I wonder how much of it is perception - I'm guessing a lot - and how much of it actually influences skill, attitude and character .
American parents were the only ones to consistently mention their children's advanced intellect, while other countries focused on qualities like "happiness," being "easy" to manage, or the even more zen-like "well-balanced," in Italy. (Italians also used the word simpatico, a group of characteristics suggesting social and emotional competence).
via The Atlantic : How Parents Around the World Describe Their Children, in Charts