[jules17]

Before I start, I don't want to look like one of "those Moms" who thinks their children are all geniuses. LOL

But we talk about Sam and wonder if he is gifted. His memory blows my mind...completely. A few examples:

1. We took him to a pirate movie last summer. We had been nowhere near the theater since (at least 6 months) and when we drove past, he said, "Mommy, pirate movie!!"

2. We took him to a church for the 4th of July. He calls fireworks "pop pops." We happened to drive by that church (for the first time since) last Sunday and he said, "Mommy, that's where we saw the pop pops!!"

3. When he was about 18 months old last Christmas, he was really into the Polar Express. We put it away after Christmas and didn't talk about it again. When we got it out a few weeks ago, he saw the box and said, "Ohh, the train...and the TICKET!" and on and on...

He never forgets ANYTHING. Never. And he has always been like that. His attention span is at least 2 hours and he is 2.5. He is able to extrapolate from a situation and draw logical conclusions. He totally blows my mind sometimes!!

How do you know if your child is possibly gifted? (I know I could look on the Internet, but hoping for personal stories/examples.)

On a side note, my parents had my sister and I tested for being gifted very early...and I hated it and the labels...felt like a weirdo or "different"...so I am treading very cautiously here.

Thanks!

[joskids]

Jules, describing your son's memory like you do, I'd have to assume he's, at least, very, very bright. My oldest son was the same way and today, as an adult, is very bright and has two gifted sons of his own.

On that note -- I think our baby girl is gifted . . . gifted at driving mom to the nut house!!!!!

[jules17]

Originally Posted by joskids

Jules, describing your son's memory like you do, I'd have to assume he's, at least, very, very bright. My oldest son was the same way and today, as an adult, is very bright and has two gifted sons of his own.

On that note -- I think our baby girl is gifted . . . gifted at driving mom to the nut house!!!!!

Thanks, Jos...it has been pretty apparent since he was really small, but we were first time parents so had nothing to compare anything to. And I am very anti "labels" and putting people in boxes...but at the same time, want to nurture him too...in a FUN way. No pressure.

Awww on your baby girl!!

[makarios79]

My sons are both the same way about remembering things. They also NEVER forget things. They are very much like your Sam about remembering stuff that you wouldn't think someone so young could remember.

I just had my oldest son tested developmentally (it wasn't a "gifted" test per se) and he was about average for his age.

I am having my youngest son tested in March. He has always been advanced in just about every area.

I think the only way you can know for sure is to have him tested.

I tested gifted in elementary school, but there were many signs before then...ie. I could read and write by age 3. I went to K at age 4.

Originally Posted by jules17

Before I start, I don't want to look like one of "those Moms" who thinks their children are all geniuses. LOL

But we talk about Sam and wonder if he is gifted. His memory blows my mind...completely. A few examples:

1. We took him to a pirate movie last summer. We had been nowhere near the theater since (at least 6 months) and when we drove past, he said, "Mommy, pirate movie!!"

2. We took him to a church for the 4th of July. He calls fireworks "pop pops." We happened to drive by that church (for the first time since) last Sunday and he said, "Mommy, that's where we saw the pop pops!!"

3. When he was about 18 months old last Christmas, he was really into the Polar Express. We put it away after Christmas and didn't talk about it again. When we got it out a few weeks ago, he saw the box and said, "Ohh, the train...and the TICKET!" and on and on...

He never forgets ANYTHING. Never. And he has always been like that. His attention span is at least 2 hours and he is 2.5. He is able to extrapolate from a situation and draw logical conclusions. He totally blows my mind sometimes!!

How do you know if your child is possibly gifted? (I know I could look on the Internet, but hoping for personal stories/examples.)

On a side note, my parents had my sister and I tested for being gifted very early...and I hated it and the labels...felt like a weirdo or "different"...so I am treading very cautiously here.

Thanks!

[Saya]

Anabel also has a phenomenal memory that is always blowing us away. Like when she said she wanted to read the book "with the tiger" and DH and I had no idea what she was talking about, and she kept on insisting "the book with the tiger!!!" And we said there was no such book. And she sighed and went to the shelf and picked out a book we used to read to her when she was younger - at least 6 months ago, maybe more like 9. And we said "there's no tiger in there honey." And she opened it up - and she was absolutely right, there was a tiger.

She does stuff like that ALL THE TIME. It's amazing, and we know now to ALWAYS trust her memory.

Her attention span though is still pure toddler - short short short. . .

[angelkisses0102]

My DD (now 7) was like that at that age. She is indeed gifted...and ADHD...a common combo that can be maddening at times. She is in a program at our public school that keeps her stimulated. It is a true multiage classroom setting and she is doing well. She is in a 2/3 grade classroom and once she completes this...after next year (currently she is in the 2nd grade portion of the class...somewhat confusing if you don't know what a multiage classroom is) she will most likely join most of her classmates in the multiage group and end up in the gifted program for 4th grade. Or not...as long as she is stimulated and doing well I don't care where she is or what she is called.

In our school district you must test at a 130+ IQ to be considered gifted and they typically do not test until the kids are a little older. One item of note...in our school gifted students are considered part of the 'special needs' program and I agree completely.

I too was 'gifted' in school and hated it.

Good luck...bright kids are tough! I have a 'special needs' DS and I think he is actually easier to educate than my 'gifted' and ADHD DD.

[jules17]

Originally Posted by makarios79

I think the only way you can know for sure is to have him tested.

Thanks for your insights. I think you are right too, about the testing. My mom has her Ph.D. in Education and does the testing...but I won't let her on Sam!! Ever.

I still have major issues with it from my childhood. Like you, I was reading at 3. So by the time I started K, I was reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books. My classmates looked at me like I was such a weirdo. And then I would go to 2nd grade for a lot of classes...etc. It was all too much and I remember being stressed out in 1st grade...and wanting to fail so the madness would stop.

[JGarrick]

Originally Posted by jules17

But we talk about Sam and wonder if he is gifted.

....

On a side note, my parents had my sister and I tested for being gifted very early...and I hated it and the labels...felt like a weirdo or "different"...so I am treading very cautiously here.

My twins were a lot like what you describe. They're both very bright and remember the most astonishing things.

Gifted? I don't know. It's a loaded word.

I think I agree to some extent with your feelings about being labeled as such. I was WAY ahead of most of my classmates through most of my schooling, and often felt like a stranger in a strange land. I was frequently far enough ahead of my classmates that I was bored and frustrated being taught in the same room.

Angelkisses0102 said that kids who test with an IQ over 130 are treated as special needs in their schools. That's a great idea. 130 is approaching the "genius" threshold of 140. Fewer than 5% of people test above 130 and only 1/4 of 1% of people test above 140. Their minds are working on a whole different plane from the average person. It takes a lot more challenge them and keep them interested.

[sadiegirl]

ITA with PP's...gifted, maybe but more than likely bright.

My DS (who's 3.5) is the same way. Remembers things from ages ago and something he experienced once. It freaks me out honestly b/c I DON'T have a very good memory!

I also joke that when he's 16, he'll probably remember that we promised him the car for the night 6 months prior. KWIM?

Also, ITA that if he were truly gifted, he'd probably be reading by now? So if you're concerned, I'd say, have him tested at the 1st chance you are able...

[Stormster]

I think E is athletically gifted. He's just so coordinated, his hand eye, the way he catches himself when he falls, his pincher grasp was developed super early as was his midline coordination. Since our town has a State Championship Football team I'm hoping to groom him for a scholarship!

Who needs brains???? (J/K)

[jules17]

Originally Posted by sadiegirl

Also, ITA that if he were truly gifted, he'd probably be reading by now? So if you're concerned, I'd say, have him tested at the 1st chance you are able...

That's not really how it works. You can't point to one thing (reading) and say if he is gifted, he would be by now.

I am not saying he IS...I know he is a super bright boy, but I was really looking for parents to share their similar stories. I did go look at some of the "gifted" criteria and it said they should probably fit at least 3/4 of the criteria...and he did.

Again, not saying my child is gifted. Just wondering...and not because it makes him any more special (that's impossible) but so we can give him what he needs to thrive...just as we will do for any of our children.

[JPDakota]

You know, the whole gifted thing is so loaded. DD is extremely bright, especially when it comes to communicating well. It is delightful to watch! She can read some words, but not a lot of them. She completely gets basic addition and subtraction. She's very good at construction/assembly and puzzles. She has a phenomenal memory (except when it comes to certain chores). But again, I would say she is very bright at 3 years old, not gifted in the academic sense. I was designated TAG (talented and gifted) as a child. It was not such a great thing for me.

[angelkisses0102]

Here's some more details on my DD...hope it helps.

DD has a very high verbal IQ...she was speaking in complete adult sentences by age 2...utterly amazing since she was 10 months old at adoption. She spoke her first English word the first morning she was home...I walked into her room and she said 'Hi'...clear as day...she hasn't shut up since LOL! To this day people are amazed to have conversations with her...and this will sound odd but she talks 'smarter' than she really is...hard to explain.

She read her first word (actually she memorized words before she was actually reading them) at age 2 years 3 months old. We had a hard time teaching her to read because of this however...we thought she was reading but she had just memorized a vast number of words before she started Kindy.

DD's fine motor skills have always been very advanced...even shocked the IA doctor when he examined her at 7 months old. She was always way ahead of the kids at pre-school and pre-K. Silly me was prepared for developmentally delayed baby...and ended up with one who was advanced...we had tons of toys she never played with.

Education wise...first off we never ever pushed her...just kept her busy. For example, even though she was/is typically the youngest in her classes (her b-day is just 3 weeks before the cut-off) the teacher (pre-school and pre-K) would give her a more difficult activity. Like when the other kids were learning to write their names...DD was writing the alphabet and simple words since she learned to do that...geez I forget but it was before age 3. We are very lucky our elementary school offers programs that keep all kids stimulated...plus it is a science and technology magnet school so her little mind stays busy. She also brings home a weekly science experiment and extra math that is beyond her current abilities...she loves the challenge of it.

We are very curious to see how school goes now that we have medicated her for her ADHD. It has been just one month and she has already jumped up a math and reading level.

Hope this helps...

[loveajax]

I have a really good friend who is a third grade teacher in a swanky school district. She says, "Every parent tells me their kid is gifted, but in fifteen years, I have yet to teach a truly gifted child!"

I don't think DD is "gifted" but my mother and MIL are convinced she is (basically because of her absolutely frightening memory for details of stuff from years ago...it's creepy almost (I know we talked about this, Sadie). She also has had this "uncanny" ability to recognize cause and effect from when she was little.

I personally think she is a bright little girl, but not "gifted!" I also would "steer" her away from that. I got that label in first grade...they wanted to double promote me to third grade and I couldn't tie my shoes!! My family still jokes that I was a "brainiac" but didn't know how to put an umbrella up in the rain. I honestly wish I had more common sense and athletic ability! I USED to have a photographic memory....man, that's dried up since I had DD!!!

Anyway, I think the question is: would you "do" anything differently now if you learned he was indeed gifted? I like that DD is just really still having a blast right now (of course, I don't think she would test "gifted" anyway...but if she did, I don't think I would be doing anything differently).

Good luck!!!

[jules17]

Originally Posted by loveajax

Anyway, I think the question is: would you "do" anything differently now if you learned he was indeed gifted?

No...not at all.

Just looking for input.