August 23, 2024 | Julian Karas

Child Prodigies


Extraordinary Children

child prodigy (in German: “wunderkind”) is a child under the age of ten that can perform at an adult level of proficiency and beyond in any field. They are most commonly seen in music and STEM pursuits, but can apply their talents in any subject. Let’s take a few minutes to marvel at some of the greatest child prodigies from history.

Childprodigies-Msn

Mozart: The Young Mozart

The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is well known. He learned to play the piano and violin by the age of five, and from there moved on to composing his first pieces. He was born into a musical family, and his musical development was closely supervised by his father, Leopold Mozart.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

Mozart: Going On Tour

Leopold Mozart shrewdly gauged his now teenage son’s abilities, correctly judging that he would make a big impression on the European stage. Years of touring Europe followed, as critics and audiences were dazzled by Wolfgang’s seemingly boundless potential. The young Mozart, seemed to live and breathe music and was, by this time, composing symphonies and operas.

Mozart And Linley 1770Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

Mozart: A Fountain Of Music

His touring days over, and eager to strike out on his own, the young Mozart held various jobs but never quite settled into any of them for very long. He constantly dedicated himself to improving his music, and remained a prolific composer to the end of his life, which was cut short by illness at the young age of 36. 

W. A. Mozart 1777Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Blaise Pascal: A Genius For Mathematics

There are math prodigies, and then there are math super-prodigies. And then there’s Blaise Pascal, renowned as one of the greatest mathematical geniuses of all time

Blaise Pascal VersaillesPalace of Versailles, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Blaise Pascal: Defying A Father’s Will

His father forbade the youngster from studying math, but this did not prevent him from working out all of Euclid’s geometric proofs on his own, using a hunk of charcoal on an old tile, at the age of 13!

Blaise PascalUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

Blaise Pascal: No Mere Number Cruncher

At the age of 17, Pascal had written a highly influential essay on the conic sections equations which attracted the attention of French philosopher René Descartes. By 20, Pascal had invented the prototype of a working mechanical calculator, and was beginning to direct his razor-sharp scrutiny to other fascinating subjects.

Blaise PascalScience Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Blaise Pascal: Branching Out

Pascal continued to explore diverse subjects beyond the realms of then-current human imagination: fluid dynamics, the relation of air pressure to altitude, probability theory, and he even wrote influential religious treatises. In every respect, we can say that Pascal fulfilled his early potential.

Blaise Pascal Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

Juana Ines De La Cruz: The Rare Genius Of Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz

Born in Mexico City in 1648, few child prodigies had to confront barriers to success the way that Juana Inés de la Cruz did. From a very early age, she would hide in her grandfather’s library without his permission, to read every book she could get her hands on.

Sor Juana Inés De La CruzPalace of Fine arts, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Juana Ines De La Cruz: Scaling A Steep Learning Curve

By the age of three, she could read and write Latin. At 13, Juana was teaching courses in Greek philosophy. She had mastered Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, and was writing verse poetry in that language. 

Sor Juana Inés de la CruzJosé Luis Filpo Cabana, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Juana Ines De La Cruz: A Lack Of Career Options

Eager to enter university, she fruitlessly begged her mother to allow her to disguise herself as a man in order to gain admission. The career path for genius women was certainly very different from what it is nowadays.

Soror Juana Ines de la CruzGregorio Fosman, Wikimedia Commons

Juana Ines De La Cruz: Turning Point

Disappointed at not being allowed to pursue a higher formal education, de la Cruz continued her studies independently. An attractive woman, she turned down several offers of marriage, preferring to concentrate on her studies. She continued to dazzle everyone around her with her wide-ranging erudition.

Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz - Old House AmecamecaCrisp26, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Juana Ines De La Cruz: Making The Most Of Her Situation 

She eventually entered a convent whose rules allowed her to continue studying, teaching, and writing. She pursued these activities at an extraordinarily high level of excellence and productivity for the rest of her life.  Overcoming many setbacks, Juana Ines de la Cruz is now recognized as one of the greatest writers of Spanish and Mexican literature.

book from Sor Juana Inés de la CruzLuis Alvaz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bobby Fischer: Chess Prodigy

Bobby Fischer obtained his first cheap chess set from a candy store at the age of six, and his fascination with the game soon grew into an all-consuming obsession. By the age of eight, he was making a name for himself on the city chess circuit. Fischer’s stellar playing attracted the attention of local chess grandmasters who began to instruct him in the finer points of the game.

Bobby Fisher Anefo, CC0,Wikimedia Commons

Bobby Fischer: From Whiz Kid To World Champion

By 13, Fischer was playing in the US National Chess Championship, where he won the famed “Game of the Century” against Donald Byrne. From there, he went on to win the US championship at the age of 14, in 1958. He would eventually become the World Chess Champion in 1972, at the age of 29, in his legendary games with Boris Spassky.

Bobby FisherDavid Attie, Getty Images

Bobby Fischer: Descent From The Summit

Soon after the greatest victory of his life, Fischer began to display erratic and unpredictable behavior. He didn’t end up defending his championship against the next challenger in line for the title, and was soon stripped of his title.

Bobby FischerStevan Kragujević, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Bobby Fischer: On The Outside Looking In

Fischer did not play a public match for twenty years. Amid speculation about his mental state, possible burnout, and the reason for his many controversial public statements, his competitive chess career was over.

Bobby FischerExpress Newspapers, Getty Images

Bobby Fischer: Obsession Leads To Burnout

It’s possible that a life entirely devoted to chess may have contributed to Bobby Fischer’s later erratic behaviour and withdrawal from the game. Chess is notorious for the long hours spent away from the board studying, and a lack of other interests only adds to the pressure to succeed.

Bobby Fisher W. Punt, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Bobby Fischer: Later Vicissitudes

Fischer was later the target of a US federal arrest warrant for playing a match in Yugoslavia while the country was under UN sanctions. He never returned to the United States. He was later arrested in Japan while trying to board a plane with his revoked US passport. 

Bobby Fischer Pablopv, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Bobby Fischer: Finding Peace

After nine months in a Japanese prison, he permanently moved to Iceland. He continued to write and offer thoughtful commentary on the game he loved. He passed on in 2008. 

Bobby FischerBert Verhoeff, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Tiger Woods: A Child’s Quest For Glory

Tiger Woods began developing his formidable skills under the firm guidance of his father. As a three-year-old, he was able to take part in a putting competition with celebrity golf gadfly Bob Hope. When he was five, he stunned the audience of the TV show That’s Incredible with his skills, and was the subject of an article in Golf Digest.

 Tiger Woods Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Tiger Woods: Climbing The Ladder

It wasn’t long before Woods began asserting his dominance over the junior golf circuit in the United States. By 14, he was even able to compete on a level with PGA (Professional Golfers Association of America) players, including a close loss to the formidable John Daly.

Tiger Woods Ezra Shaw , Getty Images

Advertisement

Tiger Woods: Breakthrough

Joining the PGA at the age of 20, he won the Masters tournament the following season with a record-shattering performance

Tiger WoodsTheflowerbar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Tiger Woods: Years Of Dominance, Years Of Adversity

Woods continued to dominate in the years following his first Masters win, right up until the mid-2000s, when he began to be affected by injuries and inconsistent play. Then, the shocking revelation of his numerous extra-marital affairs damaged his reputation, and many companies withdrew their product endorsement deals with Woods. 

Tiger Woods Chung Sung-Jun, Getty Images

Tiger Woods:  A Tough Act To Follow

In the past 15 years, Tiger Woods has won many tournaments and shown flashes of the early brilliance that mesmerized a generation of fans. He has also struggled at times, and has been unable to consistently dominate as he did in his twenties. Then in 2021, the worst happened: Woods suffered a car crash that left him with "multiple leg injuries", including a fractured right tibia and fibula. Surgeons installed rods and screws to repair his leg, but the severity of his injuries—along with recurring back problems—have cast doubt on his future career.

Tiger Woods Peetlesnumber1, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: Unlocking Potential

We’ve all heard stories of child prodigies and their incredible skills with musical instruments, mathematics, chess, and so on. Viewing the uncanny abilities of such young people makes us wonder about the potential that might lie within each of us. Where do these amazing talents come from? Are they innate to the child, or do they require the stern hand of a parent or instructor to help bring them out?

Child Prodigy River Mason Eromosele TamikaWest, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: Early Exposure

Most child prodigies seem to have had very early exposure to their skill or subject. The child quickly develops a passion for the subject, and with the help of an encouraging adult, is off on their own adventure of incredible achievement.

Musical Instrument, child prodigies GGAABBOO, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: Parental Guidance

History shows that parents often take a strong hand in the development of their children’s exceptional talents. John Stuart Mill is a great example of this: His father pushed him to master philosophy, Latin, and Greek before he was ten years old! And his father’s rules were strict—he stopped Mills from playing or associating with other kids. Mills Sr. wasn’t about to let his son be dragged down by the Law of Averages!

John Stuart Mill and Helen TaylorUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: The Role Of Chance 

Chance events can set children on a path to excellence without the intervention of parents. Michelangelo, for example, was sent off to live with a nanny whose husband ran a marble quarry. The young Michelangelo soon became obsessed with carving figures with a hammer and chisel. He was taking his first wobbling steps on the way to becoming the ultimate Renaissance man.

Gerome Michelangelo Belvedere Torso 1849Jean-Léon Gérôme, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: Privileged Upbringing

Of the five prodigies we’ve looked at, only Bobby Fischer seems to have had a somewhat hardscrabble upbringing as the child of a single mother, moving from one small apartment to another. The other four grew up in more stable middle-class circumstances, immersed in stimulating activities.

Bill Wright And Tiger WoodsAunthank, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: Society’s Barriers

The case of Juana Inés de la Cruz shows that for a long time in the past there were social and economic barriers to the success of a child prodigy. While women are no longer prevented from going to university, poverty, chaotic family situations, and bad circumstances can be significant barriers to the fulfillment of a child prodigy.

Kim Ung-Yong child prodigyUnknown Author, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: Practice Makes Perfect

Proper systematic practice from a young age, combined with the neuroplasticity of a rapidly growing brain reaps incredible rewards. The importance of consistent practice is especially notable in chess and music.

Margaret Isabel Dicksee The Child HandelMargaret Dicksee, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: The Power Of Flow

Researchers have also found that children make the most progress when they can achieve a state of “flow”. Flow is a mental state in which a person’s absorption in an activity is so complete and so enjoyable that they lose awareness of the passage of time, and of all other outside influences or needs

Yehudi MenuhinLumière, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: IQ And Working Memory

Researchers have shown that child prodigies show above average IQs. They also have proven that child prodigies have an outstanding working memory. You may ask, what is working memory?

Kindergarten woodleywonderworks, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: Working Memory 

Working memory is a combination of your short-term memory and the increased reasoning ability that comes from it. The powerful working memory of child prodigies gives them immense abilities of concentration and rapid self-improvement when it comes to performance.

Children in schoolGaleri ega, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Child Prodigies: No Guarantees

Sustained childhood excellence in STEM subjects, language learning, chess, or music doesn’t automatically translate to adult success. That’s mainly because prodigious abilities are often accompanied by great pressure to succeed as the child grows older. For every Mozart or Blaise Pascal, there are many other child prodigies that met with failure, illness, or legal problems in their adult lives. 

Kids Playing ChessWann Majaw, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Hidden Reservoir

Many of us are fascinated by the skills of child prodigies and may even envy the beguiling ease with which they do things. These wunderkinds may even tempt us to ask ourselves where all the years went. While we can’t go back to our childhood, it’s never too late to tap into our potential and develop skills of our own. 

Two Philosophers, By RiberaJosé de Ribera, Wikimedia Commons


READ MORE

Atlantis Internal

Was Plato's Atlantis A Real Place? 10 Plausible Theories

The unknown nature of Plato's Atlantis has given rise to countless discussions among historians, archaeologists, and conspiracy theorists: was it a real place, or just a made-up fantasy?
June 30, 2024 Eul Basa
Pyramids Internal

How Were The Great Pyramids Built? One Convincing Theory

The construction methodology used to build the Great Pyramids of Egypt remains a mystery in today's study of ancient archaeological sites—but one theory stands out among the rest, and it makes some rather convincing points.
July 4, 2024 Sam T. Weltman
Mariecurie Internal

How Marie Curie, The Mother Of Radiology, Changed Science Forever

Marie Curie's contributions to science are some of the most crucial in history, and she achieved them all despite facing several obstacles. This is her story, both inspirational and awe-inspiring.
July 8, 2024 Eul Basa
Shakespeare Internal

Did Shakespeare Have A Ghost Writer? Exploring The Marlovian Theory

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer to have ever lived—but what if he didn't write all of the works that he is so famous for?
May 7, 2024 Sam T. Weltman
Catacombs Internal

The Secrets Behind Paris' Underground Tunnels

Branded as the "City of Light," Paris is well-known for its famous monuments, artwork, and culture. But beyond its idyllic exterior is an intricate network of tunnels that reveal a different narrative; one of mystery and intrigue.
July 6, 2024 Dancy Mason