Is my child HPI? Signs to look out for

The intellectually precocious child, also called “zebra”, is a child whose intellectual development is ahead of that of children of his age, and who presents certain particularities in his process of understanding and learning. Thus, are considered gifted or HPI, people whose IQ test is greater than 130 : they represent only 2.3% of population. In France, 1.5 million people are thought to be intellectually gifted. Generally of great natural curiosity, they also have an excellent memory and often hypersensitivity.

In recent years, the question of the social and academic future of these gifted children has aroused the interest of a growing public. Professionals do not always agree on this notion and in particular with regard to the fashion effect that has developed around this concept. Detecting a small HPI is now possible from the age of 2 and a half. But then how to spot it? This is the question answered by Emilie Dhérin and Régine Ollier in their book “Small HPI will become big” (Vuibert edition).

What are the major characteristics of an HPI child?

To identify if your child is HPI and therefore of extraordinary intelligence, it must be observed objectively. Be careful not to misinterpret certain signs and wrongly deduce that your child is gifted. Many normal and therefore non-precocious children (whose IQ test score value is between 90 and 110) may exhibit some characteristics of an HPI child. In reality, it is the sum of these signs and their concordance that can cast doubt on a possible intellectual precocity. In schools, it happens that it is the teachers who alert the parents by reporting different behavior, boredom in class or even ease on certain tests, reflecting a disproportionate intelligence for the level of the child. .

In babies, certain traits can arouse suspicion parents and encourage them to take the necessary diagnostic tests when the child is older: “the look of your baby from the first days, his report to the other and to the world around him, his reaction noise, music, smells, his hypersensitivityhis difficulties in sleep and, secondly, the development of speech of your offspring.”

Although these gifted young children do not always represent the same telltale signs of their high potential, some constants can be found:

Hyperesthesia: “their senses are more developed than those of other children. It is important to be aware of this because these toddlers are not always able to express what they feel (…) HPI children often manifest their hyperesthesia through attitudes that their parents do not expect”:

• When you start outings with your child, he is screaming in his stroller when he is in front of you. In this case, respond to his need to look at the world: “offer him very colorful games, turn the stroller “outwards” or turn the baby in your baby carrier.”
• Your child frequently jumps at the slightest noise : hyperesthetics can be very sensitive to noise: your child needs soft sounds, “prefer quiet places, nature, birdsong”.
• Can’t get her to wear a brand new outfit : pay attention to the necklines or side seams, there may be labels that trigger its horrible quirks. “Avoid certain fabrics that are rough or prickly.”
• Your child perceives odors that you do not feel yourself: “avoid any olfactory aggression (chemical products, paints, perfume, gasoline…) and gently accustom it to different smells.”
• For his taste budsmake him discover unusual vegetables and fruits.

Explore with your child his 5 senses and multiply the outings in the parks, in the countryside, bring him to discover the world.

Hypersensitivity: “Parents of an HPI child quickly find that he breaks down in tears over nothing. He is shocked by a story that is read to him in the evening, by a cartoon scene, by an argument that does not concern him..” While for us it is an overreaction, an HPI child feels certain emotions in an amplified way.

In this case, you have to know how to listen, put words to your emotionstake into account their sensitivity, plan moments of relaxation such as breathing exercises and don’t hesitate to get help if you can’t find a sufficient solution.

Hyperactivity: Considered an attention disorder, it is usually this restless behavior which is the source of the first questions. “This disorder can have different causes – cerebral hyperactivity, boredom in class or at home, too much energy… – which must be studied to help the gifted young person.” try to calm him down while seeking the most appropriate solution to deal with this whirlwind of energy.

Otherwise, “it is important to explain to your child that it is okay to behave the way he does”. Follow-up by a psychologist or one child psychiatrist can be a real boost for your child. If he also exhibits hyperactivity in the school environment, this may indicate a certain boredom and a class skip can sometimes resolve this disruptive behavior.

Disturbed sleep: “Sleep disturbances are common in small HPI”. While babies sleep between 2 and 5 p.m. the first three months and between 12 and 3 p.m. between 3 and 6 months, the same is not true for small HPIs. “Sleep disturbances are common in small HPI. When they are detected around 6 or 7 years old, we remember that, from an early age, they suffered from it.” These problems are related to his intense curiosityto a special awakening and to a relationship to the world quite different.

Otherwise, “due to his overflowing imagination and his constantly boiling brain, he may be more prone to nightmares”. To overcome this, you can: opt for co-sleeping, establish rituals before bedtime (like reading a story, singing a song). don’t let him cryfalling asleep afterwards will be all the more difficult.

If in doubt as for the precocity of your child, you will be able to find help and answers from psychologists or child psychiatrists (some of them are specialized in high potential). In addition, do not outlaw the medical sphere and do not hesitate to call on a speech therapist if your child has problems such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc. You can also contact the medical and paramedical staff of the National Education ( school psychologist, school nurse, etc.) and the educational team, including his teacher.

How to accompany an HPI on a daily basis?

As a parent, it can be painful to see your child facing difficulties at school, whether in terms of academic success but also socially. However, the education you bring him will also be one of the keys to his success. Your positioning in the face of his giftedness and the help you bring him will be for him essential support in his future life.

encourage him in his interests and his passions and exchange as much as possible with him. Don’t be afraid to set your own limits, despite his extraordinary judgment and curiosity, he remains a child in whom a reassuring framework must be established. Thus, establish rules while showing your child with High Intellectual Potential that they can evolve in order to prevent him from getting angry.

Reassure your child gifted and help him to accept his difference which can certainly be complicated to tame, but which can also make it its strength.