What kids can pick up on could be the social awkwardness or other weaknesse of a gifted child.

Neither I nor my children were picked on for having the top grades in class, but one of my children was bullied because he ALSO had a social integration issue, and had difficulty processing verbal and non-verbal cues.

What kids can pick up on could be the social awkwardness or other weaknesse of a gifted child.

Neither I nor my children were picked on for having the top grades in class, but one of my children was bullied because he ALSO had a social integration issue, and had difficulty processing verbal and non-verbal cues.

I'm a teacher and I think it is a bit different now in terms of grades. If students know other kids grades now, it is often because the student shared his or her grade. I'm not allowed to post grades with names on them. I remember our grades in school being listed for all of the world to see. But by 2nd grade or do, most kids know who the smart ones are. It depends on the environment if kids pick on each other for good grades. At my Title 1 schools, boys would be picked on for good grades starting in 3rd and definitely by 4th grade.

Anonymous wrote:I was never picked on for being smart. I was picked on for being a know-it-all. That's generally what I see -- make sure your kid knows the difference between being smart and humble (humility is knowing what you're good at but using it for the good of others, thinking of others more than you think of yourself) and being smart and smug.

That is the difference.

However OP, even if your kid is not a know it all, he still might start to get embarrassed or sensitive about being smarter, especially if he is in a low performing cohort.

That happened to my kid in second-third grade in another state.

He was the only kid in the class receiving extra enrichment, separate assignments, etc and he tried to hide it from his classmates who did not like schoolwork and did not understand why anyone would want to do more math or reading, lol.

In this area however, smart kids are a dime a dozen in most elementary schools, so unless your kid is the kid who lets everyone know he knows everything already, it is unlikely he will be picked on for being smart.

OP if your child is in a more competitive environment (meaning a private school), this is less likely to be an issue.

Anonymous wrote:I was never picked on for being smart. I was picked on for being a know-it-all. That's generally what I see -- make sure your kid knows the difference between being smart and humble (humility is knowing what you're good at but using it for the good of others, thinking of others more than you think of yourself) and being smart and smug.

Same here. A couple of my kids get really good grades (oldest is in HS) and they've never been picked on for being smart. They've been picked on for their disabilities.

My DD is really smart. She's never been picked on but she has been singled out by kids saying, "Oh Larla, you're so smart," all the time. It makes her a bit uncomfortable at times and she feels pressure to do well to live up to her reputation as "the smart one." She seems to have always been well liked by her classmates because she's generous and willing to help out kids when they don't understand or need help. These aren't my observations as much as they are her teachers' who report this kind of stuff when I go to parent/teacher conferences.

I was never picked on for being smart. I was picked on for being a know-it-all. That's generally what I see -- make sure your kid knows the difference between being smart and humble (humility is knowing what you're good at but using it for the good of others, thinking of others more than you think of yourself) and being smart and smug.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boy or girl?

Boy.

If he is modest about it, it should not be a problem.

Anonymous wrote:Boy or girl?

Boy.

End of second grade we started having some problems.

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2nd grader who is smart and all the kids talk about it, but they are sweet and respectful about it. I feel uncomfortable about it, but my child doesn't and it doesn't sound like the other kids are teasing.

+1

This has been my experience as well for my now 3rd grader (knock on wood it continues)!

I have a 2nd grader who is smart and all the kids talk about it, but they are sweet and respectful about it. I feel uncomfortable about it, but my child doesn't and it doesn't sound like the other kids are teasing.

Boy or girl?

What age do kids start teasing/picking on the kids that do well (academically) in school? If you have a studious child, what can they do to avoid this?