Q: My three year-old is reading! Is she gifted?

Skills

While your child is reading earlier than most children her age, it is difficult to determine whether your daughter is gifted because development unfolds unevenly at this age. In other words, it is not uncommon for a child to be advanced in one area of development (e.g., language), but slower in another area of development (e.g., physical skills). While it may be tempting to focus a lot of time and attention on your daughter’s advance reading skills, it is important not to push her. Instead, let her take the lead. You can nurture her natural interest in reading by simply providing her with plenty of opportunities to read interesting and engaging books. The most important thing at this age is to make reading a fun, relaxing activity to help ensure that your daughter’s love of reading lasts a lifetime.
Jennie Ito, Ph.D.

Child Development Expert

Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.