Is she a Little Einstein?

The National Association for Gifted Children tells us that about 5 percent of U.S. children have been classified as gifted. That’s around 3 million kids. As early as preschool, you might notice signs your child may be among them. Keep in mind that gifted kids need special guidance and an adjustment in parenting styles. How can you tell if your preschooler might be gifted? And what do you do?

Identifying the gifted child can be tricky. Einstein was 4-years-old before he could speak and seven before he could read. Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school. Paul McCartney slept through music class. Winston Churchill failed 6th grade.

We’re luckier these days to benefit from years of research on child development – there is better knowledge on how to handle the gifted or talented. The sooner you know your child has a special talent or gift, the sooner you can start nurturing it. More importantly, you’ll be able to avoid the problems that often surface from a child’s being out-of-the ordinary.

According to the American Association of Gifted Children at Duke University, here are some of the early signs of a gifted preschooler:

• Learns quickly and remembers easily
• Seems mature for his or her age
• Has a large vocabulary, displays an unusual interest in words, or already reads independently
• Experiments to solve problems
• Prefers older playmates
• Seems sensitive
• Exhibits intellectual curiosity
• Shows compassion for people or animals
• Enjoys puzzles, mazes, and numbers
• Questions authority
• Seems to get bored easily
• Has a high energy level

Both my kids started reading at age 3. People – particularly teachers – often remark about their advanced verbal skills and big vocabulary. The 5-year-old can build Lego structures according to instruction – with sets for 14-year-olds. When he builds structures freestyle, we are often impressed with the realism of his work and the stories that go along with them. In school, he is one grade above his reading level. He has also claimed math to be his favorite subject. I don’t want to push my kids too hard, but I am already concerned – do I need to have them assessed – and when?

I found many conflicting viewpoints about formal testing of preschoolers. Here’s one argument against routine early testing from Nancy Robinson, Ph.D. from the University of Washington, “Testing is never warranted unless it will make a difference in a student’s life. Virtually unique to gifted children is the well-meaning advice often given to parents: ‘Your child is so smart that you ought to have her tested.’ In the absence of any other referral question, testing simply to obtain a score is unwise. The effort is costly, and, even more importantly, a lower-than-expected score runs the risk of disappointing parents and affecting their view of their child. This is particularly risky for very young children for whom there are no significant educational decisions pending, and whose scores are likely to be less stable than those obtained later on.”

I find that Dr. Robinson makes sense. Other experts add, intelligence tests are designed not to give false positives. A child will not receive a higher score than reflects her ability. On the other hand, for many reasons, a very young child’s abilities may not be fully measured, resulting in a relatively low score. When a very young child is being tested, it is hard to factor in circumstances that might affect the evaluation. Test scores of young children may be unstable because they can be affected by hunger, fatigue, illness, anxiety, or distractions.

Under irregular conditions – such as a formal testing scenario – even very bright young children can become irritable and uncooperative. The resulting test score may not be an accurate indicator.

Still, I know my kids show precociousness that may – one day – warrant formal assessment. In the meantime, I’m taking a very active role in their schooling. I also chose a progressive setting that encourages critical thinking and allows kids to work at their own pace.  We also try to encourage their pursuits – from drum lessons and hip hop classes to Tae Kwon Do. They’re still quite young, so we also put no pressure.

One day we may have them tested for giftedness, but not yet. I will go by the school system’s recommended testing schedule of K3 (3rd grade) or higher. For now, it’s all about encouraging them to pursue their interests.

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