Amanda and Jason McNabb were in for a surprise when their daughter Isla, just over 2 years old, displayed an extraordinary aptitude for letters and words. The McNabbs, residing in suburban Louisville, noticed Isla arranging plastic toy letters to spell out words like "chair," "sofa," and even the name of their tabby cat, "cat."
Recognizing Isla's exceptional abilities, the McNabbs decided to have her undergo an IQ test in May, when she was 2½ years old. To their astonishment, Isla scored in the top 1% of her community, earning her a coveted spot in Mensa, a prestigious group for individuals with IQs in the top 2 percent. This remarkable achievement makes Isla the youngest Mensa member in the country, as confirmed by Charles Brown, a spokesman for American Mensa.
Isla's journey into intellectual prowess began around her second birthday when she showed an interest in the alphabet. With guidance from her parents, who are an auditor and a doctor, Isla quickly learned to sound out and recognize words. Her ability to read expanded rapidly, going from 100 to 200 words in a short span, eventually reaching 500 words.
In addition to reading, Isla demonstrated skills beyond her age, including counting, basic math, and even writing. Her parents, amazed by her capabilities, sought the expertise of a psychologist in Lexington, who made an exception to test Isla despite her age. The results revealed that Isla excelled in every area, earning her a score in the 99th percentile.
Despite her exceptional intelligence, Isla remains a normal child who enjoys typical activities like watching cartoons, playing outside, and making friends at preschool. Her favorite books include the "Pete the Cat" series and "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom."
While the McNabbs acknowledge the challenges of raising a highly intelligent child, they embrace the joy of witnessing Isla's development. Although Isla's psychologist noted that smart kids may sleep less, the McNabbs are grateful for their daughter's health, even if it means early wake-up calls.
Amanda, Isla's mother, acknowledges the excitement of having her daughter tested but humorously asserts that she won't be taking the IQ test free herself. "She shouldn't know that she's smarter than me," she jokes.
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