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When you're bored, you fiddle with a paperclip on your desk. You think about what you'll be having for dinner, spinning idly around in your wheeled, ergonomic chair. You tap your foot impatiently, wishing you were anywhere else - and that you had something to do. It's so frustrating, isn't it?

A bored child does the same thing; however, kids don't deal with their frustrations like we do. Grown-ups have more avenues for outlet than kids do - and we've had plenty of experience dealing with frustrations throughout the years.

WHY DO GIFTED KIDS ACT OUT?

Gifted children are especially at risk for boredom, which may cause them to act out their frustrations in ways that aren't so socially acceptable, like talking back to well-intentioned parents, getting into alcohol and drugs, and committing minor (and sometimes major) crimes that most kids in their age groups wouldn't even dream of.

The old adage, "Idle hands are the devil's plaything," couldn't be truer, whether you're religious or not. Too often, children with above-average intelligence lack both mental challenges and appropriate supervision; that's a recipe for disaster.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO FOR YOUR GIFTED CHILD?

Gifted kids need to be challenged for multiple reasons. Not only do they need to exercise their already-flexible minds so they don't lose what "smarts" they have, they need to be kept busy. Since you already know that they're smarter than the average bear, you also know that they can figure out how to get into things that most kids can't - whether it's simply pushing your buttons and testing their limits or something much more serious.

There are so many programs for gifted kids in America's school systems - so take advantage of them. Your child will most certainly thank you later. You'll thank yourself, too, because your child will be able to foster their above-average intelligence and take advantage of all the opportunities afforded them by tailored programs which perfectly suit their needs.

WHAT IF YOU'RE TOO LATE?

If your gifted child is already acting out, it still isn't too late. You do need to step in and head off the problem before it gets any worse, and rest assured that it can all be reversed by some serious parental intervention.

Involve your child in after-school activities if you can't be there to give them what they need. You don't have to make them a soccer fanatic or a chess club superstar - but it is your responsibility to make sure that they're being challenged (and supervised) as much as possible. When they're busy doing something they like, they won't have time to get into trouble - and at the same time, they're expanding their horizons.

Happy, well-adjusted kids make happy, well-adjusted adults. As the parent of a gifted child, you owe it to them (and yourself) to make sure that you do everything in your power to get them to that point.

Learn more about this author, Angie Papple.
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