Gifted children are children whose abilities, talents and potentials are so outstanding that they set the child apart from his or her peers. Giftedness is generally considered to mean an IQ of 130 or above, along with high performance in any one of five areas: general intellectual ability, specific academic excellence (at math, for example), creative thinking (looking at questions and answers in a unique way), leadership ability, or artistic (including musical) ability.

Gifted children are sometimes first identified when they excel in school, but most parents of gifted children suspect giftedness in their child before the child enters school. How can you tell if your child is gifted? What are the early signs? Consider the possibility of giftedness in your child if her or she exhibits the following traits:

Walks and talks at an early age

Has an exceptional memory

Has a long attention span

Is persistently curious

Expresses himself well for his age

Shows an early interest in, or understanding of, concepts (time, sharing, etc.) or logic

Learns to read before entering school

Few children will exhibit all of these traits at once, and some gifted children even appear to be "slow starters," but later go on to catch up and excel. Albert Einstein was four before he talked and seven before he could read.

If you suspect your child is gifted, what should you do? Testing done early on, before a child enters school is usually not as reliable as later testing. If you're impressed with your child's performance and wish to help him or her reach their full potential, simply offer a loving, stable environment, encouragement, and opportunities to learn. Give a very young child as much freedom of movement as is safely possible. Introduce the child to books by reading to them every day, and listening to them.

Gifted children talk, talk, talkand ask endless questions! So answer your childs questions, and provide your child with as many outside experiences and activities as possible. Before school age, a gifted child is less interested in specific information than they are in simply learning about the world and figuring out how it works. Make your childs world as rich and varied as possible. Finally, support your child. A gifted child, perhaps more than many other children, needs support and reassurance that they are loved and accepted just the way they are for being themselves, not for being gifted.