Go Beyond Words & Numbers

If you see your kid doodling, do not fret thinking he is wasting his time when he should be studying. Rather use this act of drawing images while teaching him. And you may find it to be an effective learning style of his.

Kirti, a six year old, sings the mathematical formulas quietly to herself. Kavisha learns spellings by tapping her pencil in rhythmic patterns. Krish needs to put everything in points in order to cram. Anika draws pictures first and then explains the objects. Raghav puts his own logic to extend his knowledge of simple facts to harder ones. These children naturally express their preferred intelligences as they attempt to master their school assignments.

 “God never makes junk! Each one of us is special and has a unique set of qualities that just needs right encouragement and sometimes guidance to blossom”, says Dr Rima Sehgal, Counselor at Bal Bharti School, Ghaziabad. We are all endowed with different personalities, special skills, preferences and tastes. Think of any one child or person who is not doing well in life and you would be able to find one or the other intelligences highly present in her.  And our ways of learning are as diverse as the colors of the rainbow.

Unfortunately, our conventional education system is focused towards rat race, where a child’s worth is determined by her Report Card, and parents have limited and comparative vision regarding their child’s future and career goals like Engineering, Medicine, CA, CS, BBA or maximum variation can be teaching career for girls! The paradox is even you win this race you are still a rat, tells Nitya Ramaswami, Head Child Development and Academics, Zee Schools.

Let’s survey and understand our children’s intelligences and make them their guide. In fact, there can be no one better than parents to assess the leanings of the child. 

UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF INTELLIGENCE

Besides the two intelligences that we focus on – ‘linguistic and mathematical skills’ – there are six other intelligences that are equally important to a holistic human development. They include–

1. Visual/spatial intelligence
2. Bodily/kinesthetic intelligence
3. Musical intelligence
4. Interpersonal intelligence
5. Naturalist intelligence
6. Intra personal intelligence

These ‘Multiple Intelligences’ are eight different learning styles or ways to demonstrate our intellectual abilities, which was conceived by renowned educational psychologist, Dr. Howard Gardner.  Every human being is blessed with all the intelligences, it is just a matter of being less or more developed in particular intelligence added Gardner. So as parent if you observe and value the difference of intelligence in your child and what kind of learner he is, you can build up activities that will increase the chances of his success. 

JUDGE YOUR CHILD’S INTELLIGENCE

Pay attention to the questions of your children and the activities he tries to do. Like does he dismantle household equipments or he asks questions. Whether he is good with expressions, sways to beats of music or doodles on walls. Observe your child if he plays a leader in a game and see what activities disinterest him. “Once you have a clue of the bend of the mind of your child, learning becomes a child’s play”, reasons Nitya.

While playing with your little one, chalk out a few activities and give him options to perform…solve a puzzle…sing a song…draw a picture or tell a story. You do not need to repeat all the activities every time but keep adding new ones and repeating just two or three. Soon his interest will come to the fore. Use this interest as his learning channel. You might also come to see a blend of intelligences in him.

Expose your child to a variety of activities and things that he is passionate about and wants to do. Allow him to express his knowledge in a range of ways. Soon you would notice recurring success and enjoyment in certain areas. That would be hint enough on the talent or specific high intelligence areas. 

ACT WISE AS A PARENT

• Understand that intelligence is not fixed and there are innumerable options open for the child in spite of poor or average academics. Every human being is blessed with all the eight intelligences; it is just a matter of being less or more developed in a particular intelligence.
• Help your child develop self-esteem that is essential to bring about any positive change, through appreciation and affection.
• Find out the exact cause of poor performance and help the child do better accordingly.
• Focus and encourage what the child can do best rather what he would land up doing average!
• Help him draw his strengths, focus on the learning skills that he can master and see what acumen he would like to expand.
• Remember-One may not measure up to every task presented in life but come out with flying colours in the best chosen ones. Therefore it is very important to encourage children to discover and tap into their intelligences.

Creating a rich, fostering, and a motivating environment filled with interesting and constructive materials, toys, games and books, lays the foundation for healthier, happier and brighter children! So, nurture your kid with such kinds of experiences to help him learn almost anything!