Preschooler is the youngest member in Mensa, an intelligence society, at the age of 2.5 years.
Two-and-a-half-year-old British Child Enters High IQ Society Mensa
Joseph Harris-Birtill, a 2-year-old child from the United Kingdom, has made history as the youngest member ever admitted to the High IQ Society Mensa, according to Guinness World Records. The young prodigy, at just 2 years and 182 days old, has secured a position in the society that accepts individuals who rank in the top two percent in standardized IQ tests, translating to an IQ of at least 132.
Joseph's remarkable cognitive abilities have caught the attention of his parents, university lecturers Rose and David Harris-Birtill, who realized early on that their son was exceptional. "His rapid progress in reading and the advanced use of language made it clear he was an extraordinary child," Rose Harris-Birtill shared with the "New York Post." To nurture his high intelligence and provide him with the appropriate stimulation, his parents applied for his admission to Mensa.
Measuring the IQ of toddlers can be challenging, as tests like Stanford-Binet and WPPSI are usable from the age of two. However, experts caution that any results should be interpreted with caution, as toddler IQ tests can have varying degrees of accuracy. Despite this, Joseph's achievements are undeniably astonishing: he spoke his first word at seven months old, could read fluently for ten minutes at a time at 2½, counted up to ten in five languages, and demonstrated the ability to count forward and backward beyond 100. He is currently learning Morse code and shows remarkable aptitude for languages, mathematics, cooking, and making paper airplanes.
Joseph's exact IQ score is not disclosed, but his cognitive achievements are undoubtedly impressive. He exhibits a friendly and affectionate nature, curiosity, confidence, and incredible determination, as his mother described in the same interview. She emphasizes that despite their giftedness, exceptional children may face challenges adapting to environments that are not designed to support their unique talents.
Source: ntv.de, ija
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Mensa, a global organization for individuals with high IQs, adopts a rigorous process for admission. The process typically involves a supervised IQ test that measures various cognitive abilities, such as pattern recognition, logical reasoning, and verbal comprehension. To qualify, individuals must score in the top 2% of the population.
Exceptional children, like Joseph Harris-Birtill, demonstrate IQ scores significantly above the average, exhibit rapid learning, advanced problem-solving skills, and a strong desire for intellectual pursuits. Their engaging in advanced academic activities at a young age, displaying creative talents, and showing a strong curiosity for the world are signs of exceptional children.
Children like Krish and Keira, who scored high on Mensa tests, are examples of exceptional children who have shown advanced cognitive abilities at a young age. While the precise age at which a child can take an IQ test may vary, there is no specific age limit for qualifying for Mensa membership.
The Community policy should address the educational needs of children like Joseph Harris-Birtill, ensuring they receive appropriate stimulation and resources to foster their intellectual growth, as demonstrated by his admission to Mensa at the age of 2. Employment policy must provide opportunities for the exceptional skills and talents of these young prodigies, acknowledging their potential contributions to lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and various professional fields.
