Is your Baby or Toddler Gifted?

Each of our little ones is special in their own way, each one bringing their own little spark of light into our hearts.   They all have the potential to succeed in life if given the proper care and nurturing. So, when adults label one child as gifted, this only means that particular little one has the ability to learn faster, and adapt more easily to new situations.   These children need special attention in order to learn how to use their abilities to help further themselves in school, and ultimately in life. But, how soon can you tell which children will be gifted in this way, and which won't?

 

Gifted children's expert, Inderbir Kaur Sandhu, Ph.D, says it is never too soon to look for such signs in your child.   In her research she found that children are capable of showing signs of gifted ability as early as infancy. Below is a comprised list of behavioral and cognitive signs that a gifted child might show at an early stage.

Infancy to 1 yr

• Unusual alertness
• Early formation of meaningful expression 
• Able to focus when read to and also understands the concept of turning individual pages at a time
• High energy and activity level 
• Comprehending shape-sorters by 11 months 
• Able to form two word sentences at 14 months 
• Able to understand instruction by 18 months
• Capable of focusing on a DVD or TV program by the age of 1
• Requires less sleep without becoming irritable or drowsy

2 to 4 yrs

• Able to form grammatically correct or advanced sentences
• Interested in the concept of computers
• Has a vivid imagination
• Able to solve 20 piece or higher puzzle independently
• Demonstration of musical ability at 2 or before
• Able to access memory and recall facts easily by age 2
• Recognizes simple signs and their own name by 3
• Independent on the computer by age 4
• Able to add and subtract by age 4
• High degree of mathematical understanding by age 4

Even if a child displays all of these signs at the appropriate ages, it would still be wise to have them tested by a gifted specialist.  Your child may have gifted abilities, but not meet all the requirements to be officially classified as a gifted student. No matter what abilities your child does or does not show it is important that they receive all the attention and care a little one deserves in order to meet his or her full potential.

This blog post was provided by Stephanie Parker - our blog writer extraordinaire!