What he doesn\’t say is how to do it. The tip that really worries me here is number 4 \"Let them know they are exceptional, so exceptional results are expected.\"

There\’s a lot of work that a parent needs to do to help their kids with this one. You can\’t just say to a child \"I know you are smart so I expect you to do well\". You need to to show them how to do well; how to build their concentration skills; how to organise themselves; encourage them to keep trying; celebrate their successes; and talk them through and support them with their failures.

I\’ve got a very smart friend whose mother always said to him \"you can do anything, you\’ll be the leader of this country one day\". In fact, that\’s what everyone said to him. At the same time he was given no guidance, no support, and no inkling as to how he might best use his intelligence to achieve the things expected of him. Apparently they all thought he was smart enough to somehow just know.

As an adult, he\’s still extremely intelligent, but also highly anxious and depressed.

So just remember to back up these great tips with support and actions!