Giftedness often strikes in childhood, but it’s not always easy to spot. A marked level of above-average intelligence or specific individual talents often requires diligent observation and testing to firmly diagnose in early life. Understanding the intricacies of identifying gifted children can increase the rate of successful diagnosis, leading to more accurate intervention and resources for the future.
What is Giftedness?
Giftedness, or being gifted, is defined as abilities that are “significantly advanced” than what is typical for a given age. This higher aptitude can manifest in several forms, including mental abilities like problem-solving and memory recall, as well as physical capacities such as excellent motor skills and reflexes.
While it may be difficult to define the precise parameters of giftedness, several standardized tests exist to identify it.
A Gifted Child’s Early Years
Though the specific ages may differ, in general, giftedness can start to appear in preschool age children or earlier. An acute eye for detail or object permanence, such as an ability to recall the position of an item once it has been removed from view, may be the first clue. If the child’s abilities are far ahead of those of their peers, a referral for testing is often recommended.
Gifted children are often restless and bored in traditional school settings, typically due to their need for more mentally stimulating material. They may often display unusually adept comprehension and retention of lessons, especially when the topics match their interests.
It is usually very easy to spot a gifted child in a classroom setting. Additionally, some children show exceptional early reading skills, such as recognizing small words or sounding out larger ones, due to their increased aptitude.
A Gifted Child’s Later Years
As the child matures, their gifts become more clearly defined. Advanced verbal and problem-solving skills may make their presence known, as well as a propensity for quickly learning new tasks.
Gifted children may find creativity comes naturally, leading to high level achievements in art, music, and other creative arenas. Such children also may have difficulty functioning in typical social environments due to their advanced cognitive abilities. They may struggle to relate to average peers of their age, and may be prone to intense feelings of loneliness.
Social isolation is a common problem among gifted children, so it’s important for parents to be attentive to their needs and provide training to help them socialize with their peers more effectively.
Testing for Giftedness
Giftedness is often the result of good parenting and constant stimulation in a wide variety of topics. However, even when naturally gifted, testing may still be necessary to assess criteria such as IQ or learning disabilities and determine a course of action.
IQ testing is often done via cognitive assessment tests, such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, or the Northwestern Psychological Screening Test. It is also possible to gain an understanding of a gifted child’s development through observation and assessment. A comprehensive assessment will typically include evaluations of the child’s motivations, interests and talents, self-awareness, social competence, and academic ability and performance.
A Gifted Teachers Perspective
Gifted educational programs are typically led by a teacher who is trained to recognize and nurture the gifts and talents of children. Such teachers offer specialized learning for each child, helping to challenge gifted youths by providing them with appropriate materials as well as offering advice to parents and appropriate colleagues. A gifted teacher is often remarkably supportive when working with a young but talented student and is able to recognize unique creativity and enthusiasm.
Gifted children have unique needs and preferences that should be catered to properly by their teacher. Teachers of gifted children must showcase their own enthusiasm and creative thinking abilities, while learning to manage frustrating behaviors in a positive manner.
The teacher’s efforts may be combined with data gathered from standardized tests, observations, or discussion with the parents to form an individualized program of instruction.
Giftedness Through a Different Lens
Although many people view giftedness as a positive trait, it can bring with it its own set of difficulties. Being gifted at a young age isn’t necessarily a breeze and often comes with unusually intense emotions like anxiety and depression.
Gifted individuals may also be conscious of the expectations that they must live up to or have difficulty connecting socially with their peers and other age groups. Though being gifted may be a blessing, it’s important to recognize the challenges it can bring as well. Adults of all ages, especially parents, should recognize that children and adults of all intellectual levels should be treated equally and fairly.
Appropriate education and support from those around them is key to unlocking the potential of a gifted individual.
Conclusion
Giftedness often starts to appear during the early preschool years and can be identified through testing, observation, and assessment. Specialized programs, led by teachers trained to work with gifted children, often offer the best results as they allow each child to be provided with an individualized program of instruction.
It’s important to keep in mind, however, that being gifted can bring with it its own set of challenges and special attention should be paid to recognizing and addressing this. With due diligence and appropriate guidance, gifted individuals can reach their full potential.