A child prodigy is, technically, a child under the age of 10 who produces meaningful work in some domain at the level of an adult expert.[1][2][3] The term is also applied more broadly to describe young people who are extraordinarily talented in some field.[4]
The term wunderkind (from German Wunderkind; literally "wonder child") is sometimes used as a synonym for child prodigy, particularly in media accounts. Wunderkind also is used to recognise those who achieve success and acclaim early in their adult careers.[5]
Generally, prodigies in all domains are suggested to have relatively elevated IQ, extraordinary memory, and exceptional attention to detail. Significantly, while math and physics prodigies may have higher IQs, this may be an impediment to art prodigies.[6]
- ^ Feldman, David H.; Morelock, M. J. (2011). "Prodigies". In Runco, Mark A.; Pritzker, Steven R. (eds.). Prodigies. Encyclopedia of Creativity (Second ed.). Academic Press. pp. 261–265. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-375038-9.00182-5. ISBN 978-0-12-375038-9.
For the purposes of this and future research, a prodigy was defined as a child younger than 10 years of age who has reached the level of a highly trained professional in a demanding area of endeavor.
- ^ Rose, Lacey (2 March 2007). "Whiz Kids". Forbes. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
At the moment, the most widely accepted definition is a child, typically under the age of 10, who has mastered a challenging skill at the level of an adult professional.
- ^ Feldman, David Henry (Fall 1993). "Child prodigies: A distinctive form of giftedness". Gifted Child Quarterly. 27 (4): 188–193. doi:10.1177/001698629303700408. S2CID 144180264.
- ^ "Prodigy". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "wunderkind". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ Ruthsatz, Joanne; Ruthsatz-Stephens, Kimberly; Ruthsatz, Kyle (May 2014). "The cognitive bases of exceptional abilities in child prodigies by domain: Similarities and differences". Intelligence. 44: 11–14. doi:10.1016/j.intell.2014.01.010. ISSN 0160-2896.