Gifted Children

[lisa needs braces]

I have a 3 year old cousin. At a family gathering about six months ago (around the time she had just turned three) another cousin of mine got a book out and instructed the three year old to read it. She read the words fine. I then got a first grade book and sat down with her to see just how well she could read -- and she could read pretty well.

Presumably, then, she could read when she was 2 years old. Her mom told me a story about how when out somewhere a lady was being playful with my cousin and held up a book and said "do you know what this is"? And my cousin replied with the word that was spread across the front of the book: "Dictionary."

Anyway, her parents didn't teach her to read and it's evident to me that she it picked up from either watching PBS Kids all the time and/or from the captions on their tv, which are always on when I go to their house. So my cousin at least has a great photographic and auditory memory. Something else I noticed is her inquisitiveness. When we're watching tv she always asks every minute "what happened? What happened?" and she seems to be very sensitive. The scene where Mufasa dies in "The Lion King" made her cry though her older sisters -- aged 5 and 7 -- weren't moved.

How common are kids like this? Her parents are working class and don't speak English well. It's gotten to the point that my cousin corrects her mother now when they do reading activities (from books aimed at older kids). I just think it would be tragic to stick her in kindergarten three years from now, and not put he on a track that will let her take advantage of her gifts.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[oabmarcus]

Well there are 6+ billion people on the planet, with ever higher standards of living and medical care, and lower infant mortality rate, i expect to see more geniuses.

A little anecdote, when i was in college, i was taking a class in differential equations. There was this 13 year old Asian kid sitting beside me, at first i thought he was a dwarf or something, only later to find out that he was a genius. It was pretty amazing, since he was the one that was asking all the questions, and seemed to grasped all of the concepts already.

[Scarpia]

I have a 3 year old cousin. At a family gathering about six months ago (around the time she had just turned three) another cousin of mine got a book out and instructed the three year old to read it. She read the words fine. I then got a first grade book and sat down with her to see just how well she could read -- and she could read pretty well.

Presumably, then, she could read when she was 2 years old. Her mom told me a story about how when out somewhere a lady was being playful with my cousin and held up a book and said "do you know what this is"? And my cousin replied with the word that was spread across the front of the book: "Dictionary."

Anyway, her parents didn't teach her to read and it's evident to me that she it picked up from either watching PBS Kids all the time and/or from the captions on their tv, which are always on when I go to their house. So my cousin at least has a great photographic and auditory memory. Something else I noticed is her inquisitiveness. When we're watching tv she always asks every minute "what happened? What happened?" and she seems to be very sensitive. The scene where Mufasa dies in "The Lion King" made her cry though her older sisters -- aged 5 and 7 -- weren't moved.

How common are kids like this? Her parents are working class and don't speak English well. It's gotten to the point that my cousin corrects her mother now when they do reading activities (from books aimed at older kids). I just think it would be tragic to stick her in kindergarten three years from now, and not put he on a track that will let her take advantage of her gifts.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

If the kid has done so well so far, why do you assume that something has to be changed?   To develop into healthy productive adults kids have to be kids first. 

[oabmarcus]

If the kid has done so well so far, why do you assume that something has to be changed?   To develop into healthy productive adults kids have to be kids first.

not if they are geniuses.

[Scarpia]

not if they are geniuses.

You are not distinguishing between a prodigy and a genius.

[Josquin des Prez]

You are not distinguishing between a prodigy and a genius.

Yes, one is not necessarily related to the other.

[Harpo]

I have a 3 year old cousin. At a family gathering about six months ago (around the time she had just turned three) another cousin of mine got a book out and instructed the three year old to read it. She read the words fine. I then got a first grade book and sat down with her to see just how well she could read -- and she could read pretty well. ...

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

I don't know how common this type of child is. I taught myself to read at age 4. I also took piano lessons at that age, so by the time I entered kindergarten I was able to read both words and music. My parents had my IQ tested and it was Mensa-level. In those days there were no programs for "gifted" children, so the school had no idea what to do with me, except to skip me to the next grade. My only advice would be to put the child in a program with other smart kids so that she can be challenged and can find peers on her level. If there are no such programs, then make sure she is exposed to cultural and educational experiences.

[secondwind]

The characteristics you have described--early reading ability, unusually high level of curiosity, and unusually high level of sensitivity or empathy with others--are all characteristics of intellectually gifted toddlers, so I think you are correct that your young cousin is a gifted child.  Just how gifted she is can't be established without some testing.  Even though the child is not yet school age, it is not too early for her parents to get in touch with the local school system and find out what resources are available for gifted and talented children.  If the family lives near a college or university, the parents could also contact the chairperson of the psychology and/or education departments for help in identifying local resources and programs.

It is challenging to be the parent of a gifted child.  On the one hand, Scarpia is right that kids should get to be kids.  On the other hand, you and Harpo are right that the child will need to be in intellectually challenging environments if she is to have a chance to develop her prodigious intelligence fully (and avoid a soul-killing boredom if stuck all day in an "average" class).  Finding the balance is tricky, but it can be done. 

A friend of mine has a son who not only read long before starting school, but also had pretty much learned the high school algebra curriculum before kindergarten.  My friend and his wife have worked hard to make sure their son has normal childhood friendships and experiences (little league baseball, sleepovers, trips to watch baseball games, etc.) as well as appropriate intellectual challenges (for a while,  the boy received tutoring/mentoring from a post-doc math student, and now he plays chess in an adult league, for example).  The family has worked closely with the local public school officials to plan their son's education, and for the most part they have been pleased with the results. 

I don't think there is a "perfect" education for a gifted child, or for any child, but feeding that curiosity of hers with exposure to many different opportunities to learn about the world is important.  If she shows interest and aptitude for music, I would encourage early music education, too--maybe piano or Suzuki violin, if programs are available. 

I'm glad she has a cousin like you to notice her special gifts.

[Holden]

Before we go "Whoa - the next Einstein!", we need to take a step backwards and look at nature of this precocity.

As the eldest child my mother taught me to read (and write) well before I went to school. My first teachers were quite simply 'blown away' with my academic ability. However to describe me as gifted is a dichotomous statement. The 'gift' I had was the early educational experience from a parent who valued this. When I arrived at school I was promoted through a couple of grades until I reached my level.

My mother had 'accelerated' the learning process for me at an early age and it has served me very well but to describe me as gifted (a term I loathe) is ludicrous despite my IQ. Fortunately for me, siblings appeared on the family front and while my mother still encouraged my intellectual advancement I was allowed to enjoy all the fruits of a normal childhood. I am so grateful for that.

What I am saying is that being precocious is very easy given the circumstances. True genius is another thing.

[DavidRoss]

If the kid has done so well so far, why do you assume that something has to be changed?   To develop into healthy productive adults kids have to be kids first. 

not if they are geniuses.

Oh yes they do.