Gifted School-Age Children

My name is Alysen and I am a lurker here. My DS who is 12 is a GT student. I just received his progress reports from school and they are horrible. All F's, even his GT class. I just spoke to the counselor and she suggested that he get some professional help, maybe he is depressed. I told her that consequences at home do not do a thing for him. I feel that this is an in school problem and it should be handled at school in some way. He never gets detention or anything like that he just flat out refuses to do in class work. He does his homework and I check it every night but he does nto turn it in. Does he think he does not have to prove himself to anyone but himself?

If anyone has any advice please help. Or if you are in the same boat.

Thanks
Alysen

My advice would be to NOT ignore the councilor's advice and seriously consider that your child may be in need of outside assement for depression.

With all the hormonal changes, social challenges, anxiety (academic, social, extracurricular etc..) it's not an easy age. Especially if your GT child is extra sensitive emotionally, having trouble fitting in, has friends that have found their niche apart from that which interests him,etc.

Not to mention that something could be very wrong at school that he's not talking about. His lack of effort and change in attitude towards school could be a warning sign.
Punishing him to try and get him to do his work and buckle down, will not help him if the behavior is a reaction to being bullied, threatened or if he is suffering from anxiety or depression.