Do you wonder "Is my child gifted"... 

You are not alone. Signs of a gifted child can appear as early as birth! Don't believe it? Check out the list below for early signs of giftedness by age.

Early Signs of Giftedness

Note: Gifted children typically do not display all of the signs below, but rather several signs in different areas or extremely strong abilities in a few areas. 

Characteristics among infants-24 months

• • • Unusual alertness, even in infancy

    • Reaches developmental milestones well ahead of peers.

    • Extremely alert or always looking around

    • Needs less sleep than most other babies

    • Needs almost constant stimulation when awake

    • May begin to mimic sounds earlier than other babies

    •  Tend to be exceptionally sensitive to sounds, smells, textures, tastes; may display crankiness or crying when in the presence of those they dislike

    • High need for mental stimulation and/or gets bored easily and can be considered quite cranky, fussy or agitated when not engaged

    • Unusually large vocabulary and complex sentence structure for age i.e. ability to speak in sentences much earlier than children of the same age

Characteristics 24 months and up

• • Rapid learner; puts thoughts together quickly

  • Excellent memory

  • Continues to reach developmental milestones well ahead of peers

  • High need for mental stimulation

  • Unusually large vocabulary and complex sentence structure for age

  • Advanced comprehension of word nuances, metaphors and abstract ideas

  • Enjoys solving problems, especially with numbers and puzzles

  • Often self-taught reading and writing skills as preschooler

  • Deep, intense feelings and reactions

  • Thinking is abstract, complex, logical, and insightful

  • Idealism and sense of justice at early age

  • Longer attention span and intense concentration

  • Preoccupied with own thoughts—daydreamer

  • Learn basic skills quickly and with little practice

  • Asks probing questions

  • Wide range of interests (or extreme focus in one area)

  • Highly developed curiosity

  • Interest in experimenting and doing things differently

  • Puts idea or things together that are not typical

  • Keen and/or unusual sense of humor

  • Desire to organize people/things through games or complex schemas

  • Vivid imaginations (and imaginary playmates when in preschool)

  • Has a specific talent, such as artistic ability or an unusual ease with numbers

  • Ability to memorize facts/recall obscure information learned from TV shows, movies, or books easily

Sources:

Webb, J., Gore, J., Amend, E., DeVries, A. (2007). A parent's guide to gifted children. Tucson, AZ:  Great Potential Press, www.greatpotentialpress.com.

Mather, E. "Novelty, attention, and challenges for developmental psychology." Front Psychol. 2013; 4:491. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00491.

Steiner, H. and Carr, M. "Cognitive Development in Gifted Children: Toward a More Precise Understanding of Emerging Differences in Intelligence." Edu Psychol Rev. 2003; 15:215-46. DOI: 10.1023/A:1024636317011.

Article By Carol Bainbridge, How to Tell If You Have a Gifted Baby; https://www.verywellfamily.com/signs-of-giftedness-in-infants-1449376