Characteristics of a Gifted Child

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.
Certain emotional, intellectual and academic characteristics are frequently found in gifted children. For example, a large vocabulary and a strong sense of justice are often present. Gifted children are often curious, perfectionistic, intense and argumentative. See below for other behavioral identifiers of giftedness.

  • Emotional

    • Empathetic
    • Sensitivity in relationships
    • Strong sense of justice
    • Interest in life and/or death
    • Argumentative
    • Spontaneous
    • High level of energy
    • Prefers adult company
    • Sophistication
    • Discrepancy between personal/social skills and intellectual skills

  • Intellectual

    • Asks probing questions
    • Curious
    • Avid reader, detailed planner
    • Analytical
    • Perfectionist or appears to be disorganized
    • Driven to understand complex things
    • Very observant
    • Need for precision in thinking and expression
    • High ability to think abstractly from an early age
    • Unusual capacity for memory

  • Academic

    • Original
    • Self-taught
    • Highly verbal, large vocabulary
    • Able to learn in an integrative, intuitive, non-linear manner
    • Learns rapidly
    • Easily bored
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Although the items listed above are often seen in gifted children; not all gifted children exhibit all of these traits all of the time.

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Bloomfield Hills MI 48304

PHONE 248 203 7330
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Birmingham MI 48009

PHONE 248 203 7448
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