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How to Know If Your Child Is Gifted

How to Know If Your Child Is Gifted

Special services can help them achieve their potential
Parents often dream of having a gifted child. Actually, less than five percent of children meet the criteria to qualify for special services for gifted children. If you think your child may be gifted, compare your child's characteristics with a checklist of what qualifies a child to be labeled as gifted. You child's school may have such a resource available.

What are some of the characteristics of a child who is gifted?
Although most people are curious, a gifted child's curiosity is turbocharged. Because they can take in and incorporate more information than other children, gifted children learn quickly. Gifted children usually take the initiative to learn a great amount of information about a subject in which they express a keen interest. They may ask a lot of questions, read voraciously, and observe natural phenomena for hours. If your child has these characteristics, nurture their interests by getting them books, videos, and other information about those interests.

How can gifted children be identified?
Your child's school may have a procedure in place to identify gifted children. If your school does not have its own psychologist, ask them for a referral to an educational psychologist skilled at doing assessments. Your child will complete a battery of tests designed to identify her or his gifts. These tests are usually fun for gifted children. Ask your child's teacher to make a list of your child's skills that caused him or her to believe that your child may be gifted. You, too, should create a similar list.

What type of school environment is best for a gifted child?
If your child receives a gifted diagnosis, you may want to consider enrolling your child in enrichment classes. Summer camps with challenges are another way to help your child realize his or her potential. Some schools also offer special services for gifted children. Yet if your child is comfortable at his or her current school, exercise caution about changing schools. Your child will learn best in an environment with supportive friends and teachers.


You must become your children's number one advocate. Whether or not your child is gifted, take the time to learn more about your child's strengths and challenges in order to get your child any services they need to help steer them to success. It is important for parents to understand what your child truly needs before developing an educational strategy for them.

One of the top private schools in Jacksonville, Hendricks Day School focuses on teaching your child how to think. Contact us for a tour of our school in Jacksonville: 904-720-0398.
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