Gifted and Talented' has become an operating educational term only in the past few decades. In 1982, one study found only 18 gifted and talented preschool programs in the entire United States. This situation has begun to change as more schools have devised new strategies and curricula. From magnet schools, which may offer advanced programs in special subject areas such as math and science, to summer enrichment programs in a number of states, educators are widening the range of opportunities for the gifted and talented.
Parents can play an early role in recognizing their child's abilities.
Active imaginations also come with the territory and may take such forms as elaborately describing an imaginary friend, designing games with complicated instructions or creating a particularly complex Lego project. IQ tests can help parents better understand their child's abilities, but lately there's been a movement away from such tests as the sole arbiter of giftedness. Educators have refined the evaluation process to focus more on performance, problem-solving skills and ability to learn independently. Experts also warn parents to be wary of confusing their own ambitions for their child's success with the child's demonstrated abilities. Although most parents are inclined to see the best in their child, that child might be best served by an educational program that meets his real needs and does not unduly pressure him.