A 2-year-old girl from Los Angeles recently became the youngest American member of Mensa. That’s right: There’s a toddler that likely has a higher IQ than most of us. For the most part, she is still a normal two-year-old – with a few differences. (1)
Kashe Quest: The Youngest American Member of Mensa
Kashe’s parents said that they began noticing she was not your average little girl shortly after she said her first word. Very quickly, she was speaking in full sentences of five words or more. Their pediatrician took note at her 18-month check-up and they decided to take her to a psychologist. There, she took the Mensa test and soon after became the youngest American Member of Mensa. (1)
“She has always shown us, more than anything, the propensity to explore her surroundings and to ask the question ‘Why,'” Kashe’s father Devon told CNN. “If she doesn’t know something, she wants to know what it is and how does it function, and once she learns it, she applies it.” (1)
How Do You Become A Member of Mensa
On the test, Kashe scored an IQ of 146. To join Mensa, applicants must score at a minimum in the 98th percentile. It’s no surprise that the youngster scored so high. A few of her capabilities include (1):
- Naming all the elements on the periodic table
- Identifying all 50 states by shape and location
- Learning Spanish
- Deciphering patterns
Considering most two-year-olds are just learning to stack blocks, scribble, and that if they turn over a container, the contents inside will fall out, this is pretty impressive. (2)
How To Parent A Genius Two-Year-Old
For the most part, Kashe’s parents say that they parent her just as they would any other child. A couple of differences include that she requires more mental stimulation than the average toddler. Still, they ensure that she is living a relatively normal childhood and that she spends plenty of time around kids her own age. Her parents don’t want to put any pressure on her – she’s still only just two years old at heart. (1)
“I think the biggest takeaway from us doing it was we wanted to make sure we were giving her everything she also needed, in terms of her development and natural curiosity and her disposition — and we wanted to make sure we did our part in making that happen for her,” her mother said. (1)
The family also says that intentional communication is crucial with Kashe. The reason for this is that, unlike most other children her age, she can actually keep her parents accountable for the things they say. (1)
“It has taught us patience in how to communicate with her and we are very conscious of the words we use with her and how we explain things,” Sukhjit said. “It has definitely taught us how to be better communicators with each other and collectively as a family because we all have to be on the same page.” (1)
Read: Mom dragged for using Play-Doh to demonstrate C-section surgery to son
The Modern Schoolhouse
Naturally, Kashe is too advanced for regular preschool. They first started Kashe with an instructor at home, and from there The Modern Schoolhouse came to be. (1) Created by Kashe’s mom, it is a school that strives to create a unique and diverse education from a young age. They emphasize individuality with the goal of creating confident, independent leaders. Their core values are teaching strong work ethics, habits, and values. This means the children have room to explore topics and ask questions to drive their own learning while being guided by an adult. (3)
“In terms of raising a child you want to give them these skills and this growth mindset … to become that strong individual,” Kashe’s mother concludes. (2)
Keep Reading: Experts Say Your 8-Year-Old Should Know How to Do Laundry
Sources
- “A 2-year-old from California is the youngest American to become a member of Mensa.” CNN. Lauren M. Johnson. May 28, 2021.
- “Your Child at 2: Milestones.” WebMD.
- The Modern School House