Do You Have a Gifted Child?

Signs to Observe When Your Child Demonstrates Exemplary Behavior That Could Place Him Into a Gifted Educational Program  

All children have gifts. Some show it. Others with unusual potential may not and those skills may remain undetected for years. Happily, a number of assessments exist that may give you needed indicators to reveal educational choices that may enhance your child’s abilities to excel. This assessment may act as a roadmap to determine where your child will be most academically challenged and socially content. So how can you tell if you have a gifted child? 

Here are some signs to look for by the age of two:

• Demonstrates a range of traits that sets him apart from his peers
• Sophisticated vocabulary and learns new words easily
• Speaks fast and understands complex language
• Excellent memory and strong problem solver
• Focuses on specific areas of interest and absorbs information about it
• Gravitates towards older kids and adults rather than same-age peers
• Enjoys solitude, observing, reading and continuous learning
• Becomes frustrated when things are too slow
• Sensitive to others’ feelings
• Shows strong leadership skills, and, at times,
• May exhibit tension, anxiety and feelings of inadequacy.

Resources

Per the National Association for Gifted Children, "Psychologists, researchers, and experts who study giftedness have identified several formal and informal indicators to help determine if a child is gifted.” 

The most commonly asked parental questions when trying to determine whether a child is gifted include (with links to further explore):

• Does my child exhibit the characteristics and traits of giftedness?
• Are there specific domains of giftedness?
• Should my child take a test or assessment to determine if he or she is gifted?
• How is a gifted child identified?

After reviewing the assessments, you can work with the child’s current preschool to determine next steps towards choosing the best space for your child to grow at their own pace.

Why Montessori Is The Best Space For a Gifted Child 

Few preschools have the resources or expertise to provide ‘stretching’ academic challenges for extremely bright children. 

At Lifetime Montessori School in Santaluz, an inland suburb in San Diego County, students learn individually and at their own speed by focusing on learning rather than rote memorization. They learn from their older peers and ultimately teach those lessons to others when they’re older. They concentrate and focus on learning--starting with what they like. They’re encouraged to make mistakes and learn from them. They go forward when their classroom teachers observe that they’ve mastered their materials and are ready for next level success. As a result, they like learning and hopefully will continue to like it all their lives.

Lifetime Montessori School features a challenging curriculum coupled with trained teachers and strong guidance to help your child grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Your child will build foundations that will propel him or her towards ‘stretching’ their already gifted skill sets. 

Summary

As you can see, there are a number of ways to determine giftedness. Learning whether you have a gifted child will give you a broader understanding to find the best overall fit in terms of environment, resources and help.