What is a common characteristic of gifted learners related to their learning pace?

Gifted learners often demonstrate asynchronous development, meaning they may excel in cognitive abilities while their social or emotional skills may not develop at the same rate. This characteristic can lead to them having advanced understanding and knowledge in certain areas, such as mathematics or language, while still exhibiting age-typical behavior in social contexts.

For instance, a gifted child might grasp complex concepts quickly but struggle with making friends or understanding social cues. This disparity allows educators to identify their potential in academics while recognizing that they may need support in other areas of development. This characteristic differentiates gifted learners from their peers who may experience a more uniform development across cognitive and social skills.