At its core, multiple intelligence in children theory focuses on the various types of intellectual and intelligent expressions in kids worldwide. Your child may be excellent at spatial learning and logical learning but may require assistance in kinesthetic intelligence. They may be witnessing growth in interpersonal intelligence but showcasing lower interest in musical intelligence.
How to foster multiple intelligence in children?
As parents, we need to cultivate suitable types of intelligence in children while recognizing inherent aspirations and affinities. You can design an educational schedule and program that focuses on maximizing built-in intelligence types while also providing adequate exposure to other kinds of intelligence. You can also create play dates, study sessions, and online learning lessons based on areas you’d like your child to explore.
What are the 8 multiple intelligences in children?
The eight vital types of intelligence in children are spatial, kinesthetic, logical, linguistic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, musical, and naturalistic. Your child may show a natural inclination or mastery in one or more of these areas, which should be foundational to structuring their future.
You can allow your kids to naturally explore their strengths by introducing the right types of technical inputs. Let’s further explore the eight types of multiple intelligences in children.
1. Spatial
Spatial intelligence in children is a unique ability to gauge the world as it is. They can logically construct different spatial elements without significant assistance. Kids with spatial intelligence tend to learn best with visuals and imagery.
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Naturalists love the outdoors and everything the biological world has to offer. They prefer more active forms of learning, especially as it relates to their areas of interest. Scientists, biologists, and doctors are all naturalists by design.
3. Interpersonal
Interpersonal learners excel in group activities, projects, and assignments. They are adept at understanding emotions and can infuse curiosity into more significant subjects with ease. They respond best to in-person or online coaching techniques.
4. Intrapersonal
If your child has excellent introspective skills, they can benefit significantly from multiple source materials, quiet reflection time, educational games, etc. They can explore topics by themselves across a range of subjects.
5. Musical
Gifted artists, performers, and creative individuals can be crafted with musical intelligence as a critical childhood cornerstone. You can empower your child to explore their musical intelligence by introducing songs and rhymes for learning new subjects.
6. Kinesthetic
You can help your kinesthetically oriented child explore their potential through sports, gymnastics, dance, and other physical mediums. They can be excellent learners when exploring topics through props, tools, and toys.
7. Logical
Logical intelligence types of children respond best to direct and simple instructions. These can enable them to form a core foundation of logical information, with enough space to compute complex directions.
8. Linguistic
Kids that are naturally funny, artistic, and creative can have a stronger linguistic type of intelligence. These kids can learn best when reading through text in narrative form or by online instruction. They can also excel in multiple domains and can be research-oriented.
Benefits of multiple intelligences for children
There are several benefits of having your child focus on multiple intelligence types. It is also ideal for them to remain explorative and curious about other worlds as they strengthen their interest areas over time. For children who love music and are gifted in interpersonal relationships, understanding the movement of their body and spatial awareness can be a lifelong asset.
Communicating with kids of different backgrounds and interests is also easier when your child has access to different types of intelligence. They can form new friendships and explore other types of subject matters when they are confident in their abilities to grow further. You can focus on an at-home culture of exploration and discussions that can keep them curious and constantly seeking the correct answers.
Your kids can also remain flexible and versatile in an ever-evolving environment. With the introduction of technology at scale, kids need to have the right base set of skills across domains to remain ahead of moving dynamics. They can also blend different intelligence and skill areas to create new interests adding further value to their future lives.
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How to cultivate multiple intelligences in children
There are several strategies you can employ to cultivate multiple intelligences in children. You can opt for the right mix of protocols and programs to ensure that your child has an active interest in more than one intelligence area.
1. Designing quality time for exploration
You can cultivate multiple intelligence in children by simply designing quality time within their schedule to focus on different areas. You can chart out a few hours each week to maximize their exposure to different environments while introducing new books, tools, and technologies to help them grow. You can identify barriers and limiting mindsets in your kids and encourage them to constantly seek new areas of expertise and exploration.
2. Enabling multiple forms of stimuli
You can self-assess your kids’ strengths and weaknesses and include different learning experiences to balance their outlook. If they show a more substantial interest in socializing and ballet, then showing them projects on linguistics and math can keep them curious. You can encourage them also to be aware of their type of intelligence and connect with kids that can provide them input on different subject areas.
3. Expanding reach and areas of influence
You can cultivate a sense of active development of multiple intelligence in children by expanding their reach and accessibility. You can opt for online learning courses, games that teach kids about skills, and regular library visits to empower your children. You can also encourage your children to explore new classes and playgroups where they can focus on developing other skills.
4. Mentorship in key areas
You can enable your children to access mentorship programs or unstructured quality time with family and friends who have mastered areas they may be interested in. If they are musically oriented, connecting them with music teachers will be a great way to help them develop earlier. If they love logic and mathematics, spending time with family members who are scientists will be of great benefit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are multiple intelligence skills?
Mainly speaking, multiple intelligence skills are cultivated domains and expertise areas that kids can focus on. This can help them develop strengths in specific skill areas, such as computing, teaching, entrepreneurship, etc., by dynamically balancing their intelligence and skills.
What is the 9th type of multiple intelligence in children?
Existentialism and existential thinking are also considered a type of intelligence in children that can emerge as a way of thinking about the universe. Kids can become more aware of the more important questions in life and begin reviewing their role in the world around them.
How do you teach kids with multiple intelligences?
Introducing new references, source materials, and texts is important to engage kids with multiple intelligences continually. You can also acquire input from them and gauge what lens they are viewing the subject matter. You can introduce new learning platforms, online games, and worksheets to stimulate their minds.
Why is multiple intelligence in children important?
One of the many reasons why multiple intelligences are important for comprehensive development is the level of curiosity it delivers. Your kids can remain active and think about different topics from different perspectives. They can think about physics with a musical lens, and biology through a kinesthetic approach.
