New Zealand child wins medals for math and science skills
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013 10:05 AM

Some children sit at their parents' computer to watch a video or play a game. When Joshua Toon, a 6-year-old New Zealander, sat at his parents' computer, he participated in the online Mathletics competition and earned two medals, The Timaru Herald reported.

The Mathletics competition, which was created by 3PL Learning, an Australian-based company, is popular among children and attracts millions of kids from around the world. Of all the competitors, Joshua ended up ranking 75 in the competition's science section for children ages 4 to 7. The gifted Kiwi was awarded a silver medal for landing in the second-place spot for mathematics in New Zealand and a bronze medal for achieving third place in science in the country.

Trevor Toon, Joshua's father, is proud of his son's accomplishments and told the news source his son is gifted and reading at an 11-year-old's level.

If parents believe their children could be just as gifted as Joshua, they may want to consider the benefits of an IQ test for kids. Parents should also be on the lookout for what Psychology Today states are signs of giftedness, such as an advanced vocabulary, increased curiosity and a willingness to participate in adult conversations.