Multiple Intelligences And Child Development - Child Development and Multiple Intelligences

Written by Jay Davidson

Page 4 of 4

These are some questions to determine if children may be exhibiting a well-developing Naturalist Intelligence. Does your child:

talk about favorite pets or preferred natural spots?
enjoy nature preserves, the zoo, or natural history museum?
show sensitivity to natural formations? (Note that in urban environments, this type of "formation" can include cultural icons.)
like to play in water?
hang around the pet in school or at home?
enjoy studying environment, nature, plants, and animals?
speak out about animal rights and earth preservation?
collect bugs, flowers, leaves, or other natural things to show to others?

Spatial: perceiving the visual-spatial world in an accurate way, so as to be able to work in it effectively. The people who do this cover a wide range of fields that, upon first glance, do not seem to have much in common. Compare, for example, hunters, sailors, engineers, inventors, and surgeons to interior decorators, architects, painters, and sculptors.

These questions can determine if an adult has a strength in Spatial Intelligence:

Have you always been able to reproduce clear images in your mind, even when your eyes are closed or the objects are not in front of you?
Are you sensitive to color?
Do you take a lot of photographs or home movies?
Do you enjoy jigsaw and other visual puzzles?
Do you have vivid dreams?
Do you usually have an easy time getting around, even if it's your first time in a new place?
Do you enjoy drawing or doodling?
Was geometry easier for you than algebra?
Do you have an easy time reading maps and translating their information into reality?
Do you enjoy books and magazines with many illustrations, photos, and design elements?

These are some questions to determine if children may be exhibiting a well-developing Spatial Intelligence. Does your child:

recall visual details in objects?
have an easy time learning to read and understand maps and charts in books?
daydream a lot?
enjoy the visual arts?
demonstrate ability in using art materials and creating drawings, sculptures, or other three-dimensional objects?
enjoy visual presentations such as videos, television, and movies?
get a lot of information from illustrations in books she reads?
scribble, doodle, or draw on all available surfaces?

I have seen limited reference to another intelligence: Naturalist, which is described as being able to recognize plant or animal species in the environment. This one is not included in the two Gardner books I list it here for your perusal, but it was added after this original research.

Howard Gardner's books on this topic are Frames of Mind: The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences.

In addition, Thomas Armstrong continues the work in his Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom . To get a sense of your child's areas of strength, go to www.familyeducation.com, where you can find a page entitled Test Your Child's Talents, which is based on Armstrong's book.

This article has been incorporated and expanded in Teach Your Children Well: A Teacher's Advice for Parents This article is reprinted with the author's permission.

next: Homework Help Page