“Is my child gifted?”

“Is my child gifted?” Parents often wonder at one point or another whether their child is gifted. This mail arrived in my inbox today and of course I had to take a look to see if Emma is gifted...or not.
As parents we always want a child that will be extra-intelligent or sporty or artistic. We push for for them to achieve (at any cost) and we are disappointed when we realize that they're ordinary or average.

But what is gifted? And who decides what gifted means? And what about children with 'special powers'? Their achievements are very different to other children, but boy oh boy, I bet when they do something they weren't able to do the day before their parents explode with pride at their gifted child.

Below are the 20 signs to identify giftedness in your child. Use it, don't use it. But remember, each and every child is a gift and therefore already gifted...

What Does “Gifted” Mean?

The term “giftedness” is used by different schools, organizations and cultures in different ways, with some using the term strictly to indicate people with well-above average intelligence as measured by IQ scores, and others embracing a broader range of criteria. The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), offers the following definition:

Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains.  Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system (e.g., mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills (e.g., painting, dance, sports) 

20 Signs of Giftedness 

While IQ tests and other assessments can help identify giftedness in school-age children, kids are also commonly identified as gifted by the observations of families, teachers, and friends. Below are some of the many characteristics that gifted children often exhibit, adapted from a detailed checklist from Austega. Note: no one gifted child exhibits all the traits.

1. Has early interest in words and reading
2. Has exceptionally large vocabulary for their age
3. Learns rapidly, easily and efficiently
4. Is curious about objects or situations, asks provocative questions; enjoys exploratory activities
5. Has an unusually strong memory, but is bored with memorization and recitation
6. Is flexible in thinking patterns; makes unusual associations between remote ideas 
7. Is independent
8. Has a wide range of interests
9. Demonstrates unusual reasoning power
10. Likes structure, order and consistency
11. Show unusual degrees of originality, concentration and persistent hard work on projects that capture their interest and imagination
12. Is perceptually open to his or her environment
13. Has an advanced sense of humor
14. Is sensitive to the feelings of others
15. Shows more interest in creative effort and new activities than in routine and repetitive tasks
16. Shows an intense interest and aptitude in an artistic activity, such as drawing, singing, dancing, writing, or playing a musical instrument
17. Is intellectually playful, interested in fantasy, imagination 
18. Acts as a leader among children of their own age
19. Tries to excel in almost everything she does
20. Senses when problems exist; always trying to adapt or improve things

http://www.circleofmoms.com/article/signs-your-child-gifted-page-2-01745