Gifted Characteristics

These behaviors, abilities, and tendencies can be signs of giftedness in pre-primary and primary students:

• Expresses curiosity about many things
• Asks thoughtful and complex questions
• Has an extensive vocabulary and uses complex sentence structure
• Demonstrates abstract thought processes; thrives on complexity
• May be very intense or sensitive; shows strong feelings or opinions
• Is able to express herself / himself well
• Solves problems or organizes information in unique ways
• May be highly energetic
• Has an unusually good memory
• May exhibit unusual talent in art, music, or drama
• Has a unusually strong moral sense
• May be natural leaders
• Uses previously learned data in new contexts
• Quick to grasp relationships; draws inferences
• May see many solutions to a problem
• Is well able to order things in logical sequence
• Discusses and elaborates on ideas; gives complicated/detailed explanations
• Is a fast learner
• May be developmentally advanced
• May see ambiguity in factual information
• Works independently and uses initiative
• May prefer the company of older children and adults
• Exhibits a highly developed sense of humor
• May be perfectionistic, highly self-critical; likes to be the best in everything
• May have varied interests
• Has a sustained attention span; shows willingness to persist on challenging tasks (particularly in their area of interest)
• Is very observant
• Shows talent in making up and telling stories