Gifted preschool children have the right to an education designed to maximize their potential, and it is the responsibility of the early childhood educator to develop the competencies needed to provide a child with such an education. However, in order to provide appropriate educational experiences for the gifted and talented child, the educator should (1) possess a basic conception of what "gifted" and/or "talented" means, (2) be knowledgeable about the characteristics of the gifted child, (3) become familiar with various methods of identifying the gifted child (such as standardized tests, checklists, and parental reports), and (4) be aware of existing educational programs for the gifted. (MP)