British four-year-old child prodigy joins Mensa with an IQ of 159

Winchester - Four-year old British girl Heidi Hankins has joined Mensa, the largest and highest IQ society in the world. The toddler from Winchester in Hampshire has a 159 IQ, just one below that of Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

Heidi taught herself how to read and when she was just two-years old she could count up to 40. According to Mensa, the average IQ for an adult is 100. Heidi follows in the footsteps of another child prodigy, Oscar Wrigley, from Reading in Berkshire, who at two-and-a-half displayed an IQ of 160. John Stevenage, Mensa's chief executive said: Heidi's parents correctly identified that she shows great potential. We aim to provide a positive environment for younger members to develop. According to Mensa, the signs of a gifted child include a powerful and exceptional memory, learning to read at an early age, intolerance of other children and a distinct awareness of worldly events. A gifted child will also constantly ask questions. Gifted youngster Heidi sat an IQ test after staff at her nursery said she was too intelligent for them to find activities that may challenge her, reports The Sun. Her father Matthew is hoping Heidi can jump straight into Year Two to ensure is adequately challenged once she's old enough to attend, reports the BBC . Mr Hankins also said his daughter has developed a sense of humour too: The other day I gave her mash and fishfingers for dinner - something quite boring - and her response was ‘that’s impressive’ so she has a sense of humour, too. She is not precocious, she is just a little girl who likes her Barbies and Lego but then you will find her sitting down and reading a book. We are really proud of her.