“If my child doesn’t take Maths and Science at school he/she will never be successful.” Right?
WRONG!
We can’t all be master mathematicians or famous doctors. Who would create the music we listen to while we relax or exercise? Who would paint the artworks we love to admire? Who would write the books we love to read? Each and every child has their own unique talents and abilities. It is so important to encourage these, instead of pushing some ancient notion on your child.
Did you know that Richard Branson, the insanely successful founder of the Virgin Group, struggled at school and left school at age 16? Or that Charles Darwin, the naturalist, who coined the theory of evolution, hated maths and found it extremely difficult?
According to ‘Child Development’ and ‘Psychology: The Study of Mind and Behavior’, Howard Gardner, a psychologist, identified eight different types of intelligence. That’s right! Eight! In his more recent writings, he also speculated that there could be a ninth possible intelligence.
Linguistic intelligence
Writers, poets and journalists have the ability to manipulate and use language exceptionally well. People who possess this type of intelligence are very sensitive to the sounds, rhythms and meanings of words. If your child does well in English, Afrikaans, or other languages, and loves to write stories, he or she probably has high linguistic intelligence. Lawyers, for example, need to be able to manipulate language extremely well in order to argue effectively in court.
Logical-mathematical intelligence
Aha! Maths and science! These individuals can detect logical or numerical patterns with ease, try to use logical reasoning to solve any problem, and will probably grasp mathematical and scientific concepts quite easily. These are our mathematicians, accountants and scientists.
Visuospatial intelligence
Children who are good at remembering pictures, faces and fine details possess visuospatial intelligence. They are often able to visualize objects from many different angles and remember information by creating ‘pictures’ in their minds. Architects, engineers, photographers and pilots all possess these talents.
Musical intelligence
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” – Unknown
Is there anything more beautiful than music? What else can calm you down when you need it, and then psych you up on the treadmill just a couple of hours later? Can anything bring out emotion so perfectly?
Musicians, choral directors and conductors possess the ability to perceive pitch and melody, and are able to express themselves musically.
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
People who are able to gracefully control their bodies, like dancers and athletes, or people who are skilled with their hands, such as carpenters, mechanics and even surgeons, possess bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.
Naturalist intelligence
Individuals who possess naturalist intelligence are passionate about nature. They can’t get enough of animals, plants, minerals, rocks, space – the list goes on. These people include meteorologists, geologists, zoologists, landscapers and game rangers.
Interpersonal intelligence
The ability to relate well to others is the key aspect of interpersonal intelligence. If your child is sensitive to others’ feelings, is a good listener and is able to detect and respond well to others’ feelings and moods, they probably possess this type of intelligence. Therapists, managers, teachers and nurses would need to have good interpersonal abilities.
Intrapersonal intelligence
People who possess intrapersonal intelligence understand themselves – their own feelings, strengths, weaknesses, morals and values. They are usually very confident and highly motivated, like salespeople, psychologists and entrepreneurs.
Gardner’s recent writings suggest the existence of a ninth intelligence, called existential intelligence. This is the keen ability to think philosophically and to ponder the meaning of life, existence and death.
Nurturing and developing different intelligences
I am not in any way saying that, just because your child struggles with a certain subject, he/she should give it up completely. This blog was to point out that there are other facets of your child’s intelligence, and that it is important to emphasize that. Focus on what your child is good at, rather than what he/she struggles with.
Expose your child to different scenarios and environments. Allow them to experience many different things so that they can identify their strengths and become passionate about them. Encourage your child to always give his or her best in everything he or she does, and let them know that their best will always be good enough for you.
If I look at myself, at my past experiences and what I know about myself now, I think I am mostly linguistically, musically and interpersonally intelligent. However, I possess the absolute minimum bodily-kinesthetic intelligence – I am everything but graceful and have never been good with my hands.
It takes time for a child to develop and become comfortable with themselves and their abilities and intelligence. As a parent, just be there. Be there to support them and listen to them. Take time to encourage them and most of all, love them unconditionally.
Bibliography:
Berk, L. E. (2013). Child Development, 9th Ed. New Jersey, NY: Pearson.
Passer, M. W. & Smith, R. E. (2007). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior, 3rd Ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
I’m very interested to hear your thoughts on this blog. Post your comments, suggestions and questions below. I personally read and answer every comment.
Such a relief for me! I have just found out where my children fit in. I am so grateful for this and I will fully support them all the way. Such talent i did not realise just because of focusing on one or two areas????
Hi Onlet! Thanks for your comment! I’m so happy to hear that you found our blog useful!
Please let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like for us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
I am so grateful for your blog, my son struggles with his school work. so he need more assistance than other children but I found that when he is playing sports and in nature he has the best of time and gives it his all. We have a farm and have all kinds of animals only my son can identify each and every one of them individually and can sometime tell when one of the cows is not well or is pregnant. I see now that his passion is in animals and sports and will work hard to nurture that talent
Hi Wendile, thanks for your comment on our blog! I’m really happy to hear that you found our blog useful and that it helped you identify your sons passion!
Please let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like for us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
Great stuff. I will from now on pay particular attention to my toddler and identify his strengths and weaknesses
Hi Betty, that’s great to hear! Identifying your toddler’s strengths and weaknesses at a young age plays an important role in their childhood development.
Please let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like for us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
Thank you for responding Ross. I would really appreciate to learn how I can help my son to improve on reading English and his fluency.
I am so grateful for this! Now i know what to do with my son.He struggles a lot when it comes to maths.I sometimes think his not being serious at all.Now i am thinking if i am not comparing him to his sister.His sister is excellent in maths always get 100% in maths and physics,all most all her subjects.
Now i see i was very wrong.Did not notice i am pushing him.Sometimes we do things not knowing we making mistakes.
Thank you so much
Hi Phumla, thanks for sharing your comment! It’s ok to make these mistakes as we always tend to learn from them. It takes time for a child to develop and become comfortable with themselves and their abilities and intelligence. As a parent, just be there. Be there to support them and listen to them. Take time to encourage them and most of all, love them unconditionally.
Please let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like for us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
Hi my child is more into games(technology).he also struggle in remembering his work, easily loose concentration quickly.so how can I help him?
Hi Gugulethu, thanks for your comment on our blog!
Children are faced with more technology now than ever, so I can understand why your child enjoys gaming so much.
You’ll find that WorksheetCloud is an app that works like a game by answering questions, getting immediate results, earning coins and moving up the Leaderboard. You can check out exactly how WorksheetCloud works as well as all of our cool new features here: https://www.worksheetcloud.com/how-it-works/
Please also let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
Very insightful information. We often feel we have to force our children to achieve in areas that they are struggling with. And find we neglect to develop where their real talents are. This article is so helpful.
Hi Misozi, thanks so much for your comment on our blog! I’m really glad to hear that you found our article helpful 🙂
Please let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like for us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
hi,
thank you so much for opening our eyes to other possibilities which we didn’t know about. I will definitely show this to my son since he is confused about what he wants to become – he is in grade 9 he loves maths and history. I think this will help him and I will be there to support him.
Hi Linah! Thanks for your comment on our blog! I’m really happy to hear that you found our article useful and hope that it will help your son decide his career possibilites!
Please let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like for us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
Hi,
Thank you so much for this article it really gives me confidence in looking at encouraging my son more without being to judgemental on his weak areas.
Thank you.
Francis
Hi Francis, thanks for your comment!
I’m so happy to hear that you found our blog article helpful!
Please let us know if there are any other blog topics you would like for us to cover in the future or if you have any questions regarding our content.
Ross 🙂
This is brilliant, it should be shouted from the roof tops. I think primary school teachers should also be in a position to guide children or at least be able to have these types of conversations with parents.