Is my child gifted?

Here are a few checklists you can use to help determine if you should refer your child for evaluation for gifted services.

 

        

 

Is your child gifted?

Most, but not all, of the following questions apply equally well to children of various ages.  No one child will exhibit all of these behaviors.  They are intended to serve as a checklist of the abilities revealed by many gifted children.

bullet Did your child walk and talk earlier than most other children of his age and gender?
bullet Did she show a comparatively early interest in words?
bullet Does he have an exceptionally large vocabulary for his age?
bullet Did she show an early interest in clocks, calendars, jigsaw puzzles?
bullet Did he show an early interest in numbers?
bullet Did she show an early interest in reading?
bullet Does he express curiosity about many things?
bullet Does she have more stamina and strength than other children of her age and gender?
bullet Does he tend to associate with children older than himself?
bullet Does she act as a leader among children of her own age?
bullet Does he have a good memory?
bullet Does she show unusual reasoning power?
bullet Does he have an unusual capacity for planning and organizing?
bullet Does she relate information gained in the past to new knowledge she acquires?
bullet Does he show more interest and creative effort and new activities than in routine and repetitive tasks?
bullet Does she try to excel in almost everything she does?
bullet Does he concentrate on a single activity for a prolonged period of time without getting bored?
bullet Does she usually have a number of interests that keep her busy?
bullet Does he persist in his efforts in the face of unexpected difficulties?
bullet Does she figure out her own solutions to problems and show uncommon "common sense"?
bullet Does he have a sense of humor that is advanced for his age?
bullet Does she show sensitivity to the feelings of others?
bullet Does he show a comparatively early interest in questions of right and wrong, religion, God, and/or justice?
bullet Does she make collections that are more advanced or unusual than those of others in her age group?
bullet Does he show an intense interest in some artistic activity, such as drawing, singing, dancing, writing, or playing a musical instrument?
bullet Does she make up stories that are vivid and dramatic, or relate her experiences with a great deal of exact detail?
bullet Does he like puzzles and various kinds of "problem" games?
bullet Does she have exceptional abilities in mathematics?
bullet Does he show an unusual interest in science or mathematics?
bullet Does she show awareness of things that are new or novel?

  Characteristics of Giftedness endorsed by parents (http://www.mcgt.net/Articles/checklist.html)

The following characteristics were endorsed by 90% of the parents of the study group of exceptionally gifted children:
bullet Learns rapidly
bullet Extensive vocabulary
bullet Excellent memory
bullet Reasons well
bullet Curiosity
bullet Mature for age
bullet Sense of humor
bullet Keen observation
bullet Compassion for others
bullet Vivid imagination
bullet Long attention span
bullet Ability with numbers
bullet Concern with justice, fairness
bullet Sensitivity
bullet Wide range of interests

The following characteristics were endorsed by 80% of the parents of the study group of exceptionally gifted children:

bullet Ability with puzzles
bullet High energy level
bullet Perfectionism
bullet Perseverance in interests
bullet Questions authority
bullet Avid reader
bullet Prefers older companions

  Gifted Children:  by Leah Davies, M.Ed.

While the criteria for identifying gifted students varies from state to state* , the following are characteristics these children commonly exhibit:
bullet extensive vocabulary
bullet outstanding memory
bullet interest in adult concerns/what is right and wrong
bullet sustained attention span
bullet original thoughts
bullet multitask proficiency
bullet ability to grasp complex concepts
bullet expresses himself/herself will
bullet learns easily
bullet requires little direction
bullet enjoys working alone
bullet exhibits wit and humor
bullet solves problems in unique ways
bullet enjoys intellectual challenges
bullet dislikes routine tasks
bullet adaptable
bullet imaginative
bullet self-critical
bullet easily frustrated
bullet opinionated
bullet highly sensitive
bullet intensely curious
bullet observant
bullet leader
bullet risk taker
bullet avid reader
bullet atypical thinker
bullet nonconformist
bullet perfectionist

  *(states vary in definition, criteria for selection, policies and regulations... contact your State Department of Education or your local school system for further information)

General Characteristics:
bullet Very observant:  Notices details other children of the same age would miss, including non-verbal cues.
bullet Extremely curious:  Wants to know everything about everything-objects, ideas, situations, or events.
bullet Intense interests:  May focus on one subject for months, even years, and appear to be obsessed with it.
bullet Absorbs information rapidly:  Often described as being like sponges, soaking up as much information as possible quickly and easily.
bullet Excellent memory:  Often has a large storehouse of information about a variety of topics, which can be recalled quickly.
bullet May read early:  Often reads before age 5.  Many gifted children learn to read later, but when they do, they learn quickly.
bullet Reads rapidly and widely:  Enjoys reading on a wide variety of subjects and can read quickly without affecting comprehension.
bullet Extensive vocabulary:  Has a large and sophisticated vocabulary and enjoys using new and unusual words.
bullet Long attention span:  Compared to other same-age children, can focus for longer periods of time (unless activity is not intellectually stimulating.)
bullet Excellent reasoning and problem solving skills:  Is able to understand abstract concepts and use higher level thinking skills.
bullet Asks "what if" questions:  Shows ability to create theories.
bullet Unusual and /or vivid imagination:  Can imagine and visualize the best and the worst, which makes for good stories, but also big worries.
bullet Interested in philosophical and social issues:  For example, the nature of the universe, the problem of suffering in the world, environmental issues.
bullet Very sensitive, emotionally and even physically:  Can become upset easily, even over seemingly minor issues (like feeling the seams in socks), but can be moved almost to tears by the beauty of a sunset or a song.  May also want to quit eating meat out of sympathy for animals.
bullet Concerned about fairness and injustice:  Very aware of rights and wrongs, not just in relation to own life but lives of others.
bullet Energetic:  Often needs less sleep than other same-age children.
bullet Well-Developed sense of humor:  Creates sophisticated puns, sees humor in situations, makes jokes age mates don't understand.
bullet Perfectionistic:  Does not like to make mistakes and can get upset when things aren't perfect.

Easily Observed Characteristics

bullet Learns quickly and with less practice and repetition (one to two).
bullet Usually intrinsically motivated.  Star charts and stickers don't work well as motivators.
bullet Enjoys learning new things.  Seeks information for its own sake as much as for its usefulness.
bullet Enjoys intellectual activity.  Thrives on intellectual challenge (can get bored with slow instructional pace and repetition).
bullet Relates will to parents, teachers and other adults.  Often prefers company of older children and adults over same-age peers.
bullet Has well-developed powers of abstraction, conceptualization, and synthesis.  Can understand and handle abstract concepts at younger ages than other children.
bullet Displays intellectual playfulness.  Shows up in a desire to fantasize and imagine.
bullet Prefers books and magazines meant for older children.  May prefer non-fiction to fiction, including biographies, but likes mysteries and detective stories.
bullet Skeptical, critical and evaluative.  Makes them quick to spot inconsistencies.
bullet Asynchronous development.  Physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development are very uneven - for example, a 6 year old child may be like a 10 year old intellectually, an 8 year old socially, and a 6 year old emotionally.

Less Easily Observed Characteristics

bullet Easily sees cause-effect relationships.
bullet Quickly sees similarities, differences, and anomalies
bullet Can see relationships among seemingly unrelated objects, ideas, or facts
bullet Readily grasps underlying principles and can often make valid generalizations about events, people, or objects
bullet Often attacks complicated material by separating it into components and analyzing it systematically
bullet Fluent thinking, generating possibilities, consequences, or related ideas
bullet Flexible thinking, using many different alternatives and approaches to problem solving.
bullet Elaborate thinking, producing new steps, ideas responses, or other embellishments to a basic idea, situation, or problem
bullet Original thinking, seeking new, unusual, or unconventional associations and combinations among items of information

  More Checklists On-line:
bullet  Characteristics Checklist for Gifted Children: Austega Information Systems, University of Phoenix
bullet  Project Bright Horizon:  Gifted Characteristics of Underrepresented Populations
bullet Brainy Child. com:  Characteristics of Gifted Children
bullet Suite 101:  Do you have a gifted child?
bullet Hoagies Gifted:  Myths and Truths about Gifted Students