Tell Us About Your Kid And We'll Predict If They're Going To Be A Genius
- by Ricky Bambuto
- – on
- in Lifestyle
As kids grow up and cross milestones, their personas bloom. They mostly sleep, cry and laugh at first, but eventually, they start moving around on their own. Soon after that, as they get comfortable with language and they begin to bounce some ideas around to see what happens. Within a few blinks of an eye, a kid becomes a full-fledged human being, distinct beyond their name.
As a child grows into their own, parents start to notice what they're capable of intellectually - if that's what they're looking out for. Signs of their progression are there for parents to note throughout each age group. If a child gets the knack of things quicker than their peers throughout their upbringing, there's a strong chance that they're walking around with one hell of a mind.
Of course, this is a presumptive thing to conclude one way or another. First off, even children slow to catch on at a young age have gone on to help advance the species in adulthood. And, even if a child doesn't have a high IQ, they can still grow up to achieve amazing things.
That said, for fun, let's see if your child has symptoms of early-onset genius.
Are they unusually curious?
Some say that the surest sign of intelligence is a healthy sense of curiosity. If your child is inclined to explore the world - both inner and outer - they're likely to learn more fun facts that might contribute to their being a genius.
Are they quiet around other children?
A genius who doesn't engage with many people at social gatherings might be misunderstood as shy. However, if asked, this genius might clarify that he's not shy, he's just only interested in a range of topics that aren't found in most social gatherings.
Do they have a great memory?
If you've seen the movie Good Will Hunting, you'll remember Matt Damon's genius form speed-reading through several books by quickly flipping through the pages and scanning the words. Matt Damon's photographic memory allows him to retain all information taken in visually. Does your child do stuff like that? Probably not, but do they otherwise have a great memory?
Are they interested in world events?
Not every genius is interested in world events. Some prefer reserving most of their focus for their preferred activity. However, an interest in the large events of the world points to a potentially genius-level curiosity. Does your kid enjoy the news?
Do they set high or impossible standards for themselves?
It's not the most desirable trait of geniuses, but it does come with the package - geniuses tend to set super high standards for themselves. The reality is that, without unrealistic goals, there wouldn't be many people worthy of the Nobel Prize.
Are they unusually competitive?
Working in tandem with their high ambitions, geniuses tend to have a competitive streak. This fits neatly under a system of merit; without rivals who appear to exceed them, geniuses would lack a key motivator needed to finalize their wacky inventions.
Do they prefer spending time with adults?
You'll recall earlier on when we mentioned that some geniuses aren't as talkative around their peers, at least not those their age. However, if your child blooms when surrounded by mature, deep conversation, they're probably somewhat ahead in their years.
Is s/he a quick learner?
This concept is an easy one to grasp. Of course, geniuses have an easier time understanding things than most other people. Science thinks it has something to do with the ability of their brains to make connections. Is your child an easy learner?
Does their sense of humor exceed their years?
At the end of the day, geniuses, like everyone else, love a good laugh. Humor is a craft, after all, and geniuses tend to have a subtle sense of it. If you're often surprised by the kind of wit your kid spouts, this is a good sign.
Do they like to be in control?
Everyone loves a funny person, though a control freak doesn't tend to see the same kind of love. That's the irony of being a genius; in order for their paradigm-shifting creations to be realized, they usually need a hand from other people happy to comply.
Do they add extra rules to games?
A genius sees behind the veil of a game, noting that it was created by a human being like themselves rather than formed by select raindrops from the gods above. With that in mind, it's common for geniuses to "spice things up" in games by adding extra challenges.
Do they have unusual hobbies?
If you'd observe a group of kids during playtime, you'll probably see an assortment of activities taking place. There are kids playing Play-Do, double-dutch, drawing, etc. Then in the corner, there's a kid dismantling his bicycle and using the parts to build an action figure. To you, that might look like a future genius. Does your kid have unusual hobbies?
Do they form connections easily?
When you walk to the kitchen, does your kid know that you'll return with food? Like we mentioned above, a mark of genius is the ability form connections with exceptional ease. Does your child often make clever links by themselves?
Do they have trouble sleeping?
A genius keeping themselves up at night with their cyclone of pioneering thoughts is an archetypal, romantic picture. It's true in a lot of cases; geniuses are often too smart to allow themselves a full, mindless night of sleep. Is that your kid?
Are they very emotional?
Aside from the ability to make sense of complex things as though they were trivial, geniuses often tend to be inordinately sensitive. This ties into their ability to perceive the world in an acute, detailed way. If your child is super emotional and they have a gifted mind, s/he might be a genius.
Do they get fully absorbed in their favorite activity?
When a genius is into their craft, their house could be on fire, and things would have to get really hot before they'd get up from their chair to look. If your child transforms into a stone of focus when immersed in their favorite activity, they might be a genius.
Do they give up easily?
No great invention, futuristic idea or great work of art was ever made by a quitter. It's a hard fact, but it's true; people who spend their lives giving up and settling for a second place trophy don't end up in the history books.
Are they perceptive?
If your child is a very young infant, it would be unusual (in their favor) for them to notice that you've had a new, subtle change to your hair-do. If your child picks up on fine details like these (relative to their age group), it's a good sign.
Do they often think about mature concepts (death, time, etc.)?
Not all children spend their time musing on concepts that are impossible to understand - even geniuses. These things usually come during adolescence, or possibly later. However, it's definitely a potential sign of early genius when your child immerses themselves in concept like time, space, death and life.
Do they have a vivid imagination?
Creativity isn't something that's limited to the arts in any sense. Geniuses, regardless of their field, need to think outside the box in order to innovate. If you often catch your child relating vivid fantasies, they may very well be unusually creative.
Are they considerate of others?
Theory of mind - the notion that the people around us are as alive and conscious as we are - is something that children develop early in life; the sooner they get it, the sooner their brains can properly develop around it.
Was s/he a heavy newborn?
This is by no means an across-the-board indicator of genius, but it's definitely worth noting. It has been observed by the British Medical Journal that heavier newborns had a slightly higher IQ, which might come down to improved nourishment during pregnancy.
Do you speak to him/her in more than one language?
Scientists say that a key practice in improving a toddler's brain development is speaking to them in different languages, since kids born to bilingual parents tend to have a better performance in IQ tests. If you don't yet have a second language, it's never too late to learn.
Do/did they walk/crawl before their peers?
Children who learn their fundamental lessons in life earlier than their peers generally have an easier time of grasping future lessons. If your child was moving around independently before other kids their age, they probably have an easier time maneuvering around complicated concepts.
Are they artistic?
Don't fret if your child isn't artistic, since there are plenty of ways for genius to bloom in a youngster. That said, a research conducted by King's College London observed that four-year-olds with an early aptitude for art more likely to score high in later IQ tests.
Have they learned to lie early on?
Of course, lying in the vast majority of cases is immoral and should be avoided, but the general consensus is that an aptitude for deceiving others points to a higher intelligence. If your child learns to fib well at an early age, they'll likely test for higher IQ later in life.
Can they play a musical instrument?
Knowing their way around a musical instrument not only improves your child's sense of rhythm and creativity - it also boosts their emotional intelligence. Researchers at the University of Vermont College found that, the more comfortable a child was with an instrument, the better they were at managing anxiety and emotions.
Are they taller than other kids?
Taller kids reach taller peaks, forgive the pun. It’s not true across the board, but the National Bureau of Economic Research noted that children of greater height tend to perform better on IQ tests. Is it time to get those high heels out? Probably not.
Is s/he a good reader?
Here’s an obvious one: reading develops the brain of a child in amazing ways. When a kid reads a book, they’re directing their own variation of the story in their minds, in real time. All senses are activated, and the imagination is constantly being stretched.
Do they love to stay up late?
If your child keeps trying to push their bedtime into nocturnal territory, this might be indicative of a developing wit. The London School of Economics conducted a study showed that adults of higher IQ tended to have nocturnal habits, a tendency they’ve had since childhood.
Do they tend to eat a healthy breakfast?
As we’ve all heard time and time again, a healthy breakfast is a surefire way to start a great day. We are what we eat, and filling in our body vehicles with nutrient-dense foods stimulates both body and mind. Does your child start the day right?
Do they enjoy a good conversation?
A dialogue between two people is a great way for both parties to reach new conclusions and garner additional understanding. Geniuses thrive on this, which means they’re always seeking a stimulating conversation. Does your child love to talk things through?
Do they easily adapt to technology?
It’s clear that the world is moving toward a progressively more technological era. In the future, only those who are comfortable being linked in to the mainframe will be able to thrive. Geniuses of the future will likely have an easy time with technology.
Do they prefer big or small crowds?
Not all geniuses are uncomfortable around a large group of people, but geniuses typically prefer spending time with a small, cherished crowd, if not left alone entirely. Tell us, does your kid tend to gravitate toward larger or smaller crowds?
Does he/she question everything you tell them?
Finally, let’s tie things back into your kid’s curiosity. Parents of geniuses tend to get a serious mental workout everyday, constantly being asked to clarify things from new angles. Raising a genius is great, but it’s a hell of a job.
