Navigating your child’s education is one of the most important things you will do as a parent. There are so many choices you must make that could impact them for the rest of their lives. One of the best pieces of news a parent can receive during their child’s educational journey, is that they’ve been identified as a gifted and talented student. This designation could open a whole new set of doors for them. Many parents don’t notice the signs that indicate their children might be gifted, but there are a few everyday interactions that might give you a hint. Here are some tell-tale clues that your child could be a candidate for a gifted and talented education. 

  1. They seem wise beyond their years. Have you ever been interacting with your kid and they say something or make an observation that seems like it’s way beyond their years? Gifted children tend to start hitting milestones before other kids their age. They may have start walking and talking faster than you were ready for. If your child has a keen understanding of things- whether statistics and historical dates or emotions and social cue, they could be gifted. In fact, emotional intelligence is just as telling as being advanced at academics. If your child is the kind of kid who would start a fundraiser for someone in need, or donate their old toys without being asked, they may be showing signs of emotional giftedness. Another tell-tale sign is a child who asks a lot of questions. Basically, if your kid’s brain seems to be working overtime, it probably is.
  2. Your child likes to be alone or spends time with older people. One surefire sign that your kid might be gifted is if they like to spend time on intellectual pursuits by themselves. This could manifest itself at an early age through being a voracious reader or being particularly good at puzzles. They also might seek out the attention of older children or try to integrate themselves in discussions with adults. This behavior could be construed as alarming, but it often is not. It is a sign that your child isn’t finding kids their own age stimulating enough. This often stems from them being intellectually ahead of children their own age. If your child is exhibiting these kinds of behaviors, maybe it’s time you investigated a gifted and talented education. 
  3. They are laser-focused on specific things. Not every gifted child is gifted in all areas. Some are extremely advanced when it comes to academics, while others may shine in the arts. Others still may be socially or emotionally gifted and exhibit extraordinary leadership skills. Whatever their predisposition, odds are they will be homed in on that area above all else. They may even seem a little “obsessed.” If your child is someone who secretly reads under their covers well past lights out, or who can recite the periodic table of elements by heart or spends their weekends learning how to play every Taylor Swift song on the piano, it might be time to research your options for getting them a gifted school programs chicago