A minor thought of how I've approached this "giftedness"-thing and what I've thought is that IQ-tests are like licenses that give you access to things such as some education, some depth in investigations of diagnosis and such.. As a practical tool that's about it.
I've read by Linda Silverman and her descriptions on the gifted personality can be but also delved a bit into my own history and tried to figure out "how" I am at a better intellectual offstance. Its a bit like going against the psychologists to make my own claim to be able to prove if tests actually makes sense..
What I can tell from my own excursions I've had these tendencies to have random performances that have made me proud, I think that most people would have difficulty achieving the same kind of "clarity" weren't it for the intellect. Problem here is that thinking your child is gifted because he made a painting doesnt make sense and thats why you need to look at the bigger picture.
Intelligence and personal traits are inheritable even if people in your family are dissimilar some things comes through more strongly. I think that asynchrony in development and personality disappears as we get older with personality and intellectual abilities.
Question is how you make yourself know giftedness in your heart rather then needing a test to prove it or even relying on a test to support your notion. Remembering that tests where originally used to determine which french students needed special education to be able to function in society. Some of you have talked about trying to see the giftedness in the child after doing a test but I'm not a parent and that makes me not understand how it is to be a parent but
"How far does your responsibility allow you to change the future of your child?"
Is chasing the best possible future scenario in life the best way to live life? I think some acceptance of that you as a parent know your child best and that encouraging you to have the best relationship with your child is the best way to go..
We rely much on our relationships to go through life, it might be that my notion is obvious but trying to find the most harmonious way to let your child grow up is the best way to go!
The two things that has been most resourceful for me to reflect about when it comes to my own aptitude is:
1. What are the people around you like?
What kind of patterns can be found in my family, I am mostly similar to my family and its a good place to learn.
My friends? What kind of friends do I have? We tend not to accept anyone into our private circle, are they intellectuals?
2. Have you ever done anything that surprises other people. In Sweden the definition of giftedness is someone who surprises you with their talents and gifts reliably. Perhaps not someone who gets full scores on tests, that's one way, but sometimes in other subtle ways, this is where you know your kid best.
