6 signs your child may be highly intelligent
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 14:27 PM

At around 3 years old, children can begin to take very accurate IQ tests for kids. However, even before that age, you can begin to look for signs of high intelligence. Believe it or not, it's possible to start looking for signs of giftedness even before a child is a full year old. Keep in mind that these signs don't necessarily prove giftedness, which is why finding children's IQ scores is still the best way to determine their intelligence. Here are six possible signs of giftedness in younger children:

1. Develops faster than others 
Babies who reach normal developmental milestones more quickly than others may very well be highly intelligent. Things like crawling, walking and speaking are good milestones to look out for - just remember that they don't necessarily prove above-average intelligence. After all, Einstein didn't speak until he was 4 years old!

2. Has a long attention span
Another sign to look for during early development is attention span. Many highly intelligent children were very alert as babies and developed long attention spans during their toddlerhood. However, keep in mind that a short attention span does not mean a child will be of average or below-average intelligence. 

3. Has advanced language capabilities
Children who have a good grasp of various language skills at an early age could also be very intelligent. Advanced language capabilities could be anything from putting words together into sentences to comprehending written language and using large or complex words at a young age. 

4. Learns quickly
Learning quickly is another potential sign of a highly intelligent child. Does your child pick up ideas and concepts right away after learning them? Also consider things like how he or she solves problems or how good his or her memory is. These could indicate the fast-working brain of a quick learner. 

5. Has a specific talent 
Many children show their giftedness in a particular area, like an affinity for playing instruments or drawing realistic pictures. If your child has a unique talent, it may be a potential sign he or she is very intelligent.

6. Plays alone
Believe it or not, if your child is more comfortable playing alone or would rather read a book than join a team sport, he or she may be highly intelligent. This behavior is often found in intelligent children, teenagers and even adults of any age. In fact, some highly intelligent children feel more comfortable talking to older kids or even adults, rather than others their own age.