Who are the gifted children?

Gifted children have exceptional ability in one or more of these areas:

•     intellectual capacity,
•     academic achievement in a specific subject,
•     talent for the visual arts or performing arts,
•     creative thinking,
•     athletic talent or physical
•     leadership and social skills.

Several school boards believe that children possess exceptional intellectual abilities when their scores on intelligence tests is standard in the top 2% to 5% of the population.
How to identify gifted children

Young children are often seen by family, friends or teachers as exceptional learners. The school or parents can then pass standard psychological tests to determine the child's IQ, and other indicators of its ability. We know already that gifted children are able to learn earlier and faster than other children the same age group.

How do I know if my child is gifted?

Some of the features desired by parents and teachers to identify gifted children:

•     exceptional creativity,
•     academic excellence in one or more subjects,
•     exceptional ability for leadership,
•     maturity,
•     ability for independent learning.

Why get tested potentially gifted children?

Children must pass tests in order to be eligible for some special programs for gifted children offered in public schools. These programs usually begin in Grade 4. Some private schools offer programs for gifted children in the first year. They require that children be assessed in order to accept these programs. Some parents believe their child is very intelligent, but his poor academic performances are due to the boredom caused by the lack of intellectual stimulation. Independent psychological evaluation can determine whether the child has the talent to continue learning at a more advanced level. If the child gets results below potential, the assessment may explain the cause and suggest measures that can take the school to remedy the situation.