Gifted children demonstrate an early interest in language. They enjoy being read to until they learn to read for themselves, which frequently happens by age 4. At this age, a gifted child will likely be speaking in grammatically correct sentences and writing letters, numbers and easy words. A gifted child often has a larger and more complex vocabulary than other children his age and often seeks out adults or older children for conversation.
Young gifted children demonstrate superior mathematical ability when compared to peers. They often learn the numbers one through 10 by age 2 and can perform simple addition and subtraction by age 4. Many also develop an interest in puzzles and can assemble a 20-piece puzzle by age 3. With thinking skills that are advanced for her age, a gifted child understands more complex ideas and demonstrates extreme curiosity, asking many more why and how questions than other children her age.
Many gifted children demonstrate innate creativity and an excellent sense of visual-spatial relationships. They often have an active imagination coupled with sensitive feelings and enjoy the act of creative self-expression. A gifted child may reveal musical aptitude as early as age two. By age 4, he will likely be expressing himself creatively in the medium of his choice.
Finally, gifted children will have an advanced sense of self as compared to their peers. They recognize at a young age that they are different from other children they encounter. For example, gifted children have high expectations of themselves and others and are likely to be perfectionists with regard to their own work. In a young child, this may manifest as crumpling a drawing that didn't turn out as planned or practicing a challenging skill until it's mastered.