Excellent memory High alertness Large vocabulary for age High sensitivity Abstract thinking Strong curiosity Excellent problem solving Fast learner
Consider signing your child up for athletic activities, artistic activities, and intellectual activities. Suggest activities to your child, but if they refuse to go, you should reconsider the activity. While having your child sign up for many extracurricular activities is a good thing, make sure that your child is not over-committed and still has time to be a kid. Make sure your child plays with peers and friends of different cultural and socioeconomic levels. You never know when someone from a different background will introduce an activity that your child will excel at. [3] X Research source
Make a journal of interesting things your child does when at play. What characterizes your child’s play? Is she thoughtful and deliberate or is she dramatic and emotional? This could give you great insight into her abilities. Think about the subject relevance or career relevance of what your child is doing. If your child likes to sort her Legos by colors and plans her building down to the smallest detail, perhaps she has natural organizational abilities. Observe your child at different types of play. See how she plays with other children, too. [4] X Research source [5] X Research source
Ask your child what academic subjects she thinks she is best at as well as which she enjoys the most. Make sure you differentiate between enjoyment and talent. Ask your child if she thinks she’s good at any sports as well as which sports she enjoys the most. Ask your child if she thinks she is good at art and if she enjoys doing artistic things. Your child may not be able to articulate what she is good at. However, if she enjoys certain activities, this may point to a talent she is unaware of. [7] X Research source
Does your child like to design things, look at maps, draw or doodle? Your child might enjoy activities that enable them to create models or charts. Your child might have a budding career as an architect or graphic designer. [9] X Research source
They might enjoy leading or organizing efforts. See if your child is interested in extracurricular activities like Model United Nations or student government. Your child might have a career in sales, leadership, or politics in store for them. [10] X Research source
If your child demonstrates intrapersonal intelligence, they might be interested in self-directed learning, reading, and cause-and-effect analysis. Your child might be a gifted writer or thinker. Consider enrolling them in a creative writing program or encouraging them to start a collection. Try not to discourage your child’s self-directed activities. They might just be figuring out the world on their own terms. [11] X Research source
Does your child think in the abstract sense? Does your child like to explore the connections between things and people? Your child might like to experiment with things and solve problems. Your child might have a career as a scientist or mathematician in store. [12] X Research source
Does your child like to build things by hand, and can they use their hands with precision? Bodily-kinethetic thinkers communicate and learn well through physical activity. Children who have bodily-kinethetic intelligence might be good things where they can use their hands or physically build things. They might be great surgeons, mechanics, or sculptors. [13] X Research source
Children who are linguistic learners might like writing and reciting poetry, public speaking, or reading. Your child might be a budding politician or poet. Nurture linguistic learners by enrolling them in activities in which they write, read, or perform. [14] X Research source
Does your child demonstrate a fascination with music? Can your child play musical instruments with skill or sing with perfect pitch? Consider enrolling your child in music lessons or have them join chorus or band at school. [15] X Research source
If you choose to have your child take an IQ test, do so knowing that it is just one form of evaluation used to gauge natural abilities and talent. Know that IQ tests may not give you a full or accurate reading of your child’s abilities. It should be used in conjunction with other methods of evaluation to ascertain the full scope of your child’s abilities. Understand that IQ tests have been criticized as biased towards certain cultural and ethnic group, and should be given in the language that your child is most proficient in. [16] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source
Your child’s interest. Teacher ability. The timing and environment that the subject is introduced in. [18] X Research source
Schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher or caregiver. Ask them about your child’s interests and abilities. Ask them if they think there is a reason why your child excels in one area or does not excel in another. [19] X Research source
