IDENTIFYING GIFTED CHILDREN
Giftedness is the asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive ability and heightened intensity combine to create an inner experience and awareness that are different from the norm.
We have formed a list of gifted characteristics (shown below) from a variety of sources. Parents often ask, how do I know if my child is gifted? We hope that this list will be a good starting place for identifying giftedness in your own children. We have also included a list of additional resources for the parents of gifted children.
Characteristics of Giftedness
Disclaimer — Although the items listed below are often seen in gifted children, it should be noted that all gifted children DO NOT exhibit all of these traits all of the time.
Emotional
- Concerns for others (empathy)
- Sensitivity in relationships
- Strong sense of justice
- Interest in life and/or death
- Argumentativeness
- Spontaneity
- High level of energy
- Prefers adult company
- Sophistication
- Discrepancy between personal /social skills and intellectual skills
Intellectual
- Probing questions
- Curiosity
- Avid reading, detailed planning
- Analytical thinking
- Perfectionist or appears to be disorganized
- Driven to understand the complex things
- Noticing what no one else does
- Need for precision in thinking and expression
- High ability to think abstractly that develops early
- Unusual capacity for memory
Academic
- Originality
- Self-taught
- Large vocabulary, loves "big" words
- Ability to learn in an integrative, intuitive, non-linear manner
- Learns rapidly
- High degree of curiosity
- Boredom
Additional Resources
Resources for Learning About Giftedness:
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MAGE, Michigan Alliance for Gifted Education
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NAGC, National Association for Gifted Children
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Resources for Special Needs of Gifted:
Resources for Materials for Gifted:
Possible Scholarships, Grants, and Support: