Sometimes the word “gifted” brings with it the mental image of nerdy glasses and pocket protectors. If it were only so easy to spot a gifted person! But people are born gifted, and babies don’t wear pocket protectors (chances are they won’t when they get older, either). It’s hard to look objectively at your child when it comes to assessing his or her intelligence level; you may tend to second-guess yourself if you think your child may be especially smart, chalking it up to parental bias. But there are some clear signs that point to a high level of intelligence, and if your child exhibits some of these, you can be fairly sure that the smart things your kid does aren’t just a product of a proud parent’s imagination. You may notice that your child does things developmentally earlier than most kids her age; walking or talking early, for example. There are more subtle signs, though, that include:
A large vocabulary – using words that you didn’t even know she knew the meaning of, and sounding much more mature than most kids her age. Nine out of ten parents of gifted children report advanced vocabulary development.
An early interest in reading, and an ability to sound out words at an early age.
Intense curiosity.
An adult-like sense of humor.
A longer-than-average attention span when something interests him.
A strong interest in fantasy play and a vivid imagination.
The ability to understand difficult concepts, and the (often vexing) habit of asking difficult questions.
The expression of frustration when she doesn’t immediately master a skill or when something she’s done isn’t perfect, and a strong reaction to any criticism.
A desire to socialize with older children and adults rather than children in his own age group.
Having one or more imaginary friends, often preferred over “real” friends her age.
A high degree of creativity; for example, adding many details to drawings at an early age, such as eyelashes, earrings, or knees.
An excellent memory and keen observational skills.
Keep a detailed record of anything that strikes you as developmentally advanced; this will be a useful tool for later assessment. If your child displays any of these signs, it’s important to take the right steps toward cultivating his growing mind. Giftedness isn’t something that can be created “from scratch” – it takes a genetic predisposition toward high intelligence – but in the issue of nature vs. nurture, a healthy balance of both is needed in order for your child’s talents to truly develop. Your kid may show all the signs of being highly intelligent, but whether his natural gifts will develop into high achievements depends largely on the amount of encouragement and stimulation he receives from his environment. It’s up to you to make sure that your child receives what he needs in order for his talents to develop.