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Who are highly capable preschoolers? You may find that your highly capable preschooler acts: four years old when playing catch, seven years old when reading, ten when putting a puzzle together, fifteen when thinking about what is fair, and two when it's time to put away toys. More than fifty years of research about intellectually gifted preschoolers has produced lists of characteristics many of these children share, summarized below. Few children will have all of these characteristics. Very bright children often develop at different paces in different skill areas, rarely showing high ability in all areas of growth. Delays in any of these areas do not preclude giftedness; for example, Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four, and did not begin reading until he was seven. Early abilities in gifted children younger than age three may include: Unusual alertness and activity Unusual alertness and activity Needing less sleep during infancy than average babies Intense reactions to sensory input Needing seemingly constant stimulation and interaction, and Early developmental skills, speech and/or reading.
High-ability preschoolers may: Have an excellent memory, and an ability to learn quickly Have an advanced vocabulary and use of language, and an early interest in reading Be intensely curious and observant Have a vivid imagination (for example, having highly developed imaginary friends) Be creative, original, and happy to challenge conventions Solve problems in unique ways Have a long attention span for self-directed activities Enjoy complex tasks, puzzles, mazes and games Have a mature sense of humor Enjoy independent play, explorations, and experiments Prefer friends who are older Display emotional intensity, and strong reactions to frustration, and Be sensitive, compassionate, and concerned with justice.
Young potentially gifted children come from all populations: all ethnic groups, all socio-economic groups, all religious groups, either gender, from native-born and immigrant families, from English-speaking and other language families, and from all family structures. They may have parents who are highly educated or who had little schooling, and have siblings who are gifted or non-gifted. Young high-ability learners can have physical handicaps, developmental delays, and learning disabilities in addition to their intellectual gifts. At Bellevue Discovery Preschool, we do not require I.Q. testing for admission because it is not always reliable for children under the age of four. Applicants to Bellevue Discovery are admitted based on their parents' observations as related in a Parent Questionnaire, and our teachers' observations during a parent-child visit, along with informal assessment activities. An offer of enrollment at Bellevue Discovery Preschool is not intended to identify giftedness.
Why is a preschool for highly capable children needed? "There is no single program that will be equally beneficial to every child identified as gifted." - Gifted Young Children According to the authors of Young Gifted Children, the benefits of special preschool programs for young gifted learners include: Having experienced teachers who can identify and support the individual education needs of gifted preschoolers, and can document their abilities, Providing opportunities for parents to meet each other and share the experience of raising intellectually advanced preschoolers, Allowing highly capable children time to work and play together, and to make friends with others who share their abilities and interests, and, Helping young gifted children develop joy in learning and going to school because their first classroom experience nurtures their unique abilities.
Intellectual needs of young gifted children "I remember being bored in preschool. I remember having to do what all the other kids were doing, even if I already knew how to do it." - A gifted fifth grader Children with high cognitive abilities are able to move beyond traditional preschool programs. They can: Make leaps in reasoning, taking them far beyond the linear, step-by-step approach to learning needed by most three and four year olds Delve more deeply into subjects Work on projects for longer periods of time Learn with less repitition Enjoy more complex problems and activities Quickly master the content of traditional preschools Create work that is meaningful to them when allowed to pursue their own interests, and Enjoy books, games, and activities designed for older children.
At Bellevue Discovery Preschool, we provide materials, games, activities, books, and project opportunities at levels ranging from regular preschool (concrete thinking, pre-reading, experiential, focused on basic learning such as colors, numbers, letters, and shapes) to intermediate learning (abstract thinking, able to read for pleasure and information, experiential, focused on higher-level thinking). Social needs of young gifted children "Authorities agree that gifted, talented, and creative children are stimulating to each other." - Teaching Gifted Children Bright preschoolers need the companionship and acceptance of peers who share their advanced vocabulary, reasoning skills, and unique interests. They need a place to fit in and relate to intellectual peers, in addition to enjoying out-of-school playtimes and activities with friends of all ages and abilities. Bellevue Discovery Preschool purposefully hosts a half-day program, allowing important time for family, friends, activities, and independent play after school. Emotional needs of young gifted children High ability preschoolers need to be allowed to be children. They also need to move at their own pace, and not be held back by conventional ideas of what three and four year olds are able to think and do. Without that freedom, these children can feel frustrated, and might either act out or conform to lower-ability expectations. Highly capable children are often emotionally intense and refreshingly nonconformist, challenging the status quo. They need teachers who enjoy their original views and imaginative activities (which often involve making messes), teachers who encourage them to "march to a different drummer." Physical needs of young gifted children "She never once lay in her crib gazing at the sunlight on the wall like the parenting books say - if she was awake, she had to be moving." - Mother of a gifted child, remembering the baby years Many lists of characteristics of gifted children mention their energy, high activity levels, and need to physically explore their environment. Not all gifted children are more energetic than average children, however, all preschoolers, no matter how bright they are, need to be physically active while they are learning. Enforced seatwork is not appropriate for this age group: children need to be free to move around, fidget, twirl and jump during class time, as well as to practice their large movement skills during organized physical activities (outdoors, as weather permits). In addition, although these children are highly capable, they do not yet have the drawing and printing skills needed to produce the work their minds can create. Our program provides daily opportunities to work on fine motor skills through writing, art, and play activities. We also encourage children to use the teachers as "tools" to write things down for them, reach things, or use equipment as directed by the child to help create what he or she is imagining.
Recommended Reading Young Gifted Children Bringing Out the Best: A Guide for Parents of Young Gifted Children by J. Saunders and P. Espeland The Gifted Kids' Survival Guide: For Ages 10 and Under by J. Galbraith Your Gifted Child: How to Recognize and Develop the Special Talents in Your Child from Birth to Age Seven by J.F. Smutney, K. Veenker, and S. Veenker Gifted Children of All Ages Being Smart About Gifted Children: A Guidebook for Parents and Educators by D.J. Matthews and J.F. Foster A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children by J.T. Webb, J.L. Gore, E.R. Amend, and A.R. DeVries Parents' Guide to Raising a Gifted Child: Recognizing and Developing Your Child's Potential by J. Alvino Smart Boys: Talent, Manhood, and the Search for Meaning by B.A. Kerr Smart Girls: A New Psychology of Girls, Women, and Giftedness by B.A. Kerr The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids: How to Understand, Live With, and Stick Up for Your Gifted Child by S.Y. Walker
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