Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counselling in order for them to develop optimally.
25 descriptors were selected as representative of the majority of children tested as having high learning potential: learns rapidly, extensive vocabulary, excellent memory, reasons well, strong curiosity, compassion for others, vivid imagination, long attention span, concern with justice and fairness, emotionally sensitive, high energy level, perfectionist, questions authority, perseverant in interests, wide range of interests, good at puzzles, ability with numbers, quirky or grown-up sense of humor, morally sensitive, prefer older companions and/or adults, keen observer, early or avid reader, highly creative.
Identifying your child's giftedness or talent can help you know when it's right for your child to start child care, preschool or school, help your child get the right learning opportunities, help your child avoid some of the challenges of being gifted like boredom, and help you identify new learning opportunities in your child's area of advanced interest or skill.
Informal identification means keeping a record of your child's behavior with notes about any advanced development and achievements. This record might include: your child's drawings, writing and other work, videos of your child's skills, advanced or insightful questions that your child has asked, details of your child's passionate personal interests, and comments about your child's development from observations.
If you think your child might be gifted, you can see an educational psychologist for an IQ test and a report on your child's advanced learning. Look for a psychologist with experience in identifying gifted and talented children. Another way to get a formal identification is to look at your child's school results in standardized literacy or numeracy tests.
