Child geniuses: what are they, what are their characteristics, and examples?

Let's see what it is to be a child genius and how this relates to giftedness.

From time to time we hear about specific cases of children with great cognitive abilities, capable of great feats that surpass not only those of their peers but even those that an average adult would be able to do. Some of them have gone on to achieve great works during their lifetime, and have been classified and named as child geniuses.

But what is a child genius? what is a child genius? Let's see it throughout this article.

What do we call child geniuses?

It receives the consideration of child genius that subject minor which throughout its development is characterized by manifest from an early age an above-average cognitive ability in at least one or more intellectual domains, being by definition gifted or talented.This ability, being by definition gifted or talented, manifests or crystallizes at some point in their lives in the generation of some kind of work or product of great impact and creativity.

These children are characterized not only by their high intelligence in all or some areas, but also by a very high capacity for motivation and interest in learning and developing their knowledge. Because of this same motivation they usually show a high commitment to this development, to the point that they often go beyond what others and even older and more experienced subjects do.

Another of the main factors to take into account is that child geniuses also show a considerable level of creativity. also show a considerable level of creativity. It is these factors, and not only intelligence, that will contribute to the child's ability to develop and generate his or her work.

In fact, although in the past a genius was someone who had an IQ of 180 or more, the realization that IQ is insufficient to explain and measure the real capacity of these children, that people with a lower IQ have done great works showing a superior capacity and that there are many other influential factors have changed this consideration.

It must be taken into account that the denomination of child genius should not be made in the absence of some work or product in which the subject crystallizes his abilities. And by work we are not necessarily referring to something artisticIt can also refer to a theory or conceptual framework in any of the sciences that is revolutionary or creative.

It is also common that, like gifted children, they are often awake and curious (curiosity is something that is present in most genius children), as well as the fact that they have a great capacity for concentration. Also They are also likely to have academic problems and that they show a lower than average emotional control and tolerance to frustration.

In some cases this may predispose them to anxiety crises, depression and other similar problems, and it is not uncommon for them to show good management and even leadership skills. It is possible that they may show greater sensitivity and empathy towards their peers or the environment, although they may have difficulties in this regard (for example, genius children diagnosed with Asperger's are known).

Differentiation with giftedness and precocious child

It is common for giftedness and genius to be considered synonymous at a popular level. But although they certainly have much in common (both have high cognitive abilities, high creativity and strong intrinsic motivation), the truth is that they do not necessarily refer to the same reality: not all gifted children are necessarily gifted (although this is common), and not all gifted children are genius children..

To begin to see the differences, it should be pointed out that the consideration of a child genius depends on the child's generating some kind of work during his or her life that receives such consideration: although the existence of a talent or giftedness may be visible in general performance, a child's genius is not visible until he or she produces a work that is highly valued by society. In other words, it is necessary that his or her ability be demonstrated de facto by some outstanding product. Thus, a gifted child does not necessarily manifest genius.

It should also be borne in mind that the gifted child is characterized by an IQ at least two standard deviations above the average (specifically above 130), something that is manifested in most areas and types of intelligence.

The child genius also has a superior intellectual capacity, although it is not always necessary to show it in all areas: it is possible to be a genius in a particular type of intelligence.. Thus a child genius can be gifted or talented (a concept that implies an intelligence above 130 in one or several skills but not in most of them).

It is also important to distinguish between child genius and precocious child: the precocious child is the one who has abilities ahead of those that would be appropriate for his age, something that although it is common in gifted and geniuses does not necessarily imply giftedness in itself.

Examples

There are many examples of children who have been considered geniuses throughout history, among which some that can serve as examples are the following.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso

One of the most famous Spanish painters of modernity, Pablo Ruiz Picasso was also a child genius. This artist, who learned to paint with his father, painted his first work at the age of eight. his first work at the age of eight, he painted: The Yellow Picador.

Throughout his life this important painter and sculptor developed different techniques and styles, and with the passage of time he would break with the use of the perspective of the time to generate together with George Braque his own style: cubism.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

One of the best-known child geniuses is Mozart, the famous composer, who from the age of five had already compositions since he was five years old, which began to earn him compositions that began to win him the recognition of the court. In fact, he composed his first symphony at the age of eight. Educated by his father in music, from his earliest childhood he showed a great interest in learning, and the great works in which the young man crystallized his aptitudes throughout his life.

crystallized his aptitudes throughout his life earned him recognition as a child genius.

Gregory R. Smith

Gregory Smith is the name of another child genius, although it may not be a very well known name, but the truth is that we are dealing with a young man who already has four nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and who received the first of them at the age of twelve. He was already able to solve mathematical problems before he was two years old, and graduated at the age of nine.He graduated from high school at the age of nine and at the age of ten he began a career in business management.

This young man is also known as an international lecturer, and has fought for the defense of theand has fought to defend children and peace. He is also the founder and president of International Youth Advocates, which he created at the age of ten. He has also studied mathematics (he is president of the Mathematics Association of America), history and biology.

Bibliographical references:

• Sastre-Riba, S. (2008). Children with high abilities and their differential cognitive functioning. Revista de Neurología, 46 (Supl 1): S11-S16.
• Tannenbaum, A.J. (1998). Programs for the gifted. To be or not to be. Journal for the Education of the Gifted; 22: 3-36