Is your child gifted? These are the signs to look out for

Is your child gifted? These are the signs to look out for

DUBAI: As a young boy, Michael never sat still. He never closed his mouth. He was always jumping around. "He's a boy," his mum Debbie Phelps said. Fast forward to 2016. At the Rio Olympic Games, Michael Phelps, now age 31, won his 23rd Olympic gold. His astounding swimming record made him the most decorated Olympian of all time. It did not come easy. At preschool, teachers complained: Michael couldn't stay quiet, wouldn't sit at circle time, didn't keep his hands to himself, was giggling and laughing and nudging kids for attention. At age 9, in fifth grade, given his lack of focus and fidgety behaviour, Michael was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). To many parents of children with ADHD, Michael Phelps's story is great news. There's no easy formula for identifying a gifted child. Eman Al Hasheimi, the UAE's first female composer, was given special one-on-one training sessions as part of "Elite Pathways Program" at Repton School Abu Dhabi. Yet there was common thread between Michael and Eman: devoted parenting, great coaching. Certain traits appear to differentiate the gifted child from his/her peers. Restlessness could be a sign, say experts. It may include an early ability to