Is your child gifted? And by gifted we mean, really smart? Do they always take home school papers with big “A+” marks? Can they enumerate all 50 states alphabetically and in reverse too? Can they add, multiply, subtract, and divide up to three digits without writing down the equation? If you answered yes to most of these questions, guess what? No, unfortunately, it still does not mean that your child is gifted. How will you know exactly?
First, why is it important to determine anyway? It’s because a gifted child needs advanced instructional methods to nurture their IQ’s. If you don’t give them this environment for maximum learning, it will all go to waste. Also, they may either become too frustrated or too bored to have the proper motivation and, if this continues, they might even end up performing worst compared to their classmates. Another reason for identifying gifted children is because of the possible behavioral differences. Sometimes, they may not fit in with their unusual interests and sometimes they mat even appear more easily distracted or inattentive than others.
Screening methods, like IQ tests, are very common though. Some teachers even go the extra mile by reviewing achievement test scores and past grades. Guide counselors or school psychologists may even perform direct observation and obtain input form teachers and parents as well. However, you don’t have to wait for the teachers and psychologists to determine themselves, right? Sometimes they get caught up with all their work load that they might even miss it.
So, here now are more accurate and useful questions that would help determine whether a child is gifted or not. If your child is already attending school, does her or she:
Learn things quickly and remembers them easily too?
Seem mature for his age and ahead of his age group?
Show interest in words and vocabulary?
Independently try new solutions to problems?
Prefer older friends or playmates?
Show emotional sensitivity and empathy?
Enjoy solving puzzles, mazes, and riddles?
Show promise in music, and or art?
Collect, organize, and identify rocks, bugs, and leaves?
Again, answering yes to these questions does not immediately determine that your child is really gifted. These questions are most commonly used as an initial screening. Further testing, specifically using standardized written and non-written IQ tests may be necessary.
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