The term child prodigy is normally reserved for children who have by age 11 acquired or demonstrated skills in some discipline comparable to that of a skilled adult professional. It's this mastery of some field at an early age that distinguishes them from the merely gifted, talented or just plain smart kids most of us have come into contact with. Child prodigy is an extremely rare, even historical event. Think chess grandmaster at age 12, or just look at some examples of the artwork of Akiane.

While irritating, there is some truth to the definition, "if you have to ask . . ." Disappointed parents can take solace in the fact that child prodigy is no certain predictor of future success, let alone happiness. History abounds with geniuses, Albert Einstein, for example, leaders and pioneers without that distinction.