| Characteristics of Gifted Children and Talented Children | Possible Associated Problems |
|---|
| Gifted and talented children may: | Gifted and talented children may: |
|---|
| Learn quicly and easily; have the ability to abstract and reason critically; see relationships between ideas and events | Become bored and frustrated; dislike repetition and shallow curriculum; hide abilities to gain acceptance; receive negative adult attitudes to smartness |
| Exhibit verbal proficiency | Dominate discussion; have difficulty with listening skills; exhibit manipulative behaviour |
| Have a high energy level | Need less sleep; become frustrated with inactivity, lack of challenge or active inquiry |
| Exhibit heightened curiosity | Take on too many activities |
| Be extremely persistent; concentrate on tasks of high interest for extended periods | Disrupt class routine; feel stifled by restrictions; resist interruption or schedules; be perceived as stubborn, uncooperative |
| Exhibit different learning styles - accelerated; desiring mastery, achievement and/or enriched; desiring depth of knowledge, the need to experience, emotional investment in subject; imagination | Become frustrated with absence of progress; be prone to being 'overdriven' and/or not be motivated by results; be resistant to interruption; be seen as time wasting or preoccupied |
| Exhibit unusual emotional depth and intensity | Be unusually vulnerable; feel confused if thoughts and feelings not taken seriously |
| Be highly sensitive; be acutely perceptive | Be perceived as immature; try to mask feelings to conform; be vulnerable to criticism |
| Be concerned with adult/moral issues; be idealistic | Attempt unrealistic reforms; feel frustrated, angry, depressed; develop a cynical attitude; receive intolerance from age peers |
| Aim at perfection | Set unrealistically high goals; feel inadequate; feel frustrated with others; fear failure, inhibiting attempts in new areas |
| Exhibit independence, nonconformity | Have a tendency to challenge and question indiscreetly; have difficulty with rigid conformity, may be penalized; exhibit rebellious behavior |
| Have heightened self-awareness, feelings of being different | Experience social isolation; regard difference as bad, worthless, resulting in low self-esteem |
| Have a keen sence of humour | Use humour inappropriately or to attack others; feel confused when humour not understood; feel rejected by others |
| Possess unusual imagination | Be seen as weird; feel stifled by lack of creative opportunities |
| Respond and relate to older children and adults | Experience social isolation; be seen as show off, odd, superior, critical; be rejected by older children |