100 Words of Wisdom: Dan Peters, Ph.D.

Gifted children share many needs with other children: learning coping skills, perseverance, adaptability, and social negotiation. Focusing on these life skills—rather than only academics—prepares them to handle adversity, change, and relationships, and is essential for long-term success in school and life.

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We often spend so much time advocating for our gifted children, students, and clients — explaining how they are different from the norm — that it is easy to forget the commonalities they share with other children, as well as the job we have in raising and guiding them. Gifted children, like all children, need to learn to cope with life’s curve balls; to persevere in the face of adversity; to deal with change; and to learn how to play with, negotiate, and compromise with others. These skills are far more valuable than reading, writing, and math, will take them farther, and are essential for success in life.

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