• Because gifted children are so diverse, not all exhibit all their characteristics all of the time. However, there are common characteristics that many gifted individuals share:

    • Unusual alertness, even in infancy
    • Rapid learner; puts thoughts together quickly
    • Excellent memory
    • Unusually large vocabulary and complex sentence structure for age
    • Advanced comprehension of word nuances, metaphors and abstract ideas
    • Enjoys solving problems, especially with numbers and puzzles
    • Often self-taught reading and writing skills as preschooler
    • Deep, intense feelings and reactions
    • Highly sensitive
    • Thinking is abstract, complex, logical, and insightful.
    • Idealism and sense of justice at an early age
    • Concern with social and political issues and injustices
    • Longer attention span and intense concentration
    • Preoccupied with own thoughts—daydreamer
    • Learn basic skills quickly and with little practice
    • Asks probing questions
    • Wide range of interests (or extreme focus on one area)
    • Highly developed curiosity
    • Interest in experimenting and doing things differently puts ideas or things together that are not typical.
    • Keen and/or unusual sense of humor
    • Desire to organize people/things through games or complex schemas
    • Vivid imaginations (and imaginary playmates when in preschool)

     

    Reproduced by permission from: Webb, J., Gore, J., Amend, E., DeVries, A. (2007). A parent's guide to gifted children.Tuscon, AZ:  Great Potential Press, www.greatpotentialpress.com.