Despite its importance in social development, social understanding has hardly been studied in high-ability children. This study explores differences in social understanding between children in high-ability and regular classrooms, specifically theory of mind (ToM) and perception accuracy, as well as associations between individual characteristics…

This study examined the self-concept and social status of accelerated and nonaccelerated students in their first 2 years of secondary school in the Netherlands. In 357 students from 18 secondary schools, we measured self-concept, sociometric status, and behavior reputations at three times. Accelerated students had more positive self-concepts…

Discusses serious social and motivational problems that gifted children may face in kindergarten classes that do not modify instruction to meet their needs. Two case studies of two gifted Dutch kindergartners are used to illustrate suggested strategies for curricular and instructional methods to prevent student problems in kindergarten. (CR)