AboutCarol Bainbridge Expertise I can answer most questions on parenting gifted children, from infants on. Questions can be about parenting, advocacy, and support and I can provide suggestions for toys and books gifted children love. I can even help you determine whether your child is gifted or bright, and I can point you to more information you might need. I can answer some questions about programs for gifted children, but can`t help much with information on colleges. Visitors wanting to know if their children are gifted might want to read the article "Is My Child Gifted?" before asking a question.
Experience I am the parent of a gifted child and have been working with other parents of gifted children for 13 years, helping them find support and providing them with information. I founded a local gifted organization and helped organize a parent day for a national gifted conference. I have been an active member of my state's gifted association since 1999 and created and maintain their Web site. In addition, I have created a website for parents of gifted children who are looking for toys and books for their children: www.giftsforlearning.com.
I am also the Guide About.com Gifted Children Site.
Organizations National Association for Gifted Children. Board member of state gifted association.
Expert: Carol Bainbridge Date: 5/3/2008 Subject: photographic memory?
Question My gifted 6-yr-old has an amazing memory. Within a month of his 2nd birthday he was able to sing the first verse of the "Star Spangled Banner" word-for-word after hearing it twice. At this same age he would recite library books from beginning to end after I had read them once or twice. From what I have read, this is unusual, even for a gifted child. Where can I go to learn more about strong memories? I have read that photographic memories usually deteriorate by adulthood. Is this true and if so, is there anything I should be doing to "exercise" his memory or is there a way he can retain this gift? Thank you!!! Shannon
Answer Hi Shannon,
Gifted kids have excellent, sometimes extraordinary memories. At times, it seems to some people as though these kids have photographic memories. However, a photographic memory, technically called an eidetic memory, is rare and in fact, some people even question its existence.
From your descriptions, it doesn't sound like your son has an eidetic memory. There is a reason this kind of memory is called "photographic." When you take a photograph, the picture is taken in seconds and the picture captures every single detail. That's what an eidetic memory is like. A person with this kind of memory can remember an almost perfect image of something after looking at it for only 30 seconds. The same is true for listening.
If your son does actually have an eidetic memory, I don't know that you'd necessarily want it to continue forever. People with such memories are bombarded with stimuli and it can be difficult to filter the important detail from the less important.
You really don't have to do much to help your son retain his good memory. Gifted kids, as I said, have excellent memories and that ability doesn't disappear with age as an eidetic memory does. They continue to have good memories, which along with a fast processing speed, allows them to learn quickly and easily. If you want your son to exercise his memory, just play memory games. I realize this probably doesn't sound like much, but again, gifted kids have good memories that don't shrivel up if they aren't exercised.
