Gifted children are children whose abilities, talents and potentials are so
outstanding that they set the child apart from his or her peers. Giftedness is
generally considered to mean an IQ of 130 or above, along with high performance in
any one of five areas: general intellectual ability, specific academic excellence (at
math, for example), creative thinking (looking at questions and answers in a unique
way), leadership ability, or artistic (including musical) ability.
Gifted children are sometimes first identified when they excel in school, but most
parents of gifted children suspect giftedness in their child before the child enters
school. How can you tell if your child is gifted? What are the early signs? Consider
the possibility of giftedness in your child if her or she exhibits the following traits:
• Walks and talks at an early age
• Has an exceptional memory
• Has a long attention span
• Is persistently curious
• Expresses himself well for his age
• Shows an early interest in, or understanding of, concepts (time, sharing, etc.) or
logic
• Learns to read before entering school
Few children will exhibit all of these traits at once, and some gifted children even
appear to be "slow starters," but later go on to catch up and excel. Albert Einstein
was four before he talked and seven before he could read.
If you suspect your child is gifted, what should you do? Testing done early on,
before a child enters school is usually not as reliable as later testing. If you're
impressed with your child's performance and wish to help him or her reach their full
potential, simply offer a loving, stable environment, encouragement, and
opportunities to learn. Give a very young child as much freedom of movement as is
safely possible. Introduce the child to books by reading to them every day, and
listening to them.
Gifted children talk, talk, talk…and ask endless questions! So answer your child's
questions, and provide your child with as many outside experiences and activities as
possible. Before school age, a gifted child is less interested in specific information
than they are in simply learning about the world and figuring out how it works.
Make your child's world as rich and varied as possible. Finally, support your child. A
gifted child, perhaps more than many other children, needs support and
reassurance that they are loved and accepted just the way they are – for being
themselves, not for being gifted.
Rita MIlios, the Mind Mentor, is a psychotherapist, author, speaker and mother of
two gifted children. She is a frequent speaker at schools. View her topcis for
students and teachers at http://www.ritamilios.com/
