Listen to Healthy -- she's said it all.

I wouldn't worry about whether or not your daughter is gifted. Support her passions, enjoy her adventures and watch what happens.

Often it is the intensity and passion and ability to "make connections" between new situations and events that do distinguish a gifted child from one who may just have "book smarts." In other words, some kids can "regurgitate" what they've heard and read about, but they don't go much beyond what they've been formally taught, whereas gifted children usually do.

You might want to join Greatschools Gifted Group at community.greatschools.net/groups/11537, where there have been other posts about "What is a Gifted Child" and it talks about different theories, such as Howard Gardner's "Multiple Intelligences" as well as how schools often define gifted by IQ testing, etc.

P.S. None of us has a crystal ball to know what our children will end up like as adults, but if you continue to support your daughter's love of learning, she will likely not lose it, even if she does go through periods of time when her enthusiasm isn't always as "outwardly visible." I doubt you'll have to worry about that for many years.

Thanks! Last part of my question--- I promise. How do you know when your child is gifted? It's not that she can sing or dance or write or read or paint or recite poetry at some amazing beyond-her-age level. She's good but not one of those 'brilliant' kids. It's more her ability to find passion and excitement in doing all these things all day-- for herself and for the enjoyment of others. She creates characters and worlds and picks up pieces of information from everywhere and assimilates it so well. Her memory is mind boggling. She can remember details from when she was so tiny. I guess all my questions come from the fear that she'll lose what's special and unique once she learns in school that it's cool to conform and not that cool to excel or be different. Do you ever worry about that? Anyway, thanks for the advise.

I wanted to concur with what SoCalGal has said, but add the caveat that it's often difficult to find programs for early elementary age children in the college and museum sector. (For example, the minimum age is 8 at my local community college for its enrichment and summer program activities.) I'm not sure where you live, but often YMCA's and Park Districts offer good art, dance, and other options for younger kids. You may also find your child qualifying for gifted/talented classes when she's a bit older....

Affordable is sometimes a bit more difficult because sometimes children like your daughter need LOTS of enrichment.

However, I've found that programs connected with colleges, museums, libraries etc also tend to be cheaper along with the fact that they tend to be better quality.

For example, programs offered through the LA Co Museum of Art, the Getty Museum, and the Natural History Museum are reasonably priced and very interesting -- making it worth the longer drive. This is opposed to classes offered locally in our hometown by for-profit companies, which tend to be more expensive and offer less potential for true enrichment. (Just my opinion, folks)

All good advise. I just remember getting good grades in elementary school and no one noticed that I was bored and the work was too easy.

I think it's hard for kids to ask to be challenged and it's easy to see kids with behavior issues in a large class room.

So I'm hoping to try to put her in the best situation and set her up to succeed as much as possible. I fear having to rely on her teachers to light the match.

After school programs seem to be expensive. Any suggestions for affordable programs?

Great question!

There is research that supports the idea that arts education supports development of critical thinking skills however, I'm not sure that you will find many schools that concentrate on the arts in elementary school.

That said, after-school enrichment in the arts may provide the balance you seek, especially if you have access to classes through local museums and other respected arts groups.

In regards to your curriculum concerns, speak with the principal about them -- a more experienced teacher can differentiate the work your daughter is assigned.

Its not at all unusual for children to start kindergarten with vastly different skill sets.