For parents of homeschooled children, it can sometimes be difficult to tell if the child is gifted, or even just above average in aptitude. Many parents of homeschooled children worry about their child not getting the same level of education as kids enrolled in school, or of their children not having the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
Identifying a gifted child can often be challenging, but there are some indicators that parents of homeschoolers can and should look for. This article will discuss fifteen questions for parents and guardians to consider when determining if their homeschooled child is gifted.
1. Does Your Child Excel Despite a Lack of Instruction or Focus?
One of the most common indicators of a gifted child is an aptitude to excel despite a lack of instruction or learning opportunities. Gifted children tend to have curious minds, always asking questions and exploring the world around them, and this can lead to a natural level of learning and development. Those who are gifted may easily be able to pick up on concepts and ideas without any direct instruction or encouragement to do so.
This could be an indication that your child is gifted, but it should also be noted that all children are curious, and most children want to learn.
2. How Is Your Child’s Motivation and Ambition?
Gifted children tend to have a natural level of drive and ambition from a young age. These children tend to exhibit a desire to understand concepts and ideas quickly and dive deeply into the material.
Motivated and self-driven children are good indicators of a child’s potential to excel in any given area. It is important, however, to note that a child can be highly motivated without being gifted.
3. Does Your Child Read More Than Other Children Their Age?
Gifted children often read at a higher level than their peers, however this is often due to parents or guardians mentioning and discussing literature with the child from a young age. Much like any other academic milestone or marker, reading does not inherently signify or correlate to intellectual or academic gifts.
4. How Is Your Child’s Language Capacity?
Gifted children often excel in language arts, and can have a greater than average capacity for language and comprehension. There are a variety of tests to measure a child’s capability for language, but in-home indications may include a mastery or the necessity to and desire to use larger and more advanced words.
5. How Does Your Child Respond To Criticism and Feedback?
Gifted children often respond positively to feedback, even if it is negative. Initially a child may be disappointed in their performance or reactions, but they will often take the feedback in stride and use it to improve their performance. If the feedback is more constructive rather than critical, then a gifted child may respond more proactively and efficiently.
6. Is Your Child Energetic And Creative?
Gifted children tend to have an echoed enthusiasm and attitude towards life, often leading to them being energetic and having a natural aptitude for creative thinking. Their enthusiasm is often infectious and highly motivating, and this can be a great indicator in terms of identifying a gifted child.
7. Does Your Child Think What They Don’t See?
Gifted children tend to be imaginative and often have the ability to think outside the box. They can see connections and links between objects or ideas even if it seems unrelated, or have a strong outlook for the future and their respective place in the world.
8. Does Your Child Find Little Pleasure In Little Things?
Gifted children often find little to no pleasure in the simple things. They may easily become bored or restless when they find something that fails to ignite a sense of curiosity. They may be more likely to seek out challenges as opposed to enjoying lighter and simpler tasks.
9. Is Your Child A Natural Problem Solver?
Gifted children can often identify solutions to problems quickly, and they will often use various methods and techniques to find solutions. Struggle and perserverence are natural to solving problems, regardless of a child’s intellect, but gifted children may be able to identify solutions and things with less effort than those with lower aptitude.
10. Does Your Child Succeed In Non-Academic Tasks?
Intellectual gifts can manifest in other areas as well, and many times, a gifted individual can possess a great many talents and gifts in different disciplines. It is important to acknowledge a child’s potential beyond academia, as it can be a telling sign of their giftings.
11. Does Your Child Opt For Deeper Understanding?
Gifted children often focus on deeper understanding of ideas and concepts instead of an overview. They may be more likely to question and seek out more information, engaging in deeper conversations and explorations.
12. Does Your Child Ask Questions?
Gifted children will likely ask more probing questions, getting to the root of ideas and topics, instead of simply taking a surface level approach to any given topic. They will often ask specific and possibly irregular questions, as they come to grips with the concepts presented to them.
13. Do You See An Interest In Patterns, Math Or Logic?
Gifted children may show an aptitude in mathematics or logic from a very early age, and often show an interest in patterns and logic. They may begin to understand the connection between patterns in numbers or objects, and can often develop a sense of logic that is greater than that of their peers.
14. Does Your Child Take Initiative?
Gifted children often exhibit an individual sense of ambition that may be greater than their peers. They may take the initiative in their learning, or in any given task. While this is a wonderful thing to see in any child, it may be an indicator of a greater capacity for learning and a gift in any given area.
15. How Are Your Child’s Social Interactions?
As with any child, no single factor is enough to determine the potential gifts that a child may have. Socializing is a key part of any child’s development, including the development of academic gifts or capabilities. Gifted children may often show a strong interest in specific topics or conversations, and may be more apt to engage in socializing outside of their homes.
Conclusion
Identifying a gifted child is often a difficult and daunting task, as one single factor cannot be a reliable indicator of aptitude. However, considering these fifteen questions when assessing your homeschooled child can provide some clues as to whether they may be gifted, and in which areas. Gifted children are often passionate and exhibit a curiosity that may be greater than their peers.
A child who is highly motivated and independent, excels in language arts, takes initiative, and possesses a remarkable imagination, may have the potential to reach far greater heights than expected. It is up to the parent or guardian to identify and nurture these gifts, providing a safe and encouraging environment for their growth and development.