills that make tasks easier. Flexibility is important. Encourage your child to seek creative solutions to rules he doesn't like or can't live with. No one likes a "wise guy" -- he should work out acceptable ways for making and changing the rules and act accordingly. If your child's ability level is mismatched to a school program, by all means speak up on her behalf. But remember: Giftedness is no excuse for rudeness. Work with the program so your child can learn empathy, teamwork, and tolerance.
Exercise and eat well.
Physical activity burns off muscle tension built up from burying stress. Eating good meals with enjoyable friends and family should be a daily treat.
Lastly, be available for guidance and advice. Many gifted kids seem very mature and talk a good game, but they're still kids and need limits, values, and guidelines. Most haven't lived long enough to gain wisdom about making decisions, and they need someone to bounce around the pros and cons of anything from which activities to join, to friends and peer pressure, to college admissions. Don't be afraid to state your feelings either. Gifted students, although bright, aren't mind readers. They have the facts and lots of them, but need the accumulated wisdom and loving guidance of parents who care. Your help will go a long way in reducing their stress.
Source: Adapted from"Helping Gifted Students with Stress Management" by Leslie S. Kaplan, ERIC EC Digest #E488, The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education.
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