Frustrations

During my research on how to devise the best possible curriculum for my children, I was told about the NSW Association for Gifted and Talented Children Inc, as many of the traits they are expressing are common in G&T children. Whilst on this site, I read an interesting article on Emotion, Behaviour and Personality Development in the Gifted, which also led me to an article on Emotional Overexcitability, a characteristic which ALL of my children seem to display!

This afternoon, I asked my almost 9 year old son to play a little IQ Test game, and after 5 minutes of countless restarts, he ran from the computer, crying, and threw himself on the lounge. I was distraught that he couldn't complete it and couldn't understand why he kept making the same mistakes. At the same time, he resented any little prods of assistance and encouragement .... he definitely likes to work things out for himself!!

On any one day, I will usually have three out of my four kids cry for no reason, or for tiny little (what may seem to others as insignificant) things ... I think I may sit and create an emotional response scale with them each individually, in the hopes that it helps curb their tantrums!! LOL!

My eldest can also come across as a perfectionist, and I found this article a very interesting read too! And a few more articles:
Characteristics of Gifted Children
Characteristics of Young Gifted Children (I do have 2 little ones who display alot of these)

I know that all of my kids are frustrated easily, especially if things aren't going their way, or they can't get something right on the first attempt. Yes, this can also be seen as regular behaviour for children in their respective age groups, but when you start doing the research, and you've known that there's something different about your kids for a long time, it all starts to add up.

I have started talking to them when they are upset and/or crying, in order to find out what has triggered that particular response, and funnily enough, it keeps me calm too!! I need them to know that I care and that I'm here for them no matter what, and that's why I feel that I really am doing the best thing for them by homeschooling. But justification is not necessary.