How smart is your child and in what way is he smart?  Have you heard of Multiple Intelligence theory?

Gardner’s multiple Intelligence theory can be used to improve your kid’s learning.

Teaching in your child’s Multiple Intelligence areas makes learning easier and uses your child’s natural gifts.

We all know people who are gifted in different ways.  Some people are great with math. Other people are great at making things with their hands. There are other people who are good at writing.

There are a lot of ways people can show they are smart in their own way. If you know your child’s areas of intelligence, then you can use your child’s strengths to make learning easier for your child.

Dr. Howard Gardner identified nine ways in which people reveal their learning abilities. He called these different ways of thinking “multiple intelligence” types.

Dr. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory

Dr. Gardner believes people can be intelligent in one or more areas. In addition, his ideas broaden our understanding of intelligence.

As a parent of a child who struggles with one or more areas of traditional academics, you know your child has strengths in some areas. Therefore, you may recognize your child’s cognitive intelligence among the different types of intelligence in the chart below.

Identify your child’s learning strengths. As a result, you can help your child use his or her strengths in learning and activities. You can help your child explore ideas for careers that match your child’s unique abilities too.

Primary Multiple Intelligences Areas

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Gardners multiple intelligence theory
You may want to watch this short video about Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory. It’s a video from Dr. Howard Gardner himself. The Video opens in a new window, so you can easily come back here:

Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory
By understanding multiple intelligence types, you can help your child get excited about his strong skills. Try to find learning activities that use your child’s strengths and gifts. Teach him by using his unique areas of intelligence.

How to use Multiple Intelligence theory in learning:

Logical-Mathematical or Spatial Learners

First Lego League Robotics might appeal to a child who has good math, logical-mathematical, or spatial abilities. Be sure to include math concepts in learning units to engage your child in learning.  For example, if you’re studying whales, include exercises to measure out the length of a whale. Or you could have your child look up land objects that are around the same weight as a whale.  For just about any topic, math questions can be included.

Interpersonal or Linguisic Intelligence

Odyssey of the Mind is great for children who are strong in their Interpersonal intelligence or Linguisics.  If your child is social and outgoing, then group programs such as drama, debate, small group classes, etc., can help your child be more engaged in learning.

Bodily-Kinesthetic (B-K) intelligence

Sports activities are great for children who have Bodily-Kinesthetic (B-K) intelligence. Moving while learning is a big key for keeping B-K learners engaged in learning.  Your child can rock in a chair, jump on a mini trampoline, or walk on a treadmill while reading, listening to an audio book, or reciting facts.  Check out additional Kinesthetic learning activities to teach your child with movement and hands-on activities.

Existential or Intrapersonal Intelligence

Existential or Intrapersonal kids can learn better if learning is linked to your family’s religion, self-improvement, or personal growth studies.  If you explain how a topic affects your child personally, it helps him relate to the content.  For example, when talking about the water cycle, you can help your child understand how your family uses water each day.

Musical Intelligence

Musical children like learning how to play an instrument, sing, or learn about music.  Children with musical intelligence love learning through jingles, clapping rhythms, listening to musicals, etc.

Naturalistic Intelligence

Naturalists like hiking, outdoors activities, learning how to garden, etc. They enjoy learning about how everything affects the world around them. They also enjoy being outdoors while learning.

Linguistic Intelligence

Linguistic learners love talking about and hearing about concepts.  They are often auditory learners and can learn through great auditory learning activities.

How to find your child’s Multiple Intelligence area(s):

To figure out your child’s area(s) of “intelligence,” try one of the following tests:

For an older child (middle school aged or older), this is my favorite test: www.literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html. The results give your child’s top three areas of intelligence. It also has a rating scale. Each area’s rating is provided at the bottom of the results.

If you have a younger child, go ahead and take this free test for your child, with your child’s ways in mind. Afterward, look at each of the areas of intelligence to see which ones apply to your child. With any age child, you can use the test found at: www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-assessment to figure out which area(s) of intelligence most apply to your child.

No matter what, whichever intelligence areas your child has, you can use his strengths and help build his self-esteem.  For children who struggle with traditional schooling, getting away from books and worksheets can make a world of difference. Being successful in any single area of intelligence can make the world of difference in your child’s happiness.

In addition, having an intelligence group will enhance his feelings of belonging to a group. It gives him or her a sense of pride and purpose.

Most of all, every child needs to feel capable in some way!  Find your child’s abilities within the Multiple Intelligence types above and build more learning success into your child’s schooling.  You’ll be glad you did when you see easier learning  benefit your child.


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