Every Kind of Smart

One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching children play, really play. I want to know: will a child approach a new activity eagerly or cautiously; will he go to his favorite spot in the classroom or will his curiosity pull him in a new direction; or, how will she stretch ideas and actions to create personal knowledge? I believe I must earn your child’s trust before I try to “teach” whatever might be in my plans for the day. I need to be invited into your child’s world before I can show her something new, explain how something works, or share what’s exciting to me. Children need caring adults to open all the doors and windows to learning. But, each child decides when to open his eyes and his heart to what’s there.

Sometimes, parents can feel enormous responsibility and overwhelming pressure to teach everything. And teach it fast because there’s so much more to know. I’m writing today to say, “You can relax”, because you can’t go faster than your child. Learning takes time. Most of all, it takes respect for the individuality of each child. And, as Howard Gardner reminds us, there are many kinds of smart. Howard Gardner, long-time researcher at Harvard’s Project Zero, recognizes at least nine “intelligences” – ways of knowing and problem solving: Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal (social), Intra-personal (self), Naturalist, and Existential (spiritual). You are a better able to help your child understand feelings, choices, people, problems and solutions when you start with your child’s strongest skills and abilities.

This month’s Family Time newsletter describes ways to build on your child’s strengths. Just remember, your child’s strongest area may be different than your own. In which case, just like good teachers everywhere, you’ll need to adapt your presentation to connect with your child’s most powerful curiosity and deepest interests. When you do, your child’s learning is unstoppable.