Best practices for identifying giftedness is often under discussion, but what exactly should parents, caretakers, and educators watch for? Does a child performing well in school alone qualify giftedness, or are there other indicators which are just as strong?
As the definition of giftedness evolves, so too does its markers. While academic success can be a signifier of exceptionalism, it’s important to remember that giftedness is complex and part of a child’s whole personality. Giftedness is also not pegged to a single test or event; it is exhibited over time and in a combination of factors. In addition, both children and adults express their giftedness as individuals; for example, if two people show giftedness in math, one might work well with real numbers while another is more suited for theoretical physics.
Here are signs to watch for in detecting giftedness in a child. While these are open to interpretation and may manifest in a wide variety of ways, they’re usually present in at least one form, if not in combination.
1.) Curiosity
In most cases—and usually as long as their passions are nurtured–gifted children are notably curious far beyond their peers. This can include usual school subjects as well as interests beyond a typical curriculum. For example, while most children would excitedly issue a post-school report to parents on the day a science teacher demonstrates a flashy experiment, a nine-year-old gifted child will delve into a calculus book voluntarily in a kind of self-directed study, even if he or she hasn’t touched on it in in the classroom.
Gifted children may also clasp onto cursory discussed classroom topics, asking for more information or integrating complex ideas and themes in play. They tend to ask a great deal of questions, some of which may indicate knowledge beyond their grade level.
2.) Making Assignments Their Own
This is one of the strongest dividing lines between an exceptional child and one who is merely smart or good at navigating traditional school expectations. A bright student completes assignments responsibly, quickly, according to directions, and accurately. However, a gifted child might not fit the mold. Gifted children could provide complex mathematical calculation which arrive at an answer via a different route. Or, they may turn a journaling prompt into a sophisticated and complex short story.
This tendency is how many gifted children become overlooked or simply lose interest in school. Since they might technically provide “incorrect” answers or “fail to follow directions,” overburdened teachers may penalize them instead of recognizing a pattern of giftedness. The exceptional child might become apathetic or lose confidence.
3.) Advanced Language Skills & Adult-Level Socialization
Even exceptional children who are not gifted verbally may display a vocabulary beyond their years. To supplement schoolwork or feed an interest not addressed elsewhere, gifted children may be avid readers of high-level nonfiction or even textbooks. That means students who excel in STEM can carry on intelligent conversations about complex scientific or engineering topics even if they are sailing along as normal in their language arts classes.
Because they can grasp complex concepts and abstract ideas, gifted children are typically more comfortable speaking with adults than their peers. This can lead to problems with boundary setting and social appropriateness. It can also breed frustration for both the child and their parents in the public realm; some gifted children can seem bossy, condescending, or dismissive to those who aren’t keeping pace with their intellectual development.
Clustering them with other gifted children in enrichment classes or short-term educational experiences can help. Allowing your child to meet with those who share interests, passions, and ideas can help them learn to socialize while developing team-building skills.
4.) Original Thinking
Gifted children rarely move in synch with their peers in many different areas of development. This means that they may approach life challenges or school assignments from completely unexpected angles. While some of their peers might appreciate these fresh approaches, others may spurn them, react jealously, accuse them of “cheating,” or resort to bullying.
Some exceptionally creative children may add on to simple musical exercises, for example, or decide to compare one American Indian tribe to another on a social studies test without being asked. As long as they show mastery of basic materials, these complex thinkers should be encouraged and approached with flexibly rather than with a narrow focus on directions or “the rules.”
5.) Advanced Cognitive Skills
From outside study alone, gifted children may enter school already able to read, write, or perform certain mathematical functions. This might take place even without enrichment, but identification of early manifesters can help parents more easily understand their exceptional children and help them plan for the educational road ahead.
Gifted children can demonstrate skills early, especially those who are athletically gifted or who have means to easily display their abilities, as in chess, music, or problem solving.
6.) Sensitivity to Surroundings
This common trait among the gifted can lead to misdiagnoses of autism or simple high sensitivity. While not all exceptional children are emotionally intense, some can become easily overwhelmed by noise, odors, schedules, or lights. Sometimes, this is simply a matter of a gifted child becoming extremely focused on a task or idea.
Encouraging your child to respectfully and politely manage the expectations of those he or she is playing with, or even how to remove him or herself from upsetting situations, can help with emotion management.
7.) Emotional Intensity
Depending on a gifted child’s maturity, family environment, and form of giftedness, some may show unusual sensitivity to emotional upset. Some can channel this into creative expression, but others may need the assistance of the adults around them to help process these tidal waves of feelings and reactions.
This tendency can be frustrating for the child’s parents, caretakers, and educators. The child might be labelled as an attention-seeker or overly dramatic. Working with the child on appropriate expression and asking him or her to put their upset into perspective can help him or her manage these events.
