Identifying Gifted and Talented Children
IQ Tests and Behavioral Characteristics of the Gifted Children
Mar 3, 2009
There are several commonly used methods of doing it. One of them is IQ Tests. They are widely used for measuring the child’s intelligence level. However, parents should remember that not all the kinds of giftedness can be identified and measured by means of these tests.
Standardized IQ Tests for Identifying the Gifted and Talented Children
The standardized IQ tests are considered to be a measure of the child’s giftedness. The scores between 132 and 145 show that the child is gifted. The scores above 145 are considered to be in the high gifted range.
However, it should be noted, that not all the gifted children get high IQ test scores. First of all, the test cannot measure the kid’s giftedness in all the areas – it just approximately estimates the level of intelligence and the effectiveness of the thinking process. Such a test has no way to assess, for example, the child’s creative talents.
Secondly, the focus of the IQ tests is on memory and analytical skills, which are not the defining factors for a child’s being gifted or talented. In addition, the child’s giftedness or talent may lie in the area which cannot be detected and assessed by means of an IQ test.
Therefore, parents should not fully rely on the results of the IQ test, and alternative methods of identifying the child’s giftedness should be applied.
Behavioral Characteristics of the Gifted and Talented Children
Since giftedness is an abstract term, it cannot be precisely measured. However, its reflections can be observed in the child’s behavior.
- Artistic talents that are beyond the kid’s chronological age are a bright sign of the child’s being gifted. Such talented children tend to master their existing skills and achieve perfection in everything they are doing. Being fully committed to the task being performed, they always try to do their best.
- Brightly expressed creative, critical, and broad thinking are also the characteristics to pay attention to. Gifted children comprehend information and learn much faster than typical children. They may solve problems and take decisions in a somewhat unexpected or uncommon for their age manner.
- Insightfulness, social responsibility and leadership abilities not common for the child’s biological age are the signs of the above average development. Since gifted and talented children are naturally curious, they are more independent, tend to learn even on their own, and do it quite successfully.
The role of parents in the harmonious development of the gifted children cannot be underestimated. Parents are the ones to guide, encourage, and add to the child’s development. The mental growth of the child greatly depends on the atmosphere in the family. It requires adequate support and understanding, realizing the child's potential, and addressing the special needs.
Those, who found this article useful, may also be interested in learning more about Developing a Full Potential of a Gifted Child.
Sources:
Carpenter, Mackenzie. “The IQ factor: Despite advances in defining gifted children, intelligence testing still plays a large role”. PG News. Post-Gazette.com, 2001.
Schave Klein, Barbara. Raising Gifted Kids: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Exceptional Child Thrive. New York: AMACOM, a Division of American Management Asociation, 2006.
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