You may have a Tiger Woods, Dakota Fanning, or Evgeny Kissin in your family, but chances are, without knowing it, and without nurturing his or her talent, your gifted child will turn out to be just… ordinary. Brain development is a dynamic process. Your kid’s intellectual growth either progresses or regresses, it doesn’t stand still. Some kids have unique intellectual skills that, when developed, will enable him to do astonishing feats and achievements. If a child’s intellectual gifts are ignored, they stay undeveloped, and eventually disappear. Indeed, a gifted child has more to lose than an ordinary child if the gifted child’s talents remain unused.
First of all, how do you know that your child is gifted?
The best way is to observe his behavior. You know your child is gifted if he is showing different and advanced behavior from other kids of the same age. Some kids even show their giftedness from the age of one!
Giftedness can be divided into six general categories. If your kid shows characteristics from any of these categories, then he or she may be gifted!
Gifted with Intelligence
Very fast in understanding ideas and concepts.
Unusually fast in seeing relationships and patterns in objects and ideas.
Likes to be precise and perfect, thus likes to correct errors and argues a lot. .
High degree of ability to think abstractly and in metaphors and symbols at an early age.
Appreciates complexity, and has the ability to see many sides to an issue or problem.
Fast learner, usually in great leaps.
Very good memory.
Very persistent in solving hard problems and have long concentration span.
A fascination with ideas and words, advanced vocabulary and development of language.
Advanced visual and motor skills.
Unique way of interpreting events.
Very observant and has great attention to details.
Unusual and early insight into social and moral issues.
Easily understand ideas and how other people think and feel.
Very high energy level.
Above average ability with numbers/jigsaw puzzles
Vivid imagination
Early/avid reader, and loves reading
Preference for older/matured companions
Has wide variety of interests
Very creative, inventive and does new ways of expression and doing things
Quickly and accurately answers questions
Very entrepreneurial and makes money from his own efforts
Very resourceful and solves problems ingeniously
Comfortable with complex ideas
Gets good grades in most subjects
Asks provocative questions
A good guesser
Gifted in specific areas:
shows characteristics of one with general intellectual ability but concentrated around one or a few fields (science, music, math, literature)
has a long attention span in the area of interest
learns rapidly, easily and with less repetition in the area of interest
spends more time beyond assignments and homework on the subject of interest
able to judge other’s abilities in the area of interest
seeks the help of others in extending his skill and knowledge in the area of interest.
Gifted in creativity
makes unusual associations between different ideas
thinks about and solves problems in unusual and sometimes “silly” ways
comes up with many solutions to problems
can think through ambiguities and inconsistencies
readily guesses and makes hypotheses
is intellectually playful, interested in fantasy, imagination
always trying to adapt or improve things
very good sense of humor
doesn't mind being different, even if his peers look at him as weird or crazy
a radical thinker, doesn’t readily accept what is told to him by authority but challenges everything
gets bored with memorization and recitation
displays energy, sometimes disruptively
exhibits high degree of concentration and hard work on creative projects.
Gifted in Leadership
can get others to act
organizes others based on their skills, personalities and abilities
interacts with others easily showing social skills
can communicate ideas, goals, and directions clearly to a group
understands how people feel and how groups function
naturally exercises authority reliably and responsibly
coordinates and supports the work of others
is looked to by others for ideas, suggestions, and decisions
Gifted in sports and physical activities
has a suitable body build
is coordinated, balanced and confident in physical activities
full of energy
is able to bridge his physical abilities and intellect
shows endurance, stamina and persistence in physical activities
demonstrates prowess in physical activities common amongst age peers
Gifted in visual and performing arts
Music
has good sense of rhythm
has an unusual liking for music and musical activities
shows tonal memory
responds readily to rhythm, melody and harmony
shows interest in musical instruments
makes up original tunes
enjoys dance and dramatic activities with musical elements
Dramatics
interested in and enjoys drama
uses voice to reflect changes in mood
effectively communicates feelings by means of facial expressions, gestures and bodily movements
enjoys evoking emotional responses from listeners
can understand and act out other people’s or even an animal’s feelings and personalities
Art
loves drawing and draws very well
treats art seriously and enjoys it
shows originality in his work
uses art to express feelings and experiences
is interested in other people's art, both appreciating it and criticizing it
likes to model three dimensionally with clay, soap carving, plasticine etc
Literature
writes in a journal, diary, blog or self-crafted book
loves to read and writes by imitating what he reads
loves stories from books, T. V. and other media, and loves to make up stories
has a vivid imagination and can express it in written words
can evoke feelings from other people with his writing
If your kid exhibit these traits, then congratulations! Your kid has the potential to accomplish wonderful things which will make you proud when he brings home awards, high grades, scholarships and even money! But as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. For your kid’s giftedness to blossom, you have to nurture it. And sometimes doing this is not easy -raising a gifted child requires a lot of your time, effort, dedication, and resources.
All Ages 
