How early can you tell if your child is gifted?

Question

My oldest child is smarter than the average 2 year old. Everyone thinks she's older than she really is because she's tall and because her speech is so advanced. But I don't think of her as particularly gifted, just a little more advanced than other children her age.

Her five month old sister, on the other hand, seems to be incredibly intelligent... but I always chalked it up to a different personality than her sister's. She's extremely interested in books and is a very observant, always quietly watching everyone. She's meeting her milestones earlier too, but I wouldn't consider that to be a sign of giftedness. A girlfriend of mine said to me tonight, "she's going to be your kid that is reading at 2 1/2! She's your genius child." Well, I don't like labeling kids especially so early, but I've always felt there's something really special about this baby of mine. So that got me thinking... can you tell if a child is gifted at the tender age of 5 months? Or is that way too young?

To the first answerer... dude, I didn't say my 2 year old was gifted because she uses the potty on her own. I don't think I even mentioned that she is potty trained. Any 2 year old can use the potty. I never even said my 2 year old was gifted, just above average, at least in her speaking ability.

I was just curious if you can tell this early if a child is gifted. I never said my child WAS gifted, she just _seems_ intelligent based on behavior I've seen. But it could just be her personality.

Answer 1

Sounds to me like you have two gifted girls.

Signs would include surpassing peers in things that other children normally do at that age, ie: reading before peers, speaking, walking, etc.

But, those are not always qualifying symptoms of gifted children. Einstein did not even speak till he was almost 5. They thought he was retarded. They nearly put him in a home. When asked later in life why he did not speak, he said that he didn't have anything importan to say.

I have a film of my 12 month old baby dancing, with her Easter hat on, singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame. She is a genius. She graduated with a 4.2 GPA and was Validictorian. She is an artist and has art in museums already. My daughter is 22. :) She's gifted. She started much like yours.

I can, however, confirm that children who seem advanced often are.

Good luck.

Answer 2

There is no way to tell at five months if a child is gifted. Don't be so hung up on labels - they don't even use that name in schools any longer because of the connotations of it.
There is no sense in comparing siblings, or even your children with other children, because each progresses at different rates, and that does not mean one is smarter than the other. They all catch up to each other, probably by age three.
Write us back when your then one year old is composing symphonies. Then you can call her "gifted".
Depending on your school system, intelligence testing can be done as early as Grade One. Where I live, they use those results, coupled with other testing done in Grade Three, to determine whether a child takes an accellerated program or not. My son was reading at three years old, tested off the charts at both Grades One and Three. We had him in an extended learning opportunities program in Grades Five through Eight, but decided to not do the Honours Programs in High School, just to let him be a "regular" kid.
Both his dad and I read early and I, too, was placed in special programs, and did Grades One and Two in one year.

Answer 3

All babies are supposed to be observant. It's a survival mechanism and part of brain development. Perhaps your older child is slow or challenged in some ways. Every mother wants to hear that her child is special and so that's what people say. Some mothers even believe it. I can't count the amount of times I've said some bs like that a baby was more than just an ugly annoying poop machine and then some just to appease the mother.

Answer 4

My grand daughter can read all different kinds of books at aged 3, when my daughter enrolled her as pre K, she came out super smart and the teacher said her mentality is like a 10 year old kid.....We don't think she is gifted, just advance, but i tell u she can even answer her big brother's HOME WORK, his big bro is in middle chool now and is 12 yeares old,,,7 yeard older than her.

Answer 5

most health officials dont classify children as gifted till they are around at least 4 yrs old or so. But if you really do think your child is so "gifted" then i would look into getting an intelligence test done. some insurance companies cover it , and sometimes they dont. they arent really expensive. also try the AEA. they deal with children who are gifted and also children with learning problems and help the kids be placed in the right settings according to their test results.

Answer 6

At 5 months, that's too early. I have a 5 month old and I know that he is more alert than normal. His grandparents say he has an intelligent look about him.

Once your kids start to talk, that's when you can tell. My daughter hears a word once and repeats it, then uses it in sentences correctly without us giving her examples. She is two. I think she is pretty amazing. I'm still reserved about claiming Einstein status.

Answer 7

She is too young to be tested. But it sounds like you are doing a great job with your girls. Teaching them and reading to them will help. If they are gifted, it will come out when they start school. Either way, don't get bogged down by a label, just do what you are doing and your girls will be winners in the end.

Answer 8

I think that would be way too young but i am not fond of labeling children. Because the child & parents can get hurt when child does not live up to high expectations.

Answer 9

By God you are a proud mom ! Good congratulations You remind me of Me .. I to have a gifted 9 month old too.. God Bless!!

Answer 10

kids do that to impress,boast then blah blah study and graduate then marry and have 8 kids