5 Out of 10 Means Genius Right?

I couldn't help but click on a link that I stumbled across the other day titled 10 Signs Your Child May Be Gifted. I couldn't resist checking out how our two little ones measured up.

Of course I already think that my monsters kids are the cutest, smartest, most talented kids in the world, just like every other mom out there thinks her kids deserves those titles. I'm pretty sure though that my mom is the only one that can give Emma and Squishy a run for their money...

::: cough cough ::: 

::: pats self on back :::

::: giggle snort :::

 

::: get it...I'm her kid :::

::: wishes I could spell :::

But I digress....

Since Squishy has been on this world all of a whopping three months, he couldn't really be measured against some of the categories. But my baby girl sure can! Check this out...here are the 10 signs that your child may be gifted, according to some lady who writes articles for Yahoo! a very scientific person.

1. Retains Information: The term "in one ear and out the other" seems to apply to most children. Those who are a cut above when it comes to intelligence actually retain a wide variety of information and are able to recall it at a later time.
2. Wide Spectrum of Interests: Gifted kiddos display an interest in a wide variety of topics. They may like dinosaurs one month, space the next month, and so forth.
3. Writes and Reads Early: If your tot is a smarty pants, she may be able to read and write very early on and without having had any real formal teaching.
4. Is Musically or Artistically Talented: Children who display an unusual talent for music and/or art are often considered gifted. Tots who can draw things to perspective, have perfect pitch, or display any other higher perception of forms of art usually fall into the gifted category.
5. Shows Periods of Intense Concentration: Children are not known for their long attention span, but gifted wee ones are able to have longer periods of intense concentration.
6. Has a Good Memory: Some gifted tots are able to remember things from when they were smaller. For example, a two-year-old may remember and bring up (unprovoked) an occurrence from when he was 18-months.
7. Has an Advanced Vocabulary: A tot who's early to speak is not a sign of giftedness alone, but if your lil talker is using advanced vocabulary and sentences, then he or she may be as bright as you think. 
8. Pays Attention to Details: A gifted child has a keen eye for details. An older child may want to know specific details about how things work, while a younger child will be able to put away toys exactly where he got them from or notice if something has been moved from its usual spot.
9. Acts as His Own Critic: In general kids are not too worried about themselves or others, unless their friend has something they want. Gifted kids are the opposite and are concerned with others, but are most critical of themselves.
10. Understands Complex Concepts: Tots who are highly intelligent have the ability to understand complex concepts, perceive relationships, and think abstractly. They are able to understand problems in depth and think about solutions.

 And here is how Emma Kathryn measures up....

1. Retains Information: I am giving this one a big thumbs up! Emma has always seemed to develop mentally at a faster rate than physically. When she was a year old, she could tell you about ten sounds that different animals make. She knows her first, middle, last name, her address, Mommy and Daddy's names, the sounds of about fifty different animals and can recognize probably seventy five different animals (and weird ones like hyenas and wildebeests).
2. Wide Spectrum of Interests: This one, I'm not so sure about. She has a large interest in animals (loves all things animals), but I wouldn't necessarily say she has a wide spectrum of interests. At least not yet.
3. Writes and Reads Early: She doesn't quite know how to write or read yet, but she does know and can recognize and tell you the sounds that the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J, K, M, P, S, T and W make.
4. Is Musically or Artistically Talented: This one is a question mark too. She certainly didn't get any of this from Mommy. :)
5. Shows Periods of Intense Concentration: A big yes to this one! Granted her intense periods of concentration usually revolve around TV, but she would sit and watch an entire hour and half movie when she was a little over a year old.
6. Has a Good Memory: Another big yes! She will meet someone new and play a game with them for one night, not see them for six months, and when you mention their name again she remembers and will tell you what game she played with them.
7. Has an Advanced Vocabulary: Another yes here! So despite the fact that it took Emma almost 7 months to roll over, she certainly didn't waste her time talking (and she hasn't stopped since). She always blows away the "guidelines" for her age group at the pediatrician's office when it comes to words. For example, when her pediatrician asked if she had a vocabulary of at least 5 words, she was up to somewhere between 40 and 50. She is up to putting five words together now.
8. Pays Attention to Details: Umm...not so much.
9. Acts as His Own Critic: Umm...definitely not so much.
10. Understands Complex Concepts: Although Emma is a pretty good problem solver, she doesn't really get relationships. For example, she doesn't get that Nanny is Mommy's grandmother, just like Mimi is her grandmother.

So on the scale of 1 to 10, I'm scoring Emma as a 5. So, sorry Squishy, the title of smartest kid in the world is clearly already taken by your big sister, so you are going to have to settle for the most talented or most athletic kid in the world. No pressure. kthanks.

Disclaimer: Yes...I am fully aware that bragging about your kids is annoying and no, I do not actually think that Emma is a young genius, but she is at least brilliant at a minimum. :)