Which of the following characteristics is often found in gifted preschool children?

Gifted preschool children often exhibit unusual alertness as a prominent characteristic. This heightened state of awareness allows them to absorb information quickly and notice details that others might miss. Their curiosity drives them to explore their environment actively, leading to a deeper engagement with activities and learning experiences. This alertness can manifest as a keen interest in their surroundings, an ability to concentrate on observations, and a quickness in responding to stimuli, making it a key indicator of giftedness in this age group.

In contrast, characteristics such as a greater need for sleep, long attention spans, and low excitability levels tend not to correlate with giftedness. Gifted children may actually require less sleep relative to their peers due to their active minds, while they can exhibit varying attention spans depending on their interest levels in particular activities. Additionally, gifted children are often more excitable, demonstrating high energy levels and enthusiasm toward learning, rather than exhibiting lower excitability. Thus, the unusual alertness is a defining characteristic that sets gifted preschoolers apart.