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Social and Emotional   Giftedness has an emotional as well as intellectual component.  Intellectual complexity goes hand in hand with emotional depth. Just as gifted children’s thinking is more complex and has more depth than other children’s, so too are their emotions more complex and more intense. Divergent Thinking Ability creative thinking which moves in multiple directions exposing many possible answers often appear to be disorganized and absentminded. Excitability high energy level, emotional reactivity, or high arousal of the central nervous system excitable students have a high need to explore the environment and enjoy new experiences  many are stimulus-seekers, needing stimulation to moderate behavior. If they are not provided with the right type of stimulation, they become bored and overstressed Some emotionally reactive children, rather than being stimulus-seekers seem just the opposite. They are stimulus-withdrawers, finding stressful the amounts of stimulation other people find comfortable. They act overwhelmed, irritable, and frightened. Some also have trouble turning off thoughts and feelings so they may feel powerful emotions more intensely, and for a longer time than others. Sensitivity  extreme empathy  particularly negative feelings experiencing the suffering of others having intense commitment to people or ideas Perceptiveness clear sense of honesty often tell the truth even when it may hurt someone’s feelings very good intuition little patience for foolishness or unfairness Asynchronous Development gifted children may appear to be many ages at once Motor skills, especially fine-motor, often lag behind cognitive conceptual abilities, particularly in preschool gifted children. These children may know what they want to do, construct, or draw; however, motor skills do not allow them to achieve the goal. Intense frustration and emotional outbursts may result. Because many gifted children are asynchronous in their development it can be hard for the to find and maintain friendships. What can parents do to help? help your child to meet other gifted children help your child to learn ’social graces’ model compassion and friendship for your child talk with your child about bossiness and bragging Common Concerns Stress and depression Gender Issues Perfectionism     Theories| Characteristics|   Identification|  Instruction|  Social and Emotional

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