Characteristics of Gifted Children
Linda K. Silverman
Director, Gifted Development Center
1452 Marion Street, Denver, CO 80218
http://www.gifteddevelopment.com
Gifted and Talented children exhibit many varied traits. According to Dr. Linda
Silverman's ``Characteristics of the Gifted,'' these are some of the more important
observable traits of the gifted child. (This list is used with her permission.)
| Has a unique learning style | Often grapples with complex moral issues |
| (often visual-spatial) | Has a large vocabulary; loves words |
| Learns rapidly | Is often a perfectionist |
| Is developmentally advanced | Has a highly developed sense of humor |
| Is very curious; asks complex questions | Often sees many solutions to a problem |
| Gives complicated, detailed explanations | Has a long attention span |
| Is quick to grasp relationships | Tends to be intense |
| Organizes information in new ways | Highly sensitive |
| Often has varied interests | May be very energetic |
| Has more abstract thought processes | May have a strong fear of failure |
| Sees ambiguity in "factual" information | Often prefers older companions |
| Usually has a good memory | Is asynchronous (develops unevenly) |
| Often enjoys working independently | Is committed to areas of interest |
Areas of Need for the Gifted
It's not always easy to be gifted. The following is a list of general concerns of the gifted. Few children will display all of the problems on the following list; however, parents may recognize several that apply to their child.
| Confusion about meaning of giftedness | Feeling inadequate |
| Feeling different | Perfectionism |
| Heightened sensitivity and intensity | Difficulty in forming relationships |
| Trying to be "normal" | Intolerance of others |
| Problems with making career choices | Difficulty in dealing with stress |
| Disorganized | Unfocused |
| Need to understand own introversion | Difficulty with others' expectations |
| Difficulty with hostility of others toward abilities | Insufficient challenge in school |
| Hidden handicaps | Underachievement |
| Moral concerns (related to intellectual abilities) | Depression (often masked as boredom) |
| Feeling responsible for others | Excessive competitiveness |
| Uneven development | Lack of true peers |
[It appears that many gifted children exhibit the characteristics of TMA's defined by Hank Pfeffer in the preceding article. --KL]