Precocity

Precocity is used to indicate an intellectually gifted child's advanced development in cognitive areas. Although the term can refer to advanced performance in any domain, it most frequently is used in conjunction with advanced language and thought. Historically, starting with Alfred Binet, precocity was sometimes expressed in terms of intelligent students having a higher mental age compared with their chronological peers. Precocity is sometimes also referred to as asynchronous development wherein gifted children's mental development surpasses their physical development. Precocious children's performance, on intelligence tests or at other tasks, matches that of older children. This entry explores behaviors that may demonstrate precocity, studies of precocious children, positive and negative adjustments precocity brings about, and ways of serving precocious children.