Mumsnet Talk

I wonder?

I see alot of references to gifted kids and I wonder what really makes a gifted kid. I thought kids had developmental spurts, so that they might learn alot and engage the brain alot and be developmentally ahead at certain times in the childhood, however over time their focus might change to something else and alot of them even out to be intelligent normal people and not necessariy remain in the gifted category all their life.

I wonder how many kids are classed as gifted when in fact they are of normal intelligience but are also studious and engaged. I think (in Ireland anyway), a whole business has built up around the labelling of 'gifted' children.

So my query is if a child is classed as gifted on average do they develop into gifted adults?

I have a high IQ and found school VERY easy until til I hit A'Levels. However, I think it was a double edged sword as I am lazy. I think I am entirely average as an adult.

Some do, some don't - the current thing of labelling the top 5% (is it 5%? I'm not in England) as "gifted" will certainly include some children who are just having an "advanced" patch in their abilities, and in a year's time they may be more typical again. And as you say, it will catch a proportion of "adequately bright and tries hard" while missing "a bit brighter but not that interested".

But some people are genuinely more intelligent than others, however you want to define that and whatever limitations you think the concept has. So a proportion of the children who get noticed as gifted will grow up to still be gifted.

I'm not sure if there are any studies which try to show figures for it - the little I've seen about "how come gifted children don't all do well in later life" have seemed to focus on the idea that provision for gifted children is failing, not that some of them maybe just reverted to a more average level.

Yes. But whether they achieve anything - personally or professionally - with it is completely another matter.

I read somewhere that the guy with the highest IQ on record is a rubbish collector in Northern Queensland, Australia. From this enormous amount of research I conclude that the giftedness does not lead to a glittering future. However it is likely that the IQ remains unless rotted by alcohol/drugs etc.

Agree with majority of the above.

Having a high IQ does not automatically translate into achievement, motivation or success. In children in particular it just means high learning potential - with the emphasis on 'potential'.

Someone with a lower IQ and a better work ethic, maturity and persistence will easily outdo a 'genius' in achievement and success in the long run IME

My understanding also is that IQ does not change a vast amount over a person's lifetime - although of course it is possible to improve it (or destroy it).

Not necessarily. If a child is smart and has a high IQ, but is a bit lazy, not encouraged and shy... then they won't achieve as much as, say, someone of 'average' talent who is outgoing, encouraged and driven.

(Speaks from experience. IQ not too shabby, but not very 'driven', and positively discouaged from 'achieving').

What correctmeifiamwrong said (also speaking from experience)

emcom

Umm, yes, me too

We just never learnt to work hard to find out answers to questions at school, did we? And A-levels/ uni came as a bit of a shock!

Point is - IQ and achievement/success are just not the same thing, are they? Even in grown-ups.

I got labeled Gifted as a child. I have some brainy achievements but nothing special in my career area (tonnes of others more accomplished than me). In a formal way I know I'm more "intelligent" than most people, but (in spite of my increasingly advanced years!) I'm still enormously ignorant, rubbish and untalented at most so many things (especially stuff that many seem to achieve easily).

It makes me feel so daunted for DC; I have a lifetime of experience and still haven't figured out the best way to do a million things. No wonder adolescence, is so scarey, that point in life when you sort of realise how much you still need to learn, and you've no idea if you're up for it or how to prioritise.

The smartest person I knew was punished (smacked with the ruler) every week at school for not doing his homework or producing terrible work. Last heard of, heading to Oxford to study Very Brainy Things. Looking back, he was probably undiagnosed dyslexic.

I was a year ahead at primary, top of the class and coasting merrily... then got to secondary school, got bullied and hid in my shell for the next 20 years. Throughought the whole time my famiy didn't seem to notice that I was there...

We should have our own club...

I was classed as gifted, but unfortunately I am also very lazy, have quite low self esteem, disliked having to 'try' at A Levels instead of not having to at GCSEs and am also very adept at self sabotage. Academically I am very clever, but I don't use it and have belittled myself to the extent that, in the eight years since I did my GCSEs, I have convinced myself that I am as thick as pig shit and will never amount to anything. Silly really.

<goes back to read rest of thread>
<feels at home>

I'll pass around the sandwiches and custard creams then... At least OUR children (should they be so endowed) will have parents with the sense to know how to handle them.

Me : 'Get off yout lazy butt and do yout homework'

Oh yes - no coasting allowed in my house !

I am allegedly in possession of a high IQ. I am unable to change a fuse and have no ambition whatsoever <picks belly button>

<passes round more biscuits. anyone?>

"No coasting allowed - it's great you're naturally bright but without hard work the other kids will eventually overtake you. So if you want to stay intelligent you will have to get over that perfectionism!"

Amazing how similar our stories appear!

Does anyone have experience of what HAS worked for them as a child? (Although I'm guessing most of THEM don't post on MN in the middle of the day much!)

No.

I was 'gifted' as a child - precocious more like. I found everything quite easy.

Was your classic lazy coaster. Got a first class degree so it lasted longer than for many, but I have no motivation and haven't 'done anything' with it. I'd prefer a grafter to a G+Ter myself.

I aced aptitude tests in conflicting areas, apparently its vary rare to be on 100th percentile on the combinations of ones I was on, usually the areas are sort of banded IYKWIM. Educational psycologist said I had a high IQ.

I did amazingly well in my GCSEs with very little effort, that was the problem! my friends were used to working for their grades so when we progressed to a level where learning was required, not just understanding, they overtook me. I did well in A levels but not my predicted grades because I didn't WORK at the learning off by heart bits.

Got a 2:1 in my degree. 2% more on my dissertation and it would have been a first, but I didn't put in the extra slog. I "get" things but I only really learnt to LEARN at a slow and steady pace as a mature student and it's still something I have to force myself to do.

Best mate: told she was dim, had to study every evening to keep up (I never did). Did worse than me in GCSEs, Better than in A Levels (she WORKED at it, hours every night!), got a 1st.

Learning to learn and slog is a better advantage through life than an easy start where you get things for no effort.

I lose interest when it gets hard. Or I'm not immediately brilliant at it. Whatever 'it' happens to be. My father used to tell me I was amazing and didn't need to work <hollow laughter, eats biscuits>

Oh yes. GCSE's. I spent a week revising before each one, passed easily and decided all exams were 'easy'. Then majorly cocked up my A levels. Then dropped out of university because you need to self motivate, and I kept getting distracted by beer <idiot>

I won't tell my child he's "bright" even if he is, I'll praise what he works hard on.

I was told what a "bright cookie" I was all the time. Does no favours! If I was good at something I did "good enough" at it - got a waffle B+ rather than put in an extra couple of hours to get the A, If I didn't get something straight away I hated it and avoided it, if it didn't come easy straight away it wasn't for me.

Even extended to hobbies and interests. I loved them at first but soon dropped out when it came to the harder commitment levels. I dip in and out of stuff a lot

I'll join too. Brain the size of a planet me! Lazy as hell though...I think being gifted can be a disadvantage, because it enables you to coast along doing not a lot but still being top of the class, but then when you need to actually put some graft in you don't know where to start / can't be arsed.