A Kentucky girl, who started reading at age 2, became the youngest member of Mensa, earning her a spot in the Guinness World Records.
Isla McNabb earned her spot on the nonprofit Mensa International society, which is open to people who score in the 98th percentile or higher on standardized IQ tests, after scoring in the 99th percentile for her age on Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, according to a Guinness World Record announcement on Monday.
The girl genius, who is now three years old, began to show her potential from the moment her parents brought her home from the hospital, as she was able to be very focused.
The child prodigy learned colors, numbers and the alphabet at one year old and at just seven months old could “select certain elements from picture books when asked,” her father Jason McNabb told Guinness.
And when her father spelled the word “red” on an erasable writing tablet that Isla gave her her aunt for her second birthday, she surprised her parents by reading the word, Jason said.
Isla McNabb made her way into Mensa society by scoring in the 99th percentile on an IQ test at age 2. Pat McDonogh/RED USA TODAY / RED USA TODAY
The father then wrote “blue,” “yellow,” “cat,” and “dog,” all of which the girl could easily read.
The parents also found toy letters around the house that spelled out the objects they were placed near, such as finding CHAIR written next to a chair, COUCH next to the couch, and CAT placed near their pet feline Booger.
So mom Amanda suggested her daughter take the test and, at 2½ years old, she secured her place in the world’s prestigious and oldest high-IQ society.
The Kentucky girl made it to the Guinness World Records for being the youngest woman to join Mensa. Guinness World Records
“The biggest benefit to Mensa is the community,” Jason said, explaining that they have been able to get advice from other parents with gifted children on the best resources to keep their children challenged.
Although Isla is now in preschool, her parents are trying to get her an individualized education program so she can start kindergarten early.
“Isla thinks she’s on par with adults and this can be a challenge,” Jason said.
McNabb began reading and spelling at age 2. Courtesy of Amanda McNabb
“She never settles for ‘because I said so,’” the father said.
He added that while they were able to clearly explain when they needed to hide things from their other children, that trick doesn’t work with Isla.
“If I ask her mom, ‘Hey, should we get an ICECREA-M,’ Isla will perk up and yell ‘ice cream!’” Jason explained.
He surprised his parents with knowledge, even showing them American Sign Language. Guinness World Records
The bright little girl continues to amaze her parents with her knowledge, even showing Jason and Amanda American Sign Language.
And parents often don’t know where Isla gets the things she knows, Jason said.
“He often mispronounces words that we can only assume he learned from reading,” Jason said, giving an example of the boy who pronounces germ with a hard G.
While Isla is good at many subjects and takes pride in learning, she is especially good at math and reading.
Isla’s father, Jason, said she doesn’t take it when her parents say “because I told you so.” Guinness World Records
Jason says he was delighted to see Isla make it to the Guinness World Records and was eager to see what opportunities awaited her.
“He’s accomplished a lot in his three years,” Jason said. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn