Is my child gifted?

All children have unique strengths and talents. However some children have particularly advanced or well developed skills and abilities in one or more areas. Such children may be referred to as gifted and talented. 'Gifted' refers to children with high potential (basically due to their inheritance) while 'talented' means that they display skills which are advanced when compared to other children of their age.

What makes a child gifted and talented?

Giftedness is due to a combination of factors including what the child inherits genetically, the development of the child before birth, and the nurturing of the child.

• Giftedness is hard to define, and not surprisingly, a number of definitions of giftedness exist.
• It is generally accepted that a gifted child would have the potential to perform at a level that is significantly beyond that of the majority of other children of the same age, in one or more skill areas such as language, problem solving, physical or interpersonal skills.
• A gifted child may have the potential to become, for example, a great artist, thinker or athlete.
  

A gifted and talented child not only has this potential, but is developing the skills to perform at this advanced level.

• Through their interactions with others and with their environment, they are becoming much more able than other children to do some things.
• For example, they may be able to engage in very 'adult' conversation at a very young age, or hit a tennis ball much harder and more accurately than expected.
  

The concept of intelligence has generally been narrowly defined.

• Often it seems to refer to only those skills that are needed to succeed within formal education, such as number and language skills.
• Skills that enhance success in life, such as the ability to make friends, being able to persist with a task and being reliable are not elements that are measured in formal assessments of intelligence.
  

Similarly, while giftedness has traditionally been associated with significantly advanced intellectual development, it is now recognised that such a perception of giftedness is far too narrow, as children can be gifted in many different areas. These include:

• Verbal/language (eg. reading, writing and speaking ability)
• Logical and mathematical (eg. number, classification and problem solving ability)
• Visual and performing arts (eg. drawing, painting, musical ability)
• Body/movement/psychomotor ability (eg. dance, athletic ability)
• Interpersonal (eg. communication, leadership ability)
• Intrapersonal (eg. reflective, self sufficient ability)
  

A child may be gifted and talented in one of these areas, or in many areas. 

How do I know if my child is gifted?

To be recognised as gifted and talented, a child must have the actual, or potential, ability to perform at a level that is significantly beyond other children of the same age. But what might this look like in practice?
As a guide, gifted and talented children are expected to be developing skills well ahead of those expected at their chronological age in at least one area. For example, a three-year-old would be able to talk using the more complex language of a 4 to 6 year old, or a six-year-old would be able to read as well as most eight-year-olds, and so on.
Although forms of giftedness may vary considerably between children, research shows that young gifted children may show a number of the following skills and abilities. 

Cognitive (thinking) skills

• Ability to master a new skill with unusual speed
• Quick and accurate recall, and ability to recall skills and information presented in the past
• Remembering and making connections between past and present experiences
• A well advanced sense of humour
• Increased alertness to features in the environment
• Exhibiting deeper knowledge than other children of the same age
• Being resourceful and creative, and improvising well in play.
  

Learning style

• Great curiosity, and desire to learn
• High level of motivation in areas of interest
• Being bored easily and becoming frustrated quickly if not challenged
• An ability to concentrate for extended periods in areas of interest
• Generally have advanced planning skills for their age
• Using unusual or imaginative ways of doing things
• Unusually intense interest and enjoyment when learning new things.
  

Motor (physical) abilities

• Development of particular motor skills earlier than other children of same chronological age.
  

Speech and language skills

• Well developed word knowledge and language skills compared to other children of the same age
• Creative use of language - for example, able to make up complex songs or stories, and having an advanced sense of humour.
• Able to adapt and vary their language to match the understanding of older or younger children and adults
• Able to understand and carry out complicated instructions for their age
• Reading, writing, or using numbers in ways that are advanced for their age.
• Advanced play interests and behaviours.
  

Social skills

• Sensitivity to the needs or feelings of others
• Use of verbal skills to handle conflict or to influence another child's behaviour
• Often will organise and direct social and learning activities; may be seen as 'bossy'
• Often seek out and enjoy the company of older children and adults
• May get on better with older children rather than children of their own age
• May be able to take on responsibilities usually given to considerably older children
• Often demonstrate an early interest in social issues involving injustices
• May have unrealistically high expectations of self and others, which may lead to frustration.
  

Visual and spatial skills

• Advanced visual and spatial abilities; for example with puzzles, building and construction materials, drawing, design and/or painting
  

While these skills and abilities may be useful as an initial guide as to whether your child is gifted, formal assessments for giftedness need to be more comprehensive, and generally require some kind of standardised psychological and/or developmental testing carried out by a specifically trained professional (such as a psychologist or doctor).