I agree, it’s not a good idea to label children as anything, even if the label is considered a positive one. Labels can become cages. Children’s actions should be praised, not any qualities that they may or may not possess (qualities that are usually decided by fallible adults in the first place).

My ex told me that when she was a child, she was often told that she was gifted by parents and teachers. She turned into an adult who found it hard to commit to anything, was afraid of failure and had generally dropped out of life. I felt bad for her and always wondered how much the ‘gifted’ label had contributed to her struggles in adulthood. She was (and still is I guess) a very intelligent and talented person, but what good is that if you never commit yourself to anything or share your gifts with the world?