Children’s intelligence, a topic of growing interest among parents, educators and researchers, manifests itself through observable physical and behavioral traits, which provide valuable clues about the child’s cognitive development. Such traits, indicators of brilliant minds, can be identified in behaviors such as attention, analysis, curiosity and advanced verbal skills. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
The attentive and analytical gaze, commonly present in intelligent children, signals a conscious effort to understand the surrounding environment. This gaze manifests itself through concentrated attention, meticulous observation of details, curiosity expressed in raised eyebrows and wide eyes, and the rapid absorption of information, revealed in agile eye movements. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
Insatiable curiosity, another striking trait, drives cognitive and emotional development. Children with this characteristic demonstrate a voracious appetite for knowledge, seeking deep answers and asking insightful questions. Their interests are diverse and their investigative spirit leads them to question, explore and experiment to find their own answers. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
Their depth of reasoning allows these children to explore the world in complex and sophisticated ways. They think in multiple dimensions, considering different perspectives and making unexpected connections between ideas. Their advanced abstract and sharp critical thinking leads them to question information, analyze evidence and develop their own opinions. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
Detailed observation, the ability to capture nuances and build a rich understanding of the environment, is also an essential characteristic. Children with this ability have a keen perception, which allows them to capture subtle details and build a rich image of the environment. Their attention to the unusual and their systematic observation, driven by an insatiable curiosity, lead them to investigate and connect new information with prior knowledge. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
Advanced verbal skills are manifested in early language proficiency, rich and varied vocabulary, complex sentence construction, and storytelling skills. These children understand not only the literal meaning of words, but also their nuances, ironies, and metaphors. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
High memory capacity, which is essential for storing, manipulating and retrieving information, is also an important characteristic. These children demonstrate exceptional working memory, improved long-term memory, ease in recognizing patterns and fast and effective memorization. They apply their memory to learning, relating new information to prior knowledge and solving problems creatively. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
Interest in complex activities reflects an attraction to intellectual challenges and the ability to immerse oneself deeply in stimulating tasks. These children seek activities that require logical reasoning, problem-solving, creativity and strategic thinking. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
Finally, self-discipline and focus allow these children to concentrate intensely on tasks, avoid procrastination, and achieve their goals in an organized and determined manner. They are less prone to procrastination, plan their steps, set realistic goals, and demonstrate persistence and determination. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
It is crucial to remember that intelligence manifests itself in different ways and that each child is unique and may exhibit different development patterns. Early identification of intelligence, through careful observation of physical and behavioral traits, is essential so that parents, educators and health professionals can offer adequate support for the development of these children’s potential. (RODRIGUES et al., 2024)
Reference:
RODRIGUES, Fabiano de Abreu Agrela; SILVEIRA, Francis Moreira da; LIMA, Murillo Ribeiro Moreira de; UCHÔA, Karliny Sales Pinto. Identifying Intelligence in Children: Physical and Behavioral Traits. Science and Reflection, v. 1, n. 4, p. 21-51, 2024.
