Gifted is, in many ways, a relative term as it pertains to the qualities a child may or may not possess. In fact, there is not a standard definition of gifted that is accepted by every country, state, or organization. The Federal definition, as part of the No Child Left Behind Act, reads: “The term ‘gifted and talented,” when used with respect to students, children, or youth, means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in such areas as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.”
The National Association for Gifted Children is a bit more specific and defines it as such: “Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains. Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system (e.g., mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills (e.g., painting, dance, sports).”
Regardless of the specific language used to define gifted, there are 5 predominant domains or areas in which a child can be labeled as gifted, listed below in no particular order.
- Intellectual. Children determined to be intellectually gifted have an uncommon aptitude for learning and absorbing information. Their specific academic abilities may vary but most will score above average in all tested subjects. A student who excels in mathematics will understand math concepts and formulas easily but will also most likely grasp scientific subject matter quickly as well. Virtually all gifted students are exceptional readers who are able to read quickly and comprehend well.
- Music. Musically gifted children are able to hear melodies and recreate them, understand harmonies and chords without much instruction, and can often play instruments by ear. With minimal instruction, musically gifted individuals can master several different instruments and may even being to compose original scores. Additionally, the ability to read and understand rhythm and timing can be applied to mathematical concepts while a discerning ear can assist in learning new languages.
- Creative Arts. A creatively gifted child will be drawn to artistic endeavors and will generally prefer to learn visually. The ability to understand spatial relations and recreate pictures after seeing them or hearing them described are hallmarks of a creatively gifted child. The medium of creative expression may be different, from painting to sculpting to architectural drawings, but the basis of the artistic gift is the same.
- Language. To be gifted in the language domain does not necessarily mean the child is able to speak or understand several languages fluently. It can simply mean that a child is exceptionally talented in using language as a form of expression. Reading, writing, vocabulary, and advanced verbal skills in very young children can signify a child a gifted in language.
- Movement. Children gifted in the movement domain are often overlooked or underestimated…until they become professional athletes. A child who is gifted in movement will pick up dance moves quickly, understand sports concepts easily and will often be described as “graceful.” Whether it is artistic expression or competitive action, hard work is necessary but some children are simply gifted with kinesthetic awareness and the ability to move their bodies.
Gifted children are almost always gifted in more than one domain; they are all interrelated and equally important. There are many resources available for educating a gifted child but perhaps the most important is to foster the gift without stifling the child.
Mimi Rothschild is a veteran homeschooling mother of 8, writer of a series of books called Cyberspace for Kids, and passionate advocate for children and education that is truly worthy of them. In 2001, Mimi and her late husband founded Learning By Grace, a leading provider of online Christian homeschooling Academies.