10 Ways To See If Your Kid Really Is A Genius

Your child learned to read at an early age, breezed through flash cards and mastered the multiplication tables. You wonder, is she gifted? Possibly even genius level? Well, there are a number of ways to know for certain just how sharp your little whiz-kid really is. We’re going to share some with you – ten ways to see if your kid really is a genius:

 

1. It’s in the genes. – To an extent at least, you can get a sense of a baby’s intellectual capacity from her parents. Are you and/or your spouse of genius level intelligence? Gifted parents will tend to have gifted children.
2. Verbal benchmarks. – If your child began talking before the age of one year, she is very likely gifted, possibly genius level, which is a score of 140 or more on a standard IQ test, by the way. There is really no more significance to the label than that, something to keep in mind.
3. IQ testing – Results can vary, as do the forms of testing depending on where they are taken and who is administering them. An IQ exam will test a wide range of skills and aptitude. Experts suggest testing a child’s IQ between the ages of 4 and 9 years old.
4. Child Development Specialist – A good place to start if you really wish to rate your child’s level of giftedness is with one of these professionals. They can administer the appropriate tests, and identify indicators that are common among gifted children.
5. Vocabulary – A gifted child will not only learn to read and speak at an early age, but also demonstrate command of an extensive vocabulary for their age. Reading will be a strong habit for a gifted child, and she will be able to incorporate newly learned words into her vocabulary quite readily.
6. At ease with adults. – It is common for gifted children to be able to interact easily with adults. Their interests and conversational skills will be considerably more advanced than those of average child their age.
7. Reasoning/Logic – A highly developed power of abstract thought and reasoning is another common trait among gifted children. They will typically be able to conceptualize subjects and ideas that are too complex for an average child to comprehend.
8. Creativity/Imagination – A creative mind and vivid imagination are two hallmarks of a gifted child’s mind. The ability to “think outside the box” really is a sign of a gifted mind.
9. Memory – An excellent memory, particularly the ability to retain information and learn skills with minimal repetition, is a strong indicator for giftedness. A child with an exceptionally good memory will absorb knowledge much more quickly than a child with average intelligence.
10. Cognitive Skills – Early indicators include being very inquisitive and attentive to one’s environment. Gifted babies will recognize their caregivers, and be very responsive to stimuli like voices, smiles, etc.

If your child exhibits some or most of these attributes described above, then she quite possibly could be a gifted child. Gifts come in all shapes and sizes, however, so do not be disappointed if your child’s IQ is not as high as you would wish. There is more to life than just book-learning, after all 

Contacts and sources: 

Suzanne Cullen

http://www.aupair.org/blog/10-ways-to-see-if-your-kid-really-is-a-genius/ 

18 Everyday English Words That Come From Irish

Break out your"Kiss me, I’m Irish" shirt, lads and lassies; St. Patrick’s Day iscomin’ a’callin. While you’re nursing a green beer atyour favorite pub, look like a nerd dazzle your friends withyour knowledge of the Irish origins of some common English words such as these.(If they say, "Hey, that word’s etymology is Scottish Gaelic," tellthem Scottish Gaelic grew out of Middle Irish, and then punch them in the gob.)

 

1.      Whiskey:It may be a cheap shot, but we’ve got to start with one that’s alcohol-related.Yes, it was the Irish who brought us whiskey, or uisge beatha,"the water of life." We do not recommend it as a healthy substitutefor water.

2.      Boycott:There’s no word evolution involved with this one. Some folks in County Mayo,Ireland decided to fight back against a stubborn land agent for an Englishlandlord who wouldn’t lower their rent. So they refused to have any dealingswith one Capt. Charles Cunningham Boycott.

3.      Slob: It wouldactually be an understatement to call someone who regularly wears clothescovered with mud a "slob." Yet the word derives from the Irish word slab,meaning mud.

4.      Hooligan:Without this word we’d just have to call soccer fans "criminals." Noone argues it’s Irish in origin, but exactly what it sprang from is murky.Perhaps a gang leader and cop-killer of the same name gave rise to the term, orthe family name of a rowdy Irish clan. We’d believe either.

5.      Gob:Do people ever tell you to shut your gob? Based onthe context, you probably deduced they meant shut your talk-hole. It’s slang,which means there’s speculation involved, but this word most likely comes fromthe Irish for "beak" or "mouth."

6.      Gibberish:The Irish had to come up with a word to explain talking while drunk."Gibberish" could be from the Celticgibber, or the Gaelic gabairechd,meaning unintelligible talk. It could even be a play on "gob" or"gab."

 

7.      Leprechaun:Here’s one you should be able to call to mind even after a few pints. Manybelieve the word comes from the Irishleipreachán, meaning"pygmy." We prefer the theory that it refers to their penchant forshoe-making: leath bhróganroughly translates into"one-shoe-maker." After all, no one’s ever caught a leprechaun makingtwo shoes at once…

8.      Brogue:The sartorially savvy will recognize this term for leather shoes with elaboratestitching on the top and sides. We got the name from the bróg, astout, rough shoe worn by Irish highlanders. The term became intertwined withheavy Irish accents because people with them typically wore the shoes, too.

9.      Slogan:Weird to think the term for a war cry has now come to describe what a chorusline sings about paper towels.The Gaelic sluaghghairm breaks down into "army" (sluagh)and "shout" (ghairm). Soldiers would scream their"slogan" at the top of their lungs before rushing into battle.

10.  Clan: Ifyou’re a Smith, Murphy, Kelly, or Shea, you likely belong to a longstandingIrish clan. The word comes from the Gaelic clann and the OldIrish cland signifying "family" or"offspring."

11.  Galore:Galore means an abundance; a plethora, if you will. And we all know what that is."Galore" comes from the Irishgu leor, meaning"enough."

12.  Shamrock: You’ll seeplenty of these on St. Patty’s Day. The reason is St. Patrick used the seamróg,or "little clover," to demonstrate the three aspects of God: theFather, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Shamrocks came to be considered holyplants because of the association.

 

13.  Phony:This is another slang term, which makes tracking its etymology difficult.However, it is believed to derive fromfáinne, the Irish word for"ring." Sailors and swindlers would often try to pass off brass ringsas gold ones, thus the connotation of something that is not what it appears tobe.

14.  Loch:OK, the Loch Ness Monster might not be something that comes up in conversationevery single day, but as far as urban legends go it’s a household name. The"loch" is Irish for "body of water," vis-à-vis a lake.

15.  Smithereens:Let’s just say first, "smithereens" is a fantastic word. What was itblown to? Smithereens! It spawned from the Irish word smidirin,meaning "fragments," as the diminutive version of smiodar,"fragment."

16.  Banshee:You may have heard this word from an elder at some point when you were runningaround the house screaming as a child. Turns out it is kind of insulting toapply it to a guy. It comes from the Irish bean sidhe, the"female of the elves" who called to the spirits of the dead. So, itbasically means "fairy queen," and them’s fighting words.

17.  Bard: Englishmajors love to refer to Shakespeare as "the Bard." Before, you couldone-up them by rubbing the fact that you have a job in their face. Now you knowthe etymology: from the Celtic bardos, a singer or poet.

18.  Slew:Remember sluaghghairm? Sluagh is also the place weget our word meaning "a large number or quantity." As in, you nowpossess a slew of information about English words with Irish origins. Táfáilte romhat. (You’re welcome.)

Contacts and sources:

Emma Taylor

http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2012/18-everyday-english-words-that-come-from-irish/ 

8 Green Cars For St. Patty’s Day

St. Patrick's Day is upon us, and everything's going green. While you may be more focused on your shamrock necktie or bright green tights, the automotive world is taking green to the next level. And environmentally friendly transportation means big business for these lucky automotive outfits. You can read 'em in a pinch, so go ahead and check out these eight green cars (the greenest in all of Ireland) for all your St. Patty's Day motoring needs.

REVA Electric Car

GreenAer is an Irish organization focused on fostering awareness and sales of environmentally friendly modes of transport. They're big proponents of the REVA, an economical electric car with a crazy rad turning radius and several easy options for charging. You're in luck, Europe — this green vehicle is priced right, starting at €11,500.

Toyota Auris Hybrid

Sold as a European replacement for the Corolla hatchback, the Auris hybrid is one of Ireland's favorite sellers. Reasonably priced, environmentally friendly, and packed with features, the Auris hybrid is a solid choice for the price and expected longevity of the vehicle. And with Toyota Ireland sponsoring ECO-UNESCO's "Clubs in Action" program, a portion of your dollars (or, euros, as it were) go to help kids' community projects focused on micro-environmentalism.

Volkswagen BlueMotion Polo

The Volkswagen BlueMotion Polo is another reasonably priced eco-friendly favorite of the Irish. This diesel car knocks the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight out of the water in terms of fuel efficiency, but isn't a favorite in terms of power performance, with its three-cylinder engine and wonky gearshift indicator.

Skoda Fabia Estate Greenline

One of the larger green vehicles, the Skoda Estate GreenLine is a sensible choice for family transportation. The newest version, the GreenLine II, offers even more eco-features, making it the most environmentally friendly member of the Skoda family. Low prices, fuel economy, and versatile usability make the Estate GreenLine and GreenLine II good bets for any European trying to "green" up their commute.

SEAT Ibiza 1.4 TDi Ecomotive

Called a supermini, the SEAT Ibiza, a cousin of Volkswagen, was named one of the 100 most reliable cars of the past decade, according to a GizMag article. And with the Irish getting a tax break for how "green" their engines are, these little eco-wonders are selling well.

Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTi

Newer models of the Opel Corsa, another favorite brand of the Irish, come equipped with "ecotec" engines. These cars aren't known for their beauty of design, but their practical usage platforms make them a favorite of their owners. Partnering with GM Gamma and Fiat, what Opel cars lack in blockbuster sales, they make up for in loyal customers.

Toyota iQ

With the i short for "intelligence," "innovation," and "individuality," and the Q referencing "quality," the Toyota iQ is the company's answer to the Smart ForTwo. This cute, environmentally friendly compact hatchback is a favorite of the Irish, as well as the rest of Europe and Japan — it won Japan's Car of The Year in 2008.

Renault Clio dCi 86

With its slogan reading "Elle a Tout d'une Grande" (the small car with big attributes), this small, comfortable car has a reputation for being simple to handle and utilitarian (read: basic). The engine is capable of running on alternative fuels, and the Clio is a favorite of green drivers worldwide.


Contacts and sources: 

Carl Andrews,
http://www.carinsurancequotes.net/8-green-cars-for-st-pattys-day/