Have you ever been disorientated facing your child's behavior, not knowing how to solve a problem in a gentle manner that would teach your child how to become autonomous and not turn you into “the big bad wolf”?
You may have experienced some of the following behaviors with your child, and wonder how to help her in these situations
Bossiness:
Refusal to cooperate and listen. Endless discussions around rules and how things 'should' be. Defiance, provocation, and bargaining ('If you do not do that, I will not do that')
Lying:
Unfairness with younger children, and especially younger siblings as a revenge. Cheating, emotional abuse, name calling,whining, restlessness, very vocal and physically active behaviors
Clinginess:
Difficulty in parting from parents and care-givers that manifests in excessive crying, and/or screaming. Regressive behaviors, like behaving as a little child again. Difficulties in growing up: for example, difficulty in transitioning away from nappies
Defeatism:
Giving up or not willing to try anything new, afraid of failure
Difficulty in making friends:
Not wanting to join a group for what is considered 'fun-activities'
Fears of invisible things:
Ghosts, monsters, or the dark
Unexpected tantrums and irrational/sudden reactions:
Rapid shifts in mood
Bullying:
Attacking or mocking other children, using violence to make himself heard. Acting out physical violence, with siblings and parents, or peers. Aggression
Silence and shyness:
The child unconsciously shuts down and refuses to communicate about what bothers him or even knocks his analysis ability down, negating anything bad happened. Victim mentality, possibly enabling bullying from others. Sadness, or a temporary absence of aliveness
Conformism:
The absence of healthy confronting behaviors, always saying 'yes', subjecting to peer pressure
Sleeping issues:
Trouble falling asleep because of overstimulation and excitement, occasional nightmares or night terrors. Wetting the bed, at an advanced age
Sudden development of performance issues:
Performance drop-off in a child who usually performs well for no apparent reason: perfectionism, fear of disappointing and self-sabotage. Not wanting to worry the parent, minimizing the impact of a traumatic episode, 'Oh, it was not that important'
Examples of Aspects Specific to Gifted Children
Spirited and intense child, strong-willed. Often judged as having ‘too much energy’
Sometimes has really intense episodes which can cause trouble at school or in groups
Highly independent to the point of being labeled ‘non-compliant’ and ‘over-creative’ by some
Knows well how to push people’s buttons
Living in his head, focusing ravenously on abstract and lonely activities
Trouble connecting with others, and having sustained conversation with them
Very sensitive to others’ moods and emotions
Has an acute sensitivity to her environment: strong lighting, sounds, smells, or to what touches her skin
Only one friend, or imaginary friends
Gets teased by other children for being different
Occasional nightmares or night terrors
Intense fears of invisible things: ghosts, monsters, the dark
