All children are curious about the world around them, they have imaginations vaster than most adults and sometimes they ask questions even we don't know the answers to. But does your child display unusually inquisitive behaviour? Does she ask a lot of questions, or is she reading at a more advanced level than you expected of someone her age?
Defining what it means for a child to be gifted is tricky, especially because no two children are the same. In general, gifted children have abilities that far exceed what is expected of their age. The National Association for Gifted Children states that "giftedness may manifest in one or more domains such as; intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership, or in a specific academic field."
Is your child really gifted?
The following signs may seem rather broad and open to interpretation, but if your child identifies with at least 3 of them, there's a good chance they may be gifted to some degree.
However, the best way to truly determine whether your child is gifted is to test their IQ through proven methods developed by Ph.D. licensed psychometricians, such as Test Kids IQ. These tests can determine where your child is excelling and how to manage their learning so that they can succeed academically.
A child with a high IQ can very easily become bored and exhibit behavioural problems if they aren't learning at the level they should be, which is why it's important to get tested if you suspect your child may be gifted. Now, let's go over 6 signs you may have a child prodigy on your hands:
1. Surpassing milestones
One of the first signs you may notice in your child is that they achieve developmental milestones much earlier than predicted. In particular, language skills may be significantly above age level. According to Jabeen Cheema from Test Kids IQ, children who are gifted tend to learn more easily than their peers and seem to acquire many skills faster. Many gifted children often develop an extensive vocabulary and speak in complex sentences from an early age.
2. Advanced comprehension
Children with high IQ are incredibly good at figuring things out quickly. Perhaps they've figured out how money works, or can calculate simple math problems—these are all signs that your child is brighter than most. Comprehension is not something you can teach a young child easily, it results from how the brain makes connections with what it knows, and what it doesn't know in order to reach a conclusion. A highly intelligent child can form connections between seemingly unrelated concepts much quicker, in either numeracy or literacy.
3. Advanced problem-solving skills
Children who are gifted have advanced reasoning skills and take a logical approach to working through problems. Their enquiring mind will constantly ask questions and create solutions based on existing and newly acquired knowledge. Solutions may be highly inventive and creative for their age.
4. Insatiable curiosity
Most children are interested in the world around them, but gifted children seem to have an insatiable curiosity about how things work and why—which can result in an endless stream of questions about absolutely everything. Many gifted children can become fixated on a subject and develop a desire to learn everything about it.
5. A love of reading
Not all gifted children take an interest in reading from an early age, but many do. They also have an unusually long attention span when they are absorbed in a book that captures their interest. Research has found that gifted children "often read earlier than the typical student and tend to read independently soon after teacher instruction." They also tend to comprehend more information than the average student.
6. Impressive memory
A gifted child can recall information with impressive clarity based on what they've heard, seen or learned. Nurturing this ability is important, because it can strengthen neural connections and allow them to store memories for a longer period of time.
While these are not all the signs a gifted child might display, these are some of the most common. If you really want to find out whether your child is gifted, get their IQ tested or speak to a qualified professional on the best steps to take to ensure your child gets the right start for their learning ability.