8 characteristics of a highly gifted

Throughout my career, I had the opportunity to work for several years as a behavioral specialist. During that time, I supported 20 gifted children.

Because there is no single clear definition of what giftedness is and how to recognize it, I thought it would be interesting to explore this topic more deeply in this blog post, especially if you suspect that a child, or your own child, may be gifted.

Giftedness can be described as an exceptional intellectual capacity that goes beyond what is considered average. An IQ test is often used to assess this. A gifted child has an IQ of 130 or higher.

There are also several characteristics commonly associated with giftedness. Looking back, I noticed both similarities and differences among the children I worked with. Below, I will describe the main characteristics I observed.

1. Gifted children often have faster thinking processes and a high mental processing speed, allowing them to process and analyze information quickly. In the brains of gifted individuals, many cells are covered with myelin, a layer that supports faster information processing.

2. Gifted children are often very creative. They tend to have a rich imagination and a strong ability to come up with original ideas and solutions to problems.

3. Gifted children are often highly sensitive. They are usually very aware of their surroundings and have a strong sense of empathy.

4. Gifted children often have a strong desire for independence. They may have a strong need for autonomy and often can, and want to, work and learn independently.

5. Gifted children often have intense or specific interests. They may become deeply interested in one subject or several subjects.

6. Gifted children are often perfectionistic. They tend to set high standards for themselves and strive for excellence.

7. Gifted children are critical thinkers. They often have strong analytical skills and are able to understand and explore complex problems. They also tend to ask deep questions and expect well-supported answers.

8. Gifted children are often very driven. They usually have a strong motivation to learn and perform well, and they set high goals for themselves.

These are the 8 characteristics that stood out to me the most. Again, it is important to note that giftedness can express itself in different ways, and not every gifted child will show all of these traits. Some of these characteristics can also appear in people who are not considered gifted.

That is why an IQ test can be an important indicator in determining whether a child is gifted.

If you would like to read more about what happens in the brain of a gifted person, click here.