Photo courtesy WFAA
FRISCO, Texas (WBAP/KLIF News) — America’s youngest Mensa member lives in Frisco. Zayn Riyas is 2 years and 11 months old. He’s been reading for a year and can point out every country on a map.
His parents told WFAA Zayn’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge is insatiable.
“He asks lots and lots of questions, especially when we’re driving in a car,” his father, Mohamed Riyas Ali Farook, said. “He points at things and says, ‘What is that? Why is it happening?’”
A pediatrician urged Farook and his wife, Grace, to have Zayn tested. He scored 142 on the IQ test. Most people score between 90 and 110.
Membership in Mensa requires a candidate to score at the 98th percentile or higher on an approved test.
“He’s one of three aged three and under and one of 56 members aged five and under,” said Charles Brown with American Mensa. “That’s out of 50,000 members.”
Brown added that being a genius child can be very difficult. “Being the smartest kid in the room is not as easy as it sounds,” he said. Mensa tries to help kids fit in and develop normal social lives.
Zayn’s parents aren’t pushing their son.
Farook says, “We don’t want to put any pressure on him. It is according to his pace.”
As toddler’s go, Zayn’s pace so far is lightning fast.
