1. What should I do if my child is an underachiever?

• The following sites contain suggestions to help parents of underachievers:
  • GT-CyberSource Record from Davidson Institute for Talent Development
  • Understanding and Supporting Gifted Underachievers
  • Nieman EL Center (Gifted Articles)
  • A Different Place - Internet Gifted Resources for Teachers/Parents

2. Why do some gifted students become perfectionists?

• Perfectionism is the extreme or obsessive desire for complete excellence and is the result of social learning that occurs during childhood. Family pressure, self pressure, social pressure, media pressure, and unrealistic role models combine together to produce worry, guilt, and overwork.

3. Why are gifted students prone to perfectionism?

• Many gifted students develop a pattern of high achievement and become so used to this success that they begin to identify their self worth with their accomplishments. When they perceive their product to be less than perfect, they see themselves as failures and frequently become terrified of making mistakes. They then choose to obsess for excellence or to get out of the activity.
  • Below are some sites about perfectionism:
    • Perfectionism
    • Perfectionism and the Gifted
    • Perfectionism - Counseling Center

4. How do I know if my child is involved in too many activities?