Is my child gifted? What you should know (and ask yourself)

Recognising giftedness in children can be surprisingly tricky. Many parents picture gifted kids as straight A students or early readers who breeze through school, but giftedness takes many forms – and it doesn’t always show up on a report card. Some gifted children may struggle with boredom, social issues, or even behavioural challenges in a typical classroom setting. Others might blend in so well that their exceptional abilities go unnoticed entirely!

Schools and parents sometimes rely on IQ tests, achievement scores and teacher referrals to identify gifted students in primary school. But IQ tests are imperfect, and many teachers receive little to no training in gifted education. That’s why parents’ insights are so crucial. You know your child best, and early signs of giftedness can often be spotted long before formal testing begins.

Gifted children may show advanced language development, strong memory, deep curiosity, or intense focus on specific interests. They may also exhibit unusual emotional sensitivity, leadership skills, or creative problem-solving abilities.

But not all gifted kids look alike. Some may have hidden gifts that are masked by learning differences, anxiety, or perfectionism.

Being informed and observant allows you, as a parent, to better advocate for your child’s needs and ensure they have access to the right challenges and supports.

Questions Parents Can Ask Themselves to Explore Giftedness

1. Does my child learn new things quickly and with little instruction?
2. Do they ask deep or unusually insightful questions for their age?
3. Have they shown early development in language, reading, or memory?
4. Do they focus intensely on particular interests or hobbies?
5. Are they emotionally intense or highly sensitive to others’ feelings?
6. Do they prefer the company of older children or adults?
7. Do teachers, family members, or other adults often comment on their abilities or behaviours?
8. Do they get bored, frustrated, or act out when not intellectually challenged?
9. Have they ever struggled in school despite appearing bright or capable at home?
10. Do they show leadership qualities, creativity, or enjoy solving complex problems in their own way?

If many of these questions resonate with your experience, it may be worth discussing with educators or seeking an evaluation. Remember, giftedness isn’t about labels – it’s about understanding how your child learns and experiences the world and making sure they’re supported in becoming the best version of themselves.

Further reading

If you are keen to learn more about giftedness, the article above was informed by the work of David Palmer, educational psychologist specialising in giftedness assessment and consultation. On our website we also provide a helpful Education Support Centre with links to other places where you can find inspiration and information about how to identify and support a gifted child.

How The Swot Shop can support your gifted child

At The Swot Shop we have over 30 years of experience in working with bright, high potential and gifted students. Our programs are developed to provide the stimulating and engaging learning environments that help gifted children learn and thrive. Our teachers and programs aim to stretch, challenge and nurture the natural curiosity and interest in learning that gifted students bring, helping them to develop their high order thinking skills and translating natural gifts into talent.