Giftedness and Children - FAQs by Kathe Oliver (BACK ARROW TO EXIT) Mensa's Gifted Children's Coordinators spend a lot of time answering questions. Here are ten frequently asked questions, and their answers. Q. What does "gifted" mean? A. In general, it means an unusually intelligent person. To some extent, the definition depends on the person or organization that is using the term. Schools with programs for the gifted ("G&T" or "TAG" programs) usually include children who score in the top 2, 3, or 5 percent of an intelligence test, along with other criteria. Anyone who scores in the top 2% in an accepted standardized IQ test may join Mensa. Q: Where can I go to learn more about giftedness and gifted children? A: Start at American Mensa's website, www.us.mensa.org Go to "Gifted Children" in the "Quick Links" section for access to a variety of information, including a list of recommended books. Be sure to visit the Hoagies' Gifted Resources link, www.hoagiesgifted.com , home to the Internet's largest collection of information on gifted children. Other important sites include www.sengifted.org , the website of SENG/Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted, and the website of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, www.ditd.org The Templeton National Report on Acceleration, A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students, is essential reading for anyone who cares about gifted children. Go to www.nationdeceived.org to download the entire study, or to order a free paperback copy of Volume One. Q: How can I find out more about Mensa's Gifted Children's Program? A: For information about the national program, read the Mensa Bulletin and Interloc, and visit the GCP's website by going to www.us.mensa.org and clicking on "Gifted Children." For information about the local GCP, talk to the Gifted Children's Coordinator (GCC). Contact information is in the newsletter, or on the Local Group website. If no GCC is listed, talk to the Loc Sec. Q: How do children join Mensa? A: American Mensa's youngest member is three years old. However, the Mensa Admission Test given by Mensa's proctors is standardized for people age 14 and older. Younger Mensans join by submitting a score from any one of more than 200 tests that are accepted as prior evidence. To find out if a test is accepted for Mensa membership, call 1-800-66-MENSA (63672), or email testingcoord@americanmensa.org. Q: Must children be members of Mensa to attend Gifted Children's Program (GCP) events? A: Family members and guests of Mensa members are normally welcome to participate in all GCP activities. Children who are not affiliated with Mensa may attend GCP events as guests of the GCC to learn more about Mensa. Local Group policies may differ at the discretion of their Gifted Children's Coordinators and Executive Committees. Q: I know gifted children who live in another town. Could they join our Local Group? A: Members are assigned to Mensa's Local Groups according to their Zip Codes, although anyone may join any Local Group as a "member by preference." Information on which areas belong to which Local Groups can be found by going to www.us.mensa.org and clicking on "Groups." Q: I want to volunteer to work with Young Mensans, and I have an idea for a GCP event. Who should I talk to? A: Contact the GCC. Volunteers and ideas are always welcome! Q: I would like to help gifted children. Are there advocacy groups for gifted children? A. While many (or most) Mensans are advocates for gifted children, Mensa as an organization is not an advocacy group. The largest nationwide advocacy group for the gifted is the National Association for Gifted Children, or NAGC (202-785-4268, www.nagc.org ). The NAGC website has information on statewide advocacy groups. Q: Are there schools or summer camps specifically for gifted children? A: There are few schools for the gifted, but there are many camp and supplemental education programs. GCCs and teachers of the gifted have information on local programs. The state Department of Education website may list programs in your state. To learn about other programs, start with the Hoagies' website, www.hoagiesgifted.com Additional information is available in the "Gifted Children" section of the AML website, www.us.mensa.org ., and the NAGC website, www.nagc.org Camps and schools which advertise themselves as being for the "above average" student will have some gifted children in attendance, but they are not camps for the gifted. Q. Will the Annual Gathering (AG) have activities for Young Mensans? A. Yes! The 2007 AG, "Give Me That Old Time A'GN," to be held in Birmingham, Alabama from July 4-8, will have many activities for Young Mensans! Kids Trek will be back for Mensans from ages 4-12, and Teen SIG promises fun for the older Young Mensans. For more information, check the Mensa Bulletin or go to the AG website, ag2007.org. ***** Information given this column is current as of the date when the column was submitted. Websites and their contents are always subject to change. Mention of a website in this column does not imply endorsement by American Mensa, Ltd. (Adapted from "FAQs," published in IMprint, the Newsletter of Northern New Jersey Mensa, in March, 2007. This article may be reprinted without alteration by any AML local group, as long as credit is given to IMprint and the author. Please notify Kathe Oliver at k.oliver@pobox.com.) (BACK ARROW TO EXIT)