Gifted children

Gifted children have long been important to American Mensa; one of the first two Special Interest Groups recognized in 1965 focused on their unique issues. American Mensa has more than 1,300 members under the age of 18 with the youngest being 3 years old.

Membership benefits for children
It can be tough to be the smartest kid in the room. Mensa provides wholehearted understanding and support for the intellectual growth of gifted children and young adults.

Locally, each group plans its own activities. Some groups hold activities specifically for children and others offer activities that are "child-appropriate" but open to all ages. There is no "junior" category of Mensa membership, so children are welcome at most Mensa events — unless the activity is limited to adults for some obvious reason (such as an activity in a casino or nightclub). Activities often include game nights, science days, visits to museums and guest speakers.  Nationally, American Mensa has more than 140 Special Interest Groups devoted to topics ranging from astronomy to literature to games.

There is a national SIG for teenagers, TeenSIG, that offers teens from across the country a network of like-minded friends with whom to connect. Children are also welcome at national events such as the Annual Gathering and Mind Games®. The AG includes a special track of programming just for children ages 4-12, and TeenSIG also plans special activities for its members.

Benefits for parents
Raising a gifted child can be a challenge. Many parents enjoy the opportunity that Mensa meetings and events offer to connect with other parents of gifted children. Through the organization’s national gifted children program, parents can get information about support groups, research about giftedness, and places to learn more about encouraging gifted children. Parents of Mensa members may also join the Brightkids email listserv, where parents debate the virtues of various forms of education, ask opinions about raising gifted children, and swap stories about their experiences.

Resources for parents and teachers
Do you want to learn more about raising a gifted child? Are you looking for materials for teaching gifted children? Our list of resources will direct you to Web sites that offer information, support and educational materials specifically for you.


Do you have more questions? Contact the Gifted Children's Committee for answers.