Balancing Enrichment with After School Restraint Collapse

Part 14 of Davidson Gifted Perspectives, a video series that examines a number of different gifted-related issues and viewpoints.

During one of our recent virtual events, a parent shared that they hear enrichment suggested frequently to help profoundly gifted students cope with in school boredom. But how is after school activities a solution when students come home melting down after trying to handle their school day? As some background, after school restraint collapse is a term that people use to refer to the meltdown that happens after someone is really trying their hardest to hold themselves together. It makes sense that if a child is bored in school all day and their brain doesn’t get a chance for real, engaging stimulation, that they might feel a lot of frustration when they exit that situation. It also makes sense for some “release” after holding it together all day long. Our Director of Family Services shares her thoughts on the situation: