[Shaun]

A four-year-old girl from Hampshire has been accepted into Mensa with an IQ just one point below Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

Heidi Hankins from Winchester has a 159 IQ. She taught herself to read and was able to count to 40 at two years old.



British Mensa chief executive John Stevenage said Heidi's parents "correctly identified that she shows great potential".

According to Mensa, the average adult IQ score is 100.

In 2009, Oscar Wrigley, aged two and a half at the time, from Reading in Berkshire became the youngest ever child to join Mensa with an IQ of 160.

Mr Stevenage said: "We aim to provide a positive environment for younger members to develop."

According to Mensa, the signs of a gifted child include an unusual memory, reading at an early age, intolerance of other children and an awareness of world events. A gifted child will also ask questions all of the time.

Incredible.

[Mystic Mock]

And I thought my Niece was really clever lol.

Well she still is but not that clever.

[Marc]

My niece will be younger, she can count to two

[Boothy]

Show off.

[Maia]

Wow, amazing

[Livia]

It's an enormous pressure to put on a bright little kid... thrusting her into the limelight with comments like "... [with a score] just one point below Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking".

[Me. I Am Salman]

Urghh so jealous O.O

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Livia

It's an enormous pressure to put on a bright little kid... thrusting her into the limelight with comments like "... [with a score] just one point below Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking".

Hmm wonder if she knows how big a statement that is

[Harry!]

Hampshire where I am from! Such a clever girl and I can imagine that she will have great success in life, but it is unfair to be put in the media spotlight at her age.

[Shaun]

It's also a bit worrying that "intolerance of other children" is treated as a qualifier :/

[Doogle]

Originally Posted by Shaun

It's also a bit worrying that "intolerance of other children" is treated as a qualifier :/

That was my first thought when I read it too.

[Jords]

Thats crazy.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

sassy

[Ammi]

..it is incredible..but the gifted and talented children I've known...are never really 'children'..they're short adults..and I think that's a shame
..I remember one little girl..I never saw her smile..we were all too stupid for her..don't get me wrong she was lovely..and a great conversationalist..but I like to see children laughing at silly things and enjoying themselves..some gifted children are far too serious

[Livia]

My littlest neice is three and thinks it's totally within the realms of possibility that she could be a fairy when she grows up. I like that... There's plenty of time for thinking about serious stuff, but you never get a second crack at your childhood.

[MTVN]

Yeah I don't envy her, saw a documentary on child geniuses and their lives actually look quite stressful and sorta unfulfilling, which sounds like the wrong word to use but as kids I'd say it's better that they should just enjoy thier few years of being completely carefree

[Tom4784]

I hope her talents get nurtured properly but I also hope she has a good childhood, child prodigies are usually put under a lot of pressure.

[Kizzy]

Wow clever girl, being hot housed does cause problems, but if she is naturally gifted she will get bored if not challenged I guess...

[Mystic Mock]

Not meaning to speak ill of the dead but do you think when she's older that she will go weird like Michael Jackson? if so then I feel sorry for her as it means she's been forced to live a life that she probably didn't want.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Shaun

It's also a bit worrying that "intolerance of other children" is treated as a qualifier :/

basically the kid in the corner on their own

[Josiah.]

I taught myself to read at 3 years old.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Coldwinter63

I taught myself to read at 3 years old.

I taught my mum to read at two.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Coldwinter63

I taught myself to read at 3 years old.

I did the same at 4. I loved reading international news with foreign words.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by Livia

My littlest neice is three and thinks it's totally within the realms of possibility that she could be a fairy when she grows up. I like that... There's plenty of time for thinking about serious stuff, but you never get a second crack at your childhood.

Aww..

But anyway yeah hopefully her parents balance things out and ensure she has a happy childhood as well by not putting any pressure on her and letting her have fun too.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

I taught my mum to read at two.

My mum never learned to read and write .....