Many parents think their child is a genius. However, if you've ever watched the game show "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader", you would know there are really intelligent kids out there who can outsmart even a knowledgeable adult.

Having a brainy child may not be as exciting as it sounds if parents do not know how to nurture and parent them. Most parents in our communities, for example, can just dismiss their child as simply "the smartest in class", or they genuinely do not know how to nurture their child's potential.

For the children, it can also be frustrating as no one understands them. Sometimes they can also be bullied by other kids intimidated by their high IQs.

While there are various programmes all over the world that cater for gifted youngsters - the US even has a federal law, The Jacob K Javits Gifted & Talented Student Education Act of 1988, to enforce the catering for gifted kids - the sad reality is that SA is not on the same par as many developed countries.

SA has very few institutions for gifted children.

One is Randford House in Joburg. Sowetan spoke to its founder, Dr Shirley Kokot, who is also the president of the National Association of Gifted and Talented Kids in SA, on how parents can nurture their gifted children.

How can a parent know that their child is gifted and not just smart?

"The first thing parents have to do is have a formal assessment (of the child) if possible," says Kokot.

Kokot explained that IQ tests are vital in determining if one's child is gifted intellectually.

"Most people do not even know about IQ testing. I can't imagine that many people in rural communities and informal settlements, for example, have IQ testing done.

"Identification is a major problem in a country like SA, but nevertheless very important."

Kokot says that because some parents may struggle to get their children IQ tested, there are pointers that a parent can use to determine if a child is gifted.

"Characterisitics of giftedness can help with identification," she adds. Here are typical characteristics that a parent may look for in their child, according to Kokot.

l Look at your child's development - particularly of language and advanced use of vocabulary.

l Easy grasp of concepts and the obvious ability to learn easily and retain the information.

l Intellectually gifted children are typically those who learn after hearing or doing (something) once and then seem to remember forever: memory is a big signpost.

l Huge curiosity with the clear desire to want to know more than the average parent is prepared to give.

"Also very important are emotional indicators," says Kokot.

"Most gifted children are exquisitely sensitive and not just soft-hearted. They experience very intense emotions.

One way of recognising a gifted child is to look for over-excitabilities. Such children show very high levels of over-excitabilities - in the physical (very active), emotional andsensory (many are highly sensitive to light or sound or smell or touch)."

Kokot says kids who do very well at school but show a normal, balanced emotional life are not gifted.

"These are the intelligent, high achievers. A much more comfortable state to be in as they do so well but don't have any of the many challenges and discomforts that so often accompany giftedness."

So is there a difference between being gifted and being intellectually superior? Yes, says Kokot.

"Lots of parents have a mistaken belief of what giftedness is. Giftedness is more than merely seeming to be brighter than other kids.

"Average children succeed academically in schools designed for the average, and can be top of their classes easily.

Gifted children don't fit well into average schools, as the teaching methods and teaching pace might not necessarily measure up to how much they can grasp."