5 Characteristics of a Gifted Child

How can you determine if an independent learning environment, such as Montessori, is the right move for your gifted child? To assess, here are five characteristics of a gifted child:

• Shows Higher Than Normal Ability

Academic strength in subjects like math, language or science is significantly above the norm relative to their age. Their creative, artistic or musical talent is easy to spot when playing an instrument, dancing, drawing or solving puzzles.

• Constant Mental Stimulation

Gifted children have a need to be constantly stimulated and challenged. As such, traditional schools may not work for them.  

“Forty percent of all gifted students may be underachievers,” the Davidson Institute at the University of Nevada, Reno, states on its website. “Oftentimes, profoundly intelligent young people are not properly identified and thus do not receive an appropriately challenging education. Research shows this can lead to underachievement or even dropping out of school. In other words, one-size-fits-all education underserves these students.” 

• Explores Subjects In-Depth

Desire to know everything about everything. As such, they will explore a topic from the top to the bottom and from the front to the back. Only when they know all facets of a topic and have mastered it will they move to the next project.

• Learns and Processes Complex Information Quickly

Gifted children absorb information without multiple repetitions. It may be because they can process information visually on a page with an unfailing memory. Or they are stimulated via neuro-generated pathways that generate intermingled learning in subjects like math, science and language.

• Exhibits Emotional Depth, Sensitivity or Maturity

Finally, a gifted child’s ‘emotional quotient’ is often deeper than same-age peers. For example, many second-year children may play the violin or dance; but a gifted child’s playing may emote a ‘feel’ to it that is unusually lively, spiritual or advanced. Transcending age via talent is the fifth characteristic educators have noted.
 

Montessori and The Gifted Child

A Montessori elementary school is well-suited for gifted children. Here, children are:

•     Working at their own pace in an independent learning environment
•     Given the time to research ‘passion project’ topics they want to know more about 
•     Taught by experienced teachers or ‘guides’ who work individually with each child to challenge their intellect, curiosity and wonder
•     Learning ‘how to think’ rather than ‘how to memorize.’

Whether your child displays the characteristics of a gifted child or not, they will share the ‘gift’ of attending a top-notch educational program. At Lifetime Montessori School, we strive to give children the academic, emotional and social tools they need to be lifelong thinkers, learners and leaders.

Lifetime Montessori School, located in the community of Santaluz in San Diego County, is celebrating 15 years of teaching tomorrow’s best. For more information, please visit: www.lifetimemontessorischool.com/free-tours.