tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post579080968182815691..comments2024-03-19T22:10:49.383-04:00Comments on Gifted Challenges™: Caught in the middle: How to help gifted children survive the middle school years Gail Post, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-88543171093434827242014-10-02T23:57:58.477-04:002014-10-02T23:57:58.477-04:00Christine, Middle school is difficult in so many w...Christine, Middle school is difficult in so many ways, but especially for gifted teens who can't find peers who "get them." It must be so hard to watch your son pull away from social connections, since most are not fulfilling. Hopefully, he can eventually find some friends in clubs or activities, and I agree that this may resolve more easily when he gets older. Good luck.<br />GailGail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-49871239895062960802014-10-02T14:20:16.259-04:002014-10-02T14:20:16.259-04:00My son found middle school unbearable, so we pulle...My son found middle school unbearable, so we pulled him out in the beginning of 6th grade. We are now in our 2nd year of homeschooling. We can meet his needs academically, but the social part is hard. Even when tiny, he only made intellectual connections with other children. My son is uninterested in even trying to connect with age peers because he can't relate to their interests and attitudes, and he seems to be currently convincing himself that he doesn't like people in general, which is upsetting. We've tried different clubs, etc., but it's still difficult to find compatible kids. I am finding some hope in the idea that high school years may be easier--except that since he loves to work at his own accelerated pace, I'm afraid high school courses "won't fit" any more once he gets there. I sometimes feel he won't find his "peeps" until college, which seems a very long way off. Christine_Merryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13806097843399391651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-40424775588800543272014-06-20T22:01:07.283-04:002014-06-20T22:01:07.283-04:00Finding an interest outside of school is a great w...Finding an interest outside of school is a great way to connect with friends and develop a sense of identity. It's good that she found a niche for herself.<br />GailGail Post, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01482577821092891593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6702344196398061245.post-1106213442598947192014-06-19T23:06:04.812-04:002014-06-19T23:06:04.812-04:00My daughter got through middle school by staying c...My daughter got through middle school by staying close with a small group from her travel soccer team, which helped her to "escape" from being the gifted student at school. It gave her some relief and another outlet. But she still felt left out sometimes at school. It got easier in high school, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com