How to Discipline a Gifted Child
Gifted children can be a source of great joy and pride for their parents and teachers but they also present some unique problems as well. Gifted children can become disciplinary problems in classroom settings where they are not challenged intellectually. Laziness can become a bad habit if they are not accustomed to having to work hard to achieve anything at an early age. The longer these problems are not addressed, the more likely the child will continue to have disciplinary problems. Disciplining a gifted child needs to be done with care but is a vital step in the child's overall development.
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Instructions
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Communicate with the child. Some bad behavior stems from frustration at not being understood or from feeling abnormal, a common occurrence with gifted children. Listen to her concerns and and let her vent and then respond and make it clear as to why a specific behavior is inappropriate.
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Set clear boundaries and punishments. Gifted children are very rational and can sometimes use this to manipulate adults. Tell the child what behavior is not permitted and what punishment will result if a behavior is repeated. For example, "If you don't clean your room, you won't be getting desert at dinner."
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Enforce those boundaries strictly. Gifted children can test a parent's patience with questioning and challenging of authority, and this makes it easier for the parent to get lax and allow some things to go unpunished. If you set a parameter, it must be enforced every time for that parameter to have any meaning to the child.
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Limit rewards. Instead of imposing punishment on a gifted child for bad behavior, take away something that the child enjoys. If your child loves the computer, take away computer time when the child misbehaves.
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Tips & Warnings
Many disciplinary problems for gifted children stem from boredom. Many behavior issues can be assisted by ensuring the child is in a school environment that is challenging and stimulating, and allows the child to socialize with others of similar gifts.
Hyperactivity, emotional intensity and extreme sensitivity are frequent characteristics of gifted children and can lead to feelings of alienation and result in behavior problems. Reassure them that what they are going through is normal and try to relate your own experiences to them.
References
- Photo Credit child image by DOLPHIN from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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very helpful information. Taking away time on the PS is what we do and are glad we are going in the right direction as our little brain grows and challenges us more and more.
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This was very helpful! Being gifted is a trait which runs in my family. As a single mother, its hard for me to know how to handle the discipline side of her development. As I was reading this article, I was saying, "OMG, that's my daughter!" Thank you so much!
