How to Test for a Gifted Child

How to Test for a Gifted Child – Tips to find out how to test for a gifted child and how to enhance the education of gifted children from a conference I attended where representatives from the Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) spoke.

OAKLAND COUNTY MOMS EDUCATION ARTICLES & RESOURCES

It’s exciting as parents to see young children soak up things around them, learning and remembering and growing into smart little beings. Sometimes, the pace and level for which this happens is higher than average and considered “gifted” or a “quick learner.”

But how are parents to know if their child is gifted or a quick learner? What’s the difference between a gifted child and a quick learner? And, if the child is gifted or a quick learner, what can parents do to enhance these gifts? How to test for a gifted child?

How to Test for a Gifted Child – Traits

• Multiple kids within the same family can be gifted, but it may show up differently. If you think your first is gifted, don’t expect the same traits to be apparent in the other sibling(s).
• Some traits you may see in a gifted child/quick learner are that quick learners and gifted children not only soak up all the things they learn, but they also understand what they learn. Additionally, they may have strong memory skills which may come out way after the fact, e.g. passing a street while driving and bringing up that the street is where they went to a party a year ago.
• Quick learners tend to be determined. Their vocabulary may be advanced early on, they may be early readers, and they learn how to negotiate at an early age. Gifted children also tend to be rule followers and can sometimes come off as bossy.
• When learning, quick learners and gifted children only need to hear the message 1-2 times, where the average learner needs 8-10 times. If a quick learner is among other children who need the repitition, the gifted child may space out or cause trouble during the repeated lessons, and eventually may be misunderstood.
• Quick learners are able to reason well. They can think things through. Gifted children are also very sensitive and take criticism to heart. They are also morally sensitive and sensitive to social injustice. Gifted children may be bothered by news stories and people getting treated differently to the point where they can’t sleep at night. They also question authority and can have difficulty with teachers who don’t understand this.
• Other traits you might see in a quick learner or gifted child are asking a lot of questions, difficulty with “failing,” and sensitivity to noises and/or overwhelming environments.

How to Test for a Gifted Child – Where You Can Take Your Child

Schools today are not funded to run programs for gifted children. They are not obligated to do any testing, and there is no mandate that requires them to provide gifted children programs. migiftedchild.org is working hard to get support in the school systems to assist gifted children.

So, how do you know for sure if you have a quick learner or gifted child? There are tests that can be administered by psychologists to determine if your child is gifted. It is recommended that you not test your child earlier than age 4 1/2, but that you have it done during the early elementary years. But, it’s never too late.

The Roeper School in West Bloomfield, Michigan knows how to test for gifted child and is one school in Oakland County that can test whether your child is “gifted”. You can find out more information about testing for gifted children at Roeper.org.

For more info on how to test for a gifted child, visit migiftedchild.org.