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It's not just IQ -

A gifted child isn’t defined only by them having an exceptionally high IQ. The term can also be applied to children who are fast learners, are motivated, have leadership skills, are very creative, or are adaptable.

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An ability to retain information -

Some estimates suggest that the average child may have to hear something eight to 15 times to retain it, whereas a gifted child may only have to hear something once or twice.

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Marked differences in some qualities, but not all -

“To be gifted, a child does not need to excel in each of these areas,” says Dr. Kahina Louis. “But there should be marked differences in at least some of these qualities in comparison to others their age.”

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Speed of learning -

One telltale sign of a gifted child is the high speed at which they learn things, especially compared to other children of their age.

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A way with words -

A sign that a child is gifted may be their ability to learn and spell words much faster than other children their age and an instinct to incorporate these words into their spoken or written vocabulary.

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An exceptionally curious mind -

Another telltale sign of a gifted child is them having a hyper sense of curiosity.

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Questioning the world around them -

A gifted child may question the world around them in unusual ways compared to other children their age. An example of this is blogger Becky Beach’s 11-month-old son asking her if he could change his name. 

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An eagerness to learn -

Driven by their curiosity, gifted children may have an eagerness to learn more and more.

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Early reading -

Early reading is one of the most prominent telltale signs of a gifted child, especially one who is gifted in language. These children will recognize letters, patterns, phrases, and sounds at a higher level than their peers.

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Becky Beach's son -

Beach’s son, for example, was reading full chapter books at just three years old.

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Patterns and puzzles -

Recognizing patterns and being exceptionally good at completing puzzles is another sign that a child is gifted.

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Alexandra Fung’s daughter -

CEO of Upparent Alexandra Fung was stunned by her second child's aptitude for numbers. Her daughter was reading the time on analog clocks, doing arithmetic, and reciting multiples at three or four years old.

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Exceptionally creative -

Another common trait for a gifted child is being exceptionally creative. The ability to conceptualize information and translate it to seemingly unrelated circumstances is a clear sign of intelligence.

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Creating stories and identifying with characters -

It doesn’t just apply to painting, drawing, or art. Many gifted children also tend to have more vivid imaginations than other children their age, creating their own stories or identifying with characters in books or movies.

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Reasoning skills -

Having advanced skills regarding reasoning (which may come across in arguing or debating) is a sign of a gifted child.

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Reasoning skills -

Another indication that a child is gifted is that the child often has excellent reasons for not doing what the parent wants them to do.

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Comical, bizarre, or absurd -

Another trait of a gifted child is having an exceptionally keen sense of the comical, the bizarre, or the absurd.

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Acutely responsive -

Gifted children may be unusually aware of or responsive to experiences and feelings, both their own and those of other people.

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Doing things their own way -

Gifted children will often have their own approach and ways of going about how they tackle school assignments or challenges outside of school.

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Losing the run of things -

In a school essay, they may only partially answer the question or go off on a tangent or attempt to solve a math question in their own way.

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Critical thinking and rationalizing -

The ability to think critically compared to other children their age is telling that a child is gifted. They may cite reasons for their position on an argument, and counter other people’s points with ease.

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Of an "intense" nature -

Louis says that children with so much going on in their brains can often be described as “intense.” In general, people don’t expect such reasoning or intelligence from a child, and other children may not relate to how they possess such energy and enthusiasm towards certain subjects.

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The unoccupied gifted child -

A gifted child will feel at ease when they are engaged. As a result, gifted children may become difficult or challenging for parents when they don’t have a way to channel their energy.

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Ability to focus -

Yet another telltale sign of a gifted child is their ability to focus on a singular task for a relatively long amount of time. An example of this is a young child who can build a block tower for 30 minutes when other children their age would become bored and move on Another indication that a child is gifted is that the child often has excellent reasons for not doing what the parent wants them to do.to another activity after 10 minutes.

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Idealism -

Furthermore, a gifted child is often idealistic and has a sense of justice that appears at an early age.

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Gifted children expect more -

The child may have high expectations of self and others, leading to frustration with themselves, others, and situations.

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Academic performance may not indicate a child is gifted -

There are many cases where a child is gifted but will perform poorly in an academic sense. It can be surprising for parents to learn that their academic performance and giftedness don’t always align.

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Learning disabilities and gifted children -

A learning disability can overshadow giftedness. School performance may not be a good indicator of the cognitive ability of a child with ADHD, for example. The symptoms of the learning disability may be mistaken for an inability to focus.

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Identification of a gifted child -

Parents aren’t usually the ones who notice that a child is gifted. Usually, people such as other family members, doctors, and teachers will pick up on these traits.

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Assessments can be relevant -

Some tests help parents figure out whether or not a child is gifted. Teachers may assess children too. The purpose of the tests or assessments is to determine their aptitudes regarding math, spatial reasoning, motor skills, language, or memory.

Sources: (Care.com) (National Association for Gifted Children)

See also: Life skills parents can teach their children for success

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