Patterns of Early Play Behaviors Between Gifted and Typical Children

• In Event: Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: New Research in Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent

Abstract

This quantitative study examines observational data of gifted and typical children in a Constructivist-based early childhood setting over 2 years. This exploratory study has shown patterns of play behaviors vary between gifted and typical children. Specifically, gifted children spent more time in functional, dramatic, and solitary play, while typical children spent more time in constructive and parallel play. The differences in patterns of observations and the language scores, provide further support for the validity of nonverbal intelligence tests for the identification of young gifted children. These findings add to the available research regarding early childhood giftedness and indicate areas in which future studies could provide deeper analysis.

Author

• Hope Elisabeth Wilson, University of North Florida