When most people hear the word gifted they think smart, good at school, successful. Of course a main component of being gifted is intelligence, but that’s just one slice of the pie. Below is a list of common characteristics of giftedness that aren’t commonly known; no one has all of them (thankfully) but there are usually groupings of like-characteristics (such as advanced vocabulary with reading at an early age, along with heightened curiosity).
How many do you/your child have?
- Walked OR talked at an early age
- Has an advanced vocabulary
- Read at an early age
- Demonstrates a great appetite for books and reading
- Entertains self for large blocks of time
- Has good recall
- Consistently organizes, sorts, classifies, and groups things, and names them
- Heightened curiosity (asks “Why” often)
- Fantasizes often
- Shows sensitivity to other people’s feelings and empathy in response to their troubles
- Demonstrates leadership abilities
- Exhibits perfectionism
- Resists change
- Likes to discuss abstract concepts (such as love, justice, etc.)
- Has a high energy, need less sleep than age-mates
- Learns new material rapidly
- Often prefers to work or play alone
- Loves puzzles, mazes, building blocks, and toys that challenge
- Has an advanced sense of humor
- Prefers the company of older children or adults
- Is highly creative, imaginative
- Is a keen observer
- Expresses unusual sensitivity to what they see, hear, touch, smell, or feel
- Expresses concern for the world’s problems
Zebras Not Horses 
How much does age play a factor? For example, things like independence manifest itself later? (
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Not usually – for independence, gifted toddlers are fine being on their own for ‘long’ periods of time when compared to their age-peers. It’s all in relation to what neurotypical kids are doing vs what they’re doing.
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