Make Your Child Smarter

Creativity Test

Q: Do you offer any resources or testing on the creative side for gifted children? The psychologist would not test for IQ due to age and I head there were more tests that could be done? I am looking for programs or clubs to get her involved in.

Kayla is age 6 1/2. She is home-schooled and is reading about 7th grade level. She is about 2 grade levels ahead on all subjects at least but mostly her creativity is off the scale of normal. Her mind constantly creates and it's hard to keep her challenged.

As a matter of fact, she teaches her 3 1/2 year old sister arts and crafts every day. Without guidance she is very involved and creative with making things or entertaining her all from her own ideas and takes ideas to a different level. I have had her formally tested by a psychologist for grade levels etc - but wanted more on the creative side to help direct and meet/ exceed her needs.

She is mostly interested in creating things such as arts, crafts, makes up games and does it non-stop and usually reads at least 1 Chapter books a night (about 4th grade books such as Box Car Children etc.) More during the day! She still does normal things for her age like dress up, bike riding but with an imagination and that is beyond her years.

She is very modest about it and has a love of people BUT usually doesn't want others to know how smart she is. No one seems to have test for the creativity etc only the standard. I want more information. I would love to know of ways to help direct her talents and gifts to the best of my ability. Are there programs for children like her? Thanks

A: Kayla definitely appears to have above average creativity talent and you may need to work very hard to help cultivate her gifts. There are many tests for creativity but I am most familiar with the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, which has been used widely and is a rather measurement of individual creativity. This can be done from 5 years onwards, especially for the Figural test. You need to look for an educational psychologist who is able to conduct and score this test in your area. It may be quite hard to keep up with her especially since she is home-schooled as she may need a different environment to create better. Creative children need to change their environment for exposure which will help enhance their talent.

In fact, perhaps she may not need to be tested as you know for sure that she is highly creative. If testing is not available, find out programs in your area which enhances creativity such as the arts and performance. She may want to join certain art and craft classes where they have a systematic way of helping her improve her talents. It would also be good for her to be amongst other people as she is home schooled and such experiences for her would further expose her to greater imagination.

At home, make sure all her learning has some kind of creative elements. The traditional method may bore her, so you would need to think of ways to make learning fun for her. She needs creative learning and creative teachers. The good thing about home schoolings is that the flexibility to use different methods rather than most traditional styles in formal school which is more appropriate for a larger number of students. Best wishes in your journey!

>> Back to Ask an Expert