Could my child be gifted?

Question

Every parent thinks their child is special but everyone who meets my son comments on how smart he is. I don't want to be boastful, and would never want to exploit my child, but if he is truly gifted, I want to know so I can help him reach his full potential. I won't bore you with a list of his accomplishments but just to give you an idea, he's 3 years old and can read, count infinitely, assembles 100 piece jigsaw puzzles, knows all the states and capitals, and can recite the names of all 43 Presidents in order from memory. The list goes on. people are always amazed. I should also mention, he learned all of these things with very little help. You pretty much show him something once or twice and he masters it. Anyone else have a gifted child? What are some resources I can investigate? What about formal testing? Thanks.

Thanks for all the responses. I feel like I may need to give more information. I'm wondering if anyone has specific information on "gifted child" programs or where I can have my son tested.

He is surely not autistic, he has equally impressive verbal and math skills, is very social and outgoing, very mature, but can be a silly kid at times also. The only area that he is slightly lacking in is fine motor skills. His writing is a little big and distorted and he has trouble coloring inside lines. Again, though, he's only 3. He is not really behind in any area. The fine motor skills just don't seem to be at a "gifted" level".

I have considered a Montessouri school if anyone has any opinion on that.While i appreciate all the comments on how smart my son is, I hear it every day and would really appreciate specific information of programs etc from the parent or teacher of a gifted child. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Your child could very well be gifted but as a kindergarten teacher make sure he knows the basics. I find that parents work stronger on teaching the child impressive things that they forget the essentials and it makes our job a lot harder because from these children we expect more. ex: About 3 yrs ago I had a lil boy Jordan who came into pre-school reading I mean full fledged reading. He read so well that if I wanted to write anything not pertinent to the class I had to do it in cursive. but then get his Jordan could not identify shapes colors or numbers but he could read the hell out of them And... he could not write or hold any pencils much less crayons. So I am not discouraging your discovery just make sure he knows what he should and good luck.

Answer 2

I am a teacher of a elementary school.. I also have a grandchild that is 2 years old and can count up to 100, solve puzzles, says his ABC and maybe doesn't know much more because I don't want him to go in advance of other.

It is real nice that a child knows all these things, but the problem is that when the child reach to be in school he or she will get bore, because he knows most anything. There are programs for children that are advance, but these programs are not everywhere. I have saw children growing in the school with the same knowledge your child is growing, but there is a moment that this child stop learning, and He believes he knows it all, and this is when the problem comes in the child's life.

So I encourage you, that it is OK for the child to continue reading, but if you don't have the money to bring him to higher level, keep him simple, so when he comes to school, he can find it interesting and something to learn. Other wise, this will be a problem to the teachers.

Answer 3

Your son sounds like he's way ahead of the game in many areas. Just keep doing what you're doing - a great job of encouraging his growth and development.

Please don't stick him in all those special classes and get him tested and all that business. Children (especially very bright ones) quickly sense that they ae considered to be "different" and "smarter" than everyone else and this can often bite them in the back later. They can have problems socializing with their own age and can develop a superiority complex.

My advice is not to emphasize or highlight his abilities with tests and special classes (do you really need a test to tell you?) but just let him pursue anything that sparks his interest. He'll thank you later for not treating him as some child phenomenon.

Answer 4

Well your child should be having a doctors appointment at four years to see if he is ready for school. If the doctor see's anything in particular he we will tell you, other wise you could express your concerns with him. he may or may not recommend that you have him tested.

Keep in mind that is very easy for a child to learn at a very young age, so the fact that he has good memorization skills, may not necesarily mean he his gifted. Also, it is easier to tell when the child has a good amount of verbal skills, so they may have you wait until he has started school.

Answer 5

wow, that is very impressive. i would buy him tons of books on all kinds of subjects, buy him learning games, and start him with some kind of musical instrument. also, make sure that while he grows up he doesn't feel different (either having low or too-high self esteem). make sure he develops socially as well as mentally. maybe when he is older you could encourage him to take up a sport. this will be an area in his life where he won't be way ahead of other kids his age, which i think would be a good way for him to socialize.

Answer 6

Congratulations it sounds like you have a gifted child! My son is too, although I do not want to push him, i would rather he enjoy being a child and not force him into anything, he starts school next month and I will encourage them there to move him up in grades if he starts to appear bored, but he really enjoys sports too and I want to let him enjoy his childhood without feeling different to other kids, yet subtly encourage his development too - its a fine line and I dont want to make him feel like he doesnt fit in or something!

Answer 7

I don't know where you can have a 3-year-old tested, but maybe you should. It isn't a normal for a three-year-old to be able to do these things. Sometimes it can be a sign of a form of autism, or maybe you have an extremely smart child. I would want to know what his IQ was if it were my child.

Answer 8

If this is true then yes I would get him looked at. He just may be! But please, if he is, let him be a kid! Don't make him advance before him maturity level!

Do you have Sylvan Learning Center's by you? If not then look in the yellow pages for a tutoring center, they do testing then can tell you what you should do from there!

Answer 9

WOW My kids at that age were just learning how to talk. He is gifted. Does he know his numbers too? Some kids that are extra good verbally are poor in math. Give him a toy piano and see what he can do with it.

Answer 10

Yup...He's gifted. Get that kid on some kind of program that will allow him to keep his knowledge growing. Make him utilize his memory and knowledge. Not just as random facts but connect it to the world around him.