Schools often have special programs for gifted children, and can identify gifted children based on IQ scores and standardized tests. However, you don't have to rely entirely on the school to find out if your child is gifted. Many factors can be used to identify gifted children, some of which go unnoticed in traditional educational settings. If your child is gifted, make sure he receives the special attention he needs so that he can develop to his full potential. You can identify gifted children based on highly developed learning abilities, excellent communication skills, specific thinking patterns, and a high sense of empathy.
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Part 1 of 4: Observing Learning Ability
Step 1. Pay attention to the child's memory
Gifted children tend to have higher memory than children in general. Oftentimes, you notice this ability to remember in an unexpected, somewhat vague way. Watch for these signs of superior memory.
- Children may remember facts better than adults. Gifted children often remember facts from an early age, often to satisfy themselves. The child may remember a poem he or she likes, or passages from a particular book. The child may also remember things like the capital city of the country and the region where the birds come from.
- Watch for signs that your child has a high memory throughout the day. You may notice that your child can easily remember information from books or TV shows. He may also remember complete events in the smallest detail. For example, you may notice, after a family dinner, that your daughter remembers everyone's names, including people she has never met before, and can remember the physical characteristics of each family member, such as hair color, eyes, and clothes.
Step 2. Pay attention to reading skills
The ability to read from an early age is often a sign of a gifted child, especially if the child learns to read and write on their own. If your child was able to read before going to school, this is a sign that your child may be gifted. You may also notice that your child's reading ability is considered advanced. He or she may score high on standardized tests of reading and comprehension, and the teacher may notice your child reading a lot during school. Children may prefer reading to physical activities.
However, keep in mind that the ability to read is not the only trait that marks a gifted child. Some gifted children may have difficulty reading at an early age because gifted children have their own developmental speed. For example, it is widely known that Albert Einstein could only read at the age of seven. If your child's reading skills are not quite advanced, but he shows other signs that characterize a gifted child, there is still a good chance he is gifted
Step 3. Observe math skills
Often gifted children tend to have highly developed skill levels in certain areas. Many gifted children are highly skilled at math. As with reading skills, pay attention to whether your child is achieving high test scores and academic achievement in math. At home, children may enjoy solving puzzles and playing logic games in their spare time.
Keep in mind that, just like reading, not all gifted children are good at math. Gifted children have interests and skills in different fields. Although mathematics tends to be an area of interest for gifted children, it is not impossible that children who have difficulty in mathematics can still be called gifted children
Step 4. Consider your child's early development
Gifted children tend to reach developmental milestones earlier than their peers. Your child may speak full sentences earlier than other children his age. He may also have a larger vocabulary at an early age, and be able to engage in conversation and ask questions earlier than other children. If your child is developing faster than other children his age, he may be gifted.
Step 5. Pay attention to the child's knowledge of the world around him
Gifted children show a genuine interest in learning about the world around them. Gifted children are likely to have a broad knowledge of politics and world events. He may also ask a lot of questions. Your child may ask about historical events, family history, culture and so on. Gifted children are often very curious and love to learn new things. They may have a greater concern for the world around them.
Part 2 of 4: Assessing Communication Skills
Step 1. Observe the vocabulary
Because gifted children have a higher memory than normal children, a strong vocabulary is a sign that your child is gifted. At an early age, even around 3 or 4 years, children may use words such as "understandable" and "actually" in everyday conversation. Gifted children may be able to learn new words more quickly. He may learn a new word for a test at school, and quickly begin to use it correctly in conversation.
Step 2. Pay attention to the child's questions
Many children like to ask questions, but gifted children's questions will stand out. Gifted children ask questions to understand the world and the people around them better because they have a genuine desire to learn.
- Gifted children will ask questions constantly about their environment. They ask about what they hear, see, touch, smell and feel. You may be driving a car, and a song is playing on the radio. Gifted children may ask a lot of questions about the song, about its meaning, who sings it, when it was released, and so on.
- Gifted children also ask questions to gain insight and understanding. Gifted children may ask about other people's emotions, questioning why someone is sad, angry, or happy.
Step 3. Observe how your child participates in adult conversation
The ability to converse from an early age is a sign of gifted children. While many children tend to talk about themselves when talking to adults, gifted children will participate in conversations. They are children asking questions, discussing the topic being discussed, and easily grasping the difference between meaning and double meaning.
Gifted children will also use different tones in conversation. You may notice your child uses slightly different vocabulary and speech styles when talking to children their age and when talking to adults
Step 4. Pay attention to the speed of speech
Gifted children tend to speak quickly. They tend to talk about the topics they are interested in at a faster pace, and may change topics suddenly. This is often seen as a lack of attention. However, it's actually a sign that your child has interests and curiosity in many different things.
Step 5. Watch how the child follows the instructions
At an early age, gifted children will be able to follow a series of instructions without difficulty. They may not need to be reminded or ask for an explanation. For example, a gifted child might be able to easily follow instructions such as, “Go into the living room, take the red-haired doll from the table, and put it in your toy box upstairs. When you're upstairs, bring down your dirty clothes so Mom can wash them."
Part 3 of 4: Paying Attention to Mindsets
Step 1. Pay attention to your child's unique interests
Gifted children are known to have strong interests at an early age and are able to concentrate intensely on one subject. While all children have unit interests, gifted children will have a broad knowledge of a particular subject.
- Gifted children may be interested in reading books on a particular subject. If your child is interested in dolphins, for example, he or she may often borrow nonfiction books about dolphins from the school library. You may notice that your child has an in-depth knowledge of the different types of dolphins, their lifespan, their behavior, and other facts about the animals.
- The child will show pure pleasure in learning about the subject. Although many children show an interest in, say, a particular animal, gifted children may appear overly excited when they watch a documentary and research the animal as a school assignment.
Step 2. Notice the flow of thought
Gifted children will have a unique ability to solve problems. They have a tendency to be proficient thinkers and are able to find alternative solutions or ideas. A gifted child may be able to spot a flaw in the rules of a board game, for example, or add some new steps or rules to a regular game to make it more interesting. Gifted children will observe hypotheses and abstracts. You may hear gifted children ask “what if” questions when trying to find a solution to a problem.
The flow of thinking that characterizes these gifted children makes it difficult for them to follow the lessons. Exam questions that only allow one correct answer can frustrate them. Gifted children tend to see various solutions or answers. Gifted children may score higher on essay tests than exams that require them to fill in blanks, multiple questions, or true or false questions
Step 3. Pay attention to the imagination
Gifted children are naturally very imaginative. Your child may enjoy pretend play, and fantasize. They may have a unique fantasy world. Gifted children may be very good at daydreaming, and their daydreams may be colored in unique details.
Step 4. Observe how your child responds in art, drama, and music
Many gifted children have unique artistic capacities. They can easily express themselves through arts such as painting or music, and also have an above-average appreciation for art.
- Gifted children may have a hobby of drawing or writing. They may also imitate others, often as a joke, or sing a song they have heard somewhere.
- Gifted children can tell stories very clearly, whether fact or fiction. They enjoy extracurricular activities such as drama, music, and the arts because they have a natural need to express themselves artistically.
Part 4 of 4: Evaluating Emotional Abilities
Step 1. Observe how the child interacts with others
You can measure whether a child is gifted based on social interactions. Gifted children have a unique ability to understand others, and sincerely try to empathize.
- Gifted children may have sensitivity to the emotions of others. If your child is gifted, he or she may be able to easily tell if someone is sad or angry, and may want to understand the reasons behind those emotions. Gifted children rarely feel indifferent in a situation, and will always be concerned about the well-being of those around them.
- Gifted children will be able to interact with people of various ages. With their extensive knowledge, they can talk to adults, teens, and older children with the same ease as communicating with their peers.
- However, some gifted children have difficulty socializing. Their intense interests can make it difficult for them to interact with others, and gifted children are sometimes mistaken for autistic children. While positive social interaction skills are a sign that your child is gifted, they are not the only sign. If your child has difficulty in socializing, do not immediately condemn him as not talented, after all, some gifted children are also autistic.
Step 2. Pay attention to leadership qualities
Gifted children naturally tend to be leaders. They have a high ability to motivate and encourage others, and seem to naturally take on leadership positions. You may notice that your child is usually a leader in a group of friends, for example, or that your child is quickly becoming a leader in extracurricular activities.
Step 3. Observe whether the child values alone time
Emotionally gifted children need time to be alone. They enjoy spending time with other people, but will not feel bored or restless if they have to spend time alone. They may like activities that are done alone, such as reading or writing, and sometimes prefer to be alone rather than hanging out with a group. Gifted children rarely complain about boredom when there is no entertainment because their intellectual curiosity level is so high that their minds are always stimulated.
When bored, gifted children just need a little “push” to start a new activity (for example, giving them a net to catch butterflies)
Step 4. Consider whether your child appreciates art and natural beauty
Gifted children have a high appreciation of beauty. Gifted children may often show trees, clouds, beautiful bodies of water, and other interesting natural phenomena. Art is also an attraction for gifted children. They may enjoy paintings or photographs, and are greatly influenced by music.
Gifted children often point out things that catch their eye, such as the moon in the sky, or a painting on the wall
Step 5. Consider other conditions
Conditions such as autism and ADHD (Attention Disorder/Hyperactivity) may exhibit symptoms that overlap with those of gifted children. You should be aware that the symptoms of this disorder do not always overlap with giftedness. If you suspect your child has autism or ADHD, you should seek a medical evaluation. Be aware that developmental disorders and giftedness do not always appear separately. Your child may have both.
- Children with ADHD, like gifted children, may have difficulty in school. However, ADHD children are not detail-oriented. They may have trouble following basic directions. Although children with ADHD also speak quickly, like gifted children, they will show other signs of hyperactivity such as restlessness and constant movement.
- Just like gifted children, children with autism can have strong interests and enjoy alone time. However, children with autism also show other symptoms. Autistic children may not respond when called upon, have difficulty understanding other people's emotional states, confuse the use of personal pronouns, give answers that are not related to questions, and respond excessively or very poorly to sensory input, such as loud noises, hugs, and so on..
Tips
If you believe your child is gifted, consider asking a specialist to do an evaluation. You can ask the school about special tests. It is important to give gifted children the extra attention they need so that they can develop to their full potential
Warning
- Being a gifted child may be difficult for children. They may not be able to easily adjust to others. Help them deal with it.
- Don't let your child think he's great because he's talented. Explain that everyone has unique talents that should be appreciated, and everyone has knowledge that you can teach your child. Encourage children to see human diversity as something of value.
