Isla McNabb, a three-year-old from Crestwood, Kentucky, has gained worldwide recognition for her remarkable intellectual abilities. At just two years old, she made history by becoming the youngest member to join Mensa, the oldest and most recognized high IQ society.
The story of Isla began to unfold when her parents noticed her impressive concentration and learning skills at just one year of age. From that point on, Isla learned to recognize colors, numbers, and letters, displaying advanced cognitive skills for her age.
However, it was a gift from her aunt—a reusable writing tablet—that sparked her parents' curiosity about her potential. Jason McNabb, her father, shared with Guinness World Records that he wrote the word 'red' on the tablet, and to his astonishment, Isla read it effortlessly. Intrigued by her response, they continued writing other words like 'blue', 'yellow', 'cat', and 'dog', which Isla read with surprising ease, despite being much younger than the average age for acquiring such skills.
At two and a half years old, a test revealed that Isla had achieved an intelligence percentage in the 99th percentile for her age on the Stanford-Binet scale, one of the most widely used IQ tests globally. She scored high enough to be accepted into Mensa, an organization that groups individuals with scores above the 98th percentile on standardized intelligence tests. On June 2, 2022, Guinness World Records officially recognized her as the youngest member in history.
The McNabb family's decision to enroll her was motivated by their desire to connect with other parents in similar situations, as they discovered that resources for gifted children are limited, especially for such young kids. According to The Guardian, the psychologist who evaluated Isla specialized in gifted children, although he rarely tested children under two years old. However, he made an exception upon learning about Isla's extraordinary cognitive development.
Isla’s rapid evolution is not limited to her reading skills. Throughout her short life, she has shown a particular interest in mathematics, excelling notably, and has begun developing other surprising skills, such as learning American Sign Language.
At home, her parents found toy letters arranged in various places to form words like 'chair' next to a chair and 'sofa' next to the sofa. On one occasion, they even found the letters 'C-A-T' next to their cat Booger, which Jason McNabb described as 'strange' in a conversation with The Guardian.
Moreover, her parents noted that while Isla is very aware of her ability to learn and excel and sees herself in videos on television and YouTube, she still does not fully grasp what it means to be one of the youngest individuals to achieve membership in Mensa.
Isla's educational future is another concern for her parents. She is currently enrolled in preschool, but the McNabbs hope to advance her so she can continue her intellectual development at a pace suited to her abilities.
Isla particularly enjoys books, with favorites including 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' and 'Pete the Cat'. She also enjoys creative activities such as drawing and playing with her cat Booger, demonstrating that despite being a child prodigy, she still maintains her interest in age-appropriate activities.
Despite her achievements, Isla McNabb's story also serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by parents of exceptionally gifted children. As her parents shared with the Guinness World Record website, the lack of resources and adequate support for gifted children, especially at such early stages, can be overwhelming. Enrolling in Mensa has been a way for them to seek guidance and connect with other families in similar situations, something they consider essential for ensuring their daughter's well-being and overall development.