Parents often start to consider their children’s developmental milestones earlier and earlier in today’s world. With the digital age of education and extracurricular activities coming into full swing, parents should consider if their four-year-old is gifted or not, and what activities a truly gifted and capable four-year-old is able to do. In this article, we’ll explore some of the milestones a truly gifted four-year-old is able to do that other four-year-olds may not be.
At an age when many four-year-olds are still developing the basic foundational skills, some four-year-olds can show far more advanced skills than their peers. Even with age playing a major role in a child’s physical and cognitive development, a truly gifted four-year-old is able to succeed at far more than their age would suggest.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds Can Read Fluently
Most four-year-olds haven’t learned to read yet, much less read fluently. However, a truly gifted four-year-old can already start to learn how to read. A four-year-old who is extremely intelligent can start to distinguish letters and words and can begin sounding out words they may recognize.
While they may not be able to fully understand reading comprehension, they can start to recognize words and strings of letters they recognize. Moreover, they can start to read simple picture books and short stories.
Additionally, a gifted four-year-old can start to learn sight words. While they may not be able to read or understand an entire book, they can identify certain words on sight.
Teaching sight words is one of the most important pre-reading skills, and a true gifted four-year-old can develop these skills faster than their peers. Gifted four-year-olds can learn to recognize letters, recognize sight words, practice phonics, and start to read simple stories and books.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds Have Improved Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving Skills
A gifted four-year-old is capable of demonstrating improved problem solving and logical reasoning skills than their peers. For example, a gifted four-year-old may be able to understand the basic principles of mathematical concepts such as sorting and pattern recognition. They can easily identify shapes and colors.
Moreover, they can demonstrate the ability to recognize patterns and relationships between objects, symbols, and situations. For example, they may be able to identify the relationships between numbers and shapes, as well as be familiar with geometric shapes and patterns.
Furthermore, they can understand and follow directions more quickly, making them better able to solve various puzzles and challenges. Gifted four-year-olds can also recognize symbols of language and equations associated with it.
They are also capable of engaging in more complex play with peers.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds Have Improved Memory and Concentration
In comparison to their peers, gifted four-year-olds can demonstrate improved memory and better concentration. They can easily recall and store information. A truly gifted four-year-old can remember dates, events, people’s names, colors, words, stories and more.
Moreover, they have better focus, and can recall more details from books, movies, and conversations than their peers. These improved memory and concentration skills make them better able to learn and comprehend their environment faster.
Furthermore, they can think, reason, and comprehend information more quickly and easily. With the improved focus and concentration they exhibit, they can easily start to understand more complex ideas and those typically beyond their age group.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds Exhibit Creative Thinking
A gifted four-year-old often shows creativity and independent thinking. They are able to think beyond the scope of their environment and come up with creative and imaginative solutions to problems. Gifted four-year-olds often engage in creative play, demonstrating their interest in different creative outlets.
Whether it’s music, drawing, or writing and storytelling, gifted four-year-olds are often using their imaginations to explore the world and their environment around them. Four-year-olds are able to relate to those around them more easily and have a better understanding of their emotions and those of those around them.
They are better able to relate to their peers and adults and can pick up comprehension of situations and conversations that adults are talking about easier than their peers.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds Demonstrate Improved Social Skills and Empathy
While most four-year-olds are trying to make friends and develop social skills and empathy, gifted four-year-olds are often able to do this at a more advanced level. They demonstrate improved communication skills and can talk about complex concepts and ideas with adults and with their peers. Furthermore, they have more developed empathy, and can show compassion, understanding, and sympathy for others.
Their social skills are more advanced and better developed than those of their peers.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds May Exhibit Perfectionism
While most four-year-olds are still learning how to be patient and focused, a gifted four-year-old may already be exhibiting traits of perfectionism. They may often want to be perfect in all they do, and may become frustrated when they are unable to complete an activity, or if they receive a less than perfect critique. Truly gifted four-year-olds may take longer to complete a task, as they will continue to strive for perfectionism.
While this may initially be seen as a positive trait, if the perfectionism becomes too extreme, it can become detrimental. If a four-year-old is dealing with perfectionism that is too extreme, it is important for them to channel their focus into something that can make them feel accomplished without becoming frustrated.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds Can Exhibit Advanced Language Development
Gifted four-year-olds are often able to engage in conversations with adults. They can show understanding of more advanced concepts, than their peers.
Gifted four-year-olds are able to comprehend more complex language and use greater vocabulary than most four-year-olds. Moreover, they can engage in conversations about different topics with adults and peers, demonstrating an improved comprehension and understanding of topics. They often show improved use of grammar and syntax.
They also can write stories and draw or paint in ways that are far more unique than their peers. Their understanding of language and communication are much greater than what is typically expected in four-year-olds.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds Can Demonstrate Improved Motor Skills
A truly gifted four-year-old others are often able to demonstrate improved motor skills than their peers. This means they can tie their shoes, put on clothes, and take care of their own bathroom needs more quickly than most four-year-olds. They can properly brush their teeth, wash their hands, and even feed themselves.
Gifted four-year-olds are also able to engage in active sports and outdoor activities with ease and enjoyment.
Gifted Four-Year-Olds Are Curious and Asks Questions
Gifted four-year-olds often show an above average level of curiosity. They will often ask questions and want to know more about topics that interest them.
Gifted four-year-olds will often explore their environment and ask questions about objects, people, or animals they haven’t encountered before. They may be more engaged in comprehending and learning about the world around them.
Conclusion
A truly gifted four-year-old is capable of doing things that their peers may not be able to do. Their intellectual, physical, and psychological development is far more advanced than what is typically seen in a four-year-old. While these traits can be seen in some four-year-olds, not all children will necessarily have these traits and some may have them to different extents.
It is important for parents to understand their child’s development and potentially consider educational and extracurricular activities that may help their child explore their talents and skills.