Sure, we all know our kids are smart, but how can you tell when a child is actually gifted?

Gifted children are not always the highest achievers in school or the kids with the best grades.

Do you know what to look for in your child?

Remember the movie "Little Man Tate"? It gave us an inside look at the world of the so-called gifted kids - the ones that might not necessarily be book smart, but are intense, highly curious and think outside of the box.

But research shows it's not always a bed of roses for youngsters who are considered gifted.

"Gifted land is not a pretty place to be," said Paradise Valley District spokeswoman Dina Bruelles.

Brulles is the gifted coordinator at the PV School District and says gifted children faces issues such as stress, depression and difficulty making friends.

"Sometimes kids don't have as much ability or ease. (They) don't understand each other," she said.

Twelve-year-old Kyra Taylor has been in gifted programs for years and even skipped a grade, but she's one of the lucky ones. She's happy in school and makes friends easily.

"All my friends are older, but it seems like we're the same age so it really doesn't make a difference," she said.

Kyra's mother, Tina Taylor, said she knew early on that her daughter was not typical.

"Some of her first words were difficult -- tortilla, airplane -- not your typical mama and dada," she said.

Taylor said Kyra has always shown some of the classic traits that many gifted kids share.

"Very intense, high concentration levels," she said. "She absorbs information -- always very observant."

Bruelles said that instead of giving answers to teachers, they seek deeper complex reasons.

"If I was not in the advanced classes I'd be bored because I'd know all the answers so I'd get bored, and it would be really boring," she said.

Experts advise parents if you suspect your child might be gifted, talk to someone at school about having him or her tested.

You can also find a number of books that address the issue and there are even checklists that note characteristics of gifted children.

"They have a whole list of questions. Is your kid smart or gifted? And if you know your kid, you can easily answer them and say, 'Yeah, that's my kid,'" Taylor said.

Experts say there is a fine line between a bright child and a truly gifted learner.

A bright child knows the answers to questions; a gifted learner asks more questions;

A bright child is at the top of the class; a gifted child is beyond the class;

Bright children are often popular with peers, where many gifted children prefer adults.

Other signs that your child may be gifted is that he or she is creative, intense, curious, observant, a good guesser ad highly self-critical.