Characteristics of Gifted Students
In preschool years, giftedness can be demonstrated by early physical development, early language development, and/or exceptional powers of observation and curiosity. While it is rare for a gifted child to exhibit all of the following characteristics, it is common for a gifted child to manifest many of them:
- Good problem-solving abilities
- Learns rapidly
- Extensive vocabulary
- Good memory
- Longer attention span
- Compassion for others
- Perfectionism
- High degree of energy
- Prefers older companions
- Wide range of interests (or narrow ones with intense focus)
- Interest in experimenting and doing things differently
- Unusual sense of humor
- Early or avid reader with greater comprehension ability with puzzles, mazes or numbers
- Seems mature for age at times
- Insatiable curiosity and persistence
- Intense concentration
- Perseverance in areas of interest
- May question authority
- Advanced sense of conscience, concern about the world
- Perceives abstract ideas, understands complex concepts
- Sees relationships
- May demonstrate intense emotional and/or physical sensitivity
- Exhibits creativity
