Is Your Child Gifted?

How do you raise a child to be intelligent? Is it just a matter of good genes or is it a combination of environment and genetics? Are there certain personality traits or behaviors in early childhood that can be identified? What can you do to help your child utilize his or her potential?

Let's face it...some kids are just brighter than others and you can see it in their eyes as early as infancy. How can you encourage an intelligent child and make them brilliant? Can you take a normal child and make him a genius? Some experts believe this is possible. Some experts also believe that there are signs that can be seen during the earliest stages of their development through the infant and toddler stages. Identifying these signs can help you determine if your child will be above average intelligence or even what is classified as a gifted child. Early stages of development- infancy and toddler years are the most important for identifying outstanding traits that are linked to giftedness and they are the most cruical stages for encouraging growth and knowledge in children.

Children from birth to two years old that are gifted will display some or all of the following traits or behaviors , according to Inderbir Kaur Sandhu, Ph.D. I have also included some of my personal notes that may be useful in identifying gifted traits in your child.

Early expressions (e.g. smiling) -genuinly smiling and recognizing people around them

Unusual alertness- focusing on objects early-a mobile or moving objects

Interest in books (turning pages of books before 1 year of age and paying attention when read to within 6 months)

Interest in computers- pushing buttons to see the reaction on the screen

Unusually active and high levels of energy (but not hyperactive)

Playing with shape sorters by about 11 months.

Ability to form two word phrases by 14 months

Ability to understand instructions by 18 months

Ability to say and understand many words before 18 months

Could stay still and enjoy a TV programs (e.g., Sesame Street) by the age of 1

Has favorite TV shows/VCD/DVDs by age 1

Appears to require less sleep (yet not sleepy or irritable due to lack of sleep)

Recognition of letters/alphabets by age 2

Recognition and rote counting of numbers 1 - 10 or higher by age 2

Recognition of colors by age 2

Recognition of first word by age 2

Interest in puzzles by age 2

Has long attention span in interest areas by age 2

Ability to form at least 3 word sentence by age 2

Interest in time by age 2

From Ages 2-4 Gifted children will display some or all of the following behaviors/traits according to Inderbir Kaur Sandhu, Ph.D.

Early and extensive language development and vocabulary, forms grammatically correct sentences as compared to peers

Interest in computers (not video games)

Ability to solve a 20-piece puzzle by age 3

Has a vivid imagination (includes having imaginary friends)

Extraordinary feats of memory

Extreme curiosity and asks many questions

Specific talent (if any), such as artistic ability or an unusual facility for numbers - becomes more apparent by age 4

Ability to memorize and recall facts easily

Early development of a sense of humor

Ability to do one-to-one counting for small quantities by age 3

Recognition of simple signs and own written name by age 3

Ability to write letters, numbers, words, and their names between 3 and 4 years

Ability to read easy readers by age 4

Rather independent on the computer by age 4-

Demonstration of musical aptitude just after 2 - piano, or any instrument

Ability to do simple addition and subtraction by age 4

High degrees of mathematical understanding by age 4- addition and subtraction, number sequences

Now that you are able to recognize these traits in your child...what can you do to encourage their intellectual growth? Stimulating their minds and encouraging growth through practice and patience is the key. Reading to your child on a daily basis, practicing writing letters of the alphabet, their name, and even simple addition can help enhance their potential. Children at the age of three to four are very impressionable and can easily learn a second language. Their minds act like little sponges soaking up all of the knowledge they can. It is still somewhat of a mystery how children develop language skills at such an early age but the truth is...their minds are fresh and uninhibited like those of adults.

Finding out what your child's interests are is very important to encouraging their intellectual growth. If a child shows an early interest in playing guitar or piano, encourage that ability. Find a tutor that can help them to be successful and enhance their ability. There is no limit to what children can do with the right amount of encouragement and willingness to learn. Gifted children will display an eagerness to learn in the early stages of their development. Recognizing that potential and seizing the opportunity to enhance their minds will turn a gifted child into a brilliant adult.