This digest was adapted from D.W. Russell, D.G. Hayes and L.B. Dockery's book, "My Child is Gifted! Now What Do I Do?". The digest is intended to give parents of gifted students an overview of characteristics of gifted children and terminology used in this field. Several definitions of giftedness are offered including one from a parent group emphasizing the interaction with the environment and one from a U.S. government report identifying six types of giftedness. Fourteen general characteristics typically used by educational authorities as indicative of giftedness are listed. The nature of intelligence itself is briefly discusssed. Other terms parents might hear in the context of gifted children are explained including: genius, talented, prodigy, precocious, superior, rapid learner, exceptional, and elitism. Includes five references. (DB)