Gifted Kids and Homework

When my son was born, I envisioned a rather Norman Rockwell kind of life. I imagined my son playing with frogs, maybe stuffing one in his pocket and getting caught with it at school. I imagined cheering for my son at his Little League baseball games, and of course, I imagined helping him understand his homework and getting calls from his teacher -- maybe about that frog in his pocket.

By the time my son was three, I began to suspect that my life might be different from what I had envisioned. At age three my son was a fluent reader (self-taught). So much for helping with that reading homework. But wait! Maybe I wouldn't need to help my son with his homework, but it would be because he wouldn't need help. A new vision of life was forming in my mind: straight A report cards, praise from teachers, and fun at home.

Wrong again! I did get calls from teachers, but not to hear praise. I got criticism and concern. My son was not doing his homework or he did it and didn't bother turning it in. Homework became a major battle. While most people expect, as I did, that gifted children will have no problems with homework, the truth is that getting them to do it, do it well, and then turn it in can be a real problem.

Does your gifted child have homework problems? Take the poll and let us know!

Poll: Does your child have issues with homework?

• Yes, my child does it, but doesn't turn it in.
• Yes, my child procrastinates and doesn't get it done.
• Yes, my child rushes through it and makes careless errors.
• Yes, my child says he did it at school, but didn't.
• Yes, all of the above!
• No, my child gets it done and turned in.

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