Howard Gardner, the Harvard psychologist and researcher, is best known for developing the theory of multiple intelligences. He uncovered many different types of intelligences, not just THAT ONE we are all familiar with, IQ.

Oh yes, these intelligences also keep developing through our lives.

When parents and teachers know our kids dominant intelligences, they stop getting bored at school. They stop being overwhelmed by challenges, less afraid to try new things and less anxious. They experience learning as FUN.

To remember all of the intelligences, I use the acronym SLIM -N -BIL.

Let’s look at a very brief explanation of each one.

Spatial – Visual – Thinking in pictures and images (eg sketching, designs, movies, charts)

Linguistic- Verbal - thinking in words (eg- speaking, words, listening, books, email,)

Interpersonal – thinking by communicating with others (eg sharing, caring, leading, friends, clubs, socializing)

Musical - thinking with rhythms and melodies (eg singing, tapping, musical instruments)

Naturalist – thinking in reference to nature (eg animals, nature walks, discovery)

Bodily – Tactile – Kinesthetic- thinking through movement and physical sensations (eg games, dancing, touching, assembling, creating)

Intrapersonal – thinking reflectively (also known as ‘Emotional Intelligence) (eg being quiet, dreaming, setting goals, time alone)

Logical – Mathematical – thinking by reasoning (eg questioning, calculating, puzzles, facts)

Here’s what I suggest and invite you to do NOW!

1. Search “Multiple Intelligences” or Howard Gardner.
2. Complete an inventory to identify your child’s dominant intelligences and yours as well.
3. Identify which school activities and classes would enhance your children’s learning.
4. Weave SLIM -N- BIL into your child’s experiences. Be aware of what you do and how you say things so they are engaged.
5. Instil ‘multiple intelligences’ activities into your everyday dealings with your children.
6. Most importantly, be willing to step outside your comfort zone when you are parenting your kids. You can do this, can’t you?

OK, It’s Let’s Talk Time…

I invite you to follow the steps mentioned above -  identify your child’s dominant intelligences. Research and apply the techniques that you discover so that your kids can have the best chance to achieve their potential.

Before you go, I also invite you to leave a comment below and share what you have experienced once you have discovered how you kids are smart.

When our kids discover HOW they learn, they absolutely gain more control over their lives.

They are able to demonstrate and share their strengths, boost their self-esteem, become less afraid to make mistakes and increase their capacity to solve problems in life.

OK, what can you do NOW to develop this?

1.    Tap into your child’s learning style so they become a more active and involved learner.

Identify their preferred style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic). Then discover what activities will enhance your kid’s learning style.

2.    Discover HOW smart your kids are by meeting SLIM-N-BIL.

We are ALL intelligent in some way-Spatial, Linguistic, Interpersonal, Musical, Naturalistic, Bodily, Intrapersonal and Logical.

Each intelligence can be enhanced by specific materials, activities and special outings. When you identify their dominant intelligence/s, you will learn what they like to do, what they are good at and how they learn best.

3.    Create a supportive environment which invites and entices your kids to learn…and increase their learning retention.

Every aspect of the learning environment can affect your child’s experiences…lighting, temperature, acoustics, color, décor, seating, posters, music, aroma, plants, pets and toys.

4.    Take and make effective notes with Mind Mapping strategies to enhance your child’s success.

This information tool will increase remembering what is said or read, increase understanding and help organise material. Mind maps are colorful and have lots of pictures and symbols.

The ideas are connected and excellent for memory retention.

5.    Boost you kid’s brainpower by feeding them brain foods, plenty of water and exercise.

Proper nutrition protects the brain against toxins, improves mental alertness and assists memory.
Foods such as animal protein, nuts, legumes and seeds boost alertness.

Water is central to optimal brain functioning. Aerobic exercise improves thinking and learning.

6.    Avoid and relieve stress so your child can process and retain information they need to access more readily.

Have you ever had a person’s name ‘on the tip of your tongue’? No matter how hard you try to remember, the harder it seems to become. When you stop trying and relax, the name comes to you.

By avoiding getting stressed, you are able to stop your mind from going blank. Do some relaxation techniques, listen to music or practise yoga,maybe even T’ai Chi.

7.    Get in a state of focused concentration so your kids can learn faster and easier.

Would you like your kids to learn techniques where time goes faster, they can spend more time doing other things which they really enjoy, get better results on tests, study less, get certain people off their backs and they’ll do better in school?

Then two such techniques are called SLANT and the Alpha State…tools which will help your kids to access the best state for learning.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

1. Search ‘learning styles‘ & ‘multiple intelligences inventories‘. Complete to identify your/ your child’s preferred style and dominant intelligence/s.
2. Research and then practise relaxation techniques, SLANT and the Alpha State.
3. Eat brain foods, exercise daily and drink 6-8 glasses of water per day.
4. Research Tony Buzan and Mind Mapping.
5. Create a learning environment.

OK, It’s Let’s Talk Time…

I invite you to let us know which of these techniques you are already using with your children? Which ones are effective and have brought about change?

Leave a comment below and share what has worked..what hasn’t …You can do that, can’t you?

“Give me a fish and I eat for a day. Teach me how to fish and I eat for a lifetime.”

Have you ever read the Aesop’s fable, “The Peasant and the Apple Tree”? The moral is that true value is sometimes hidden. Sometimes your children’s interests, their talents or their abilities are absolutely hidden … and you need to reveal them. All of us are a genius in one way or another.

OK, let’s look at 4 ways that will help you uncover those ‘hidden’ talents of your children…

1.Discover How Your Kids Learn Best

We all learn in different ways. No one way is better than the others. The three dominant learning styles we possess are visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Most often one style dominates.

Howard Gardner identified 8 different intelligences or geniuses. When kids discover HOW they are intelligent, they learn to manage their own learning and value their individual strengths. They gain more control over their lives.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

• Research “Learning Styles” and “Multiple Intelligences” inventories.
• Complete them to discover both yours and your child’s learning style. Find out the strategies that support that style.

2. Use Color

Research shows that color is processed in that part of our brain that also stores long-term memory. When you use color to study, to take and make effective notes, your child increases their memory.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

• Buy some colored felts. Get your kids using them when they are taking notes and making notes.
• Highlight key words in information.

3. Drink Plenty of Water – 6-8 glasses a day.

About 60% of our body is made up of water and approx. 70% of your brain. Water lessens headaches and stress, and increases concentration, focus and tiredness.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

• Drink 6-8 glasses a day.
• Keep a container of water beside you when you are studying, especially when you are doing exams. Actually, have a drink now before you continue reading this valuable article.

4. Eat Brain Foods Throughout the Day.

Research tells us that our blood sugar cycles about every hour for teens, 45 minutes for kids, 90 minutes for adults. So, what does this mean? When your blood sugar is low, learning is difficult. Our brains require a steady flow of oxygenated blood and a steady supply of blood sugar. Proper nutrition protects the brain against toxins, improves mental alertness and assists memory.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

• Eat brain foods every hour and include water rich foods such as lettuce and broccoli.
• Have small meals often.

When our kids know their preferred learning style and their dominant ‘intelligences’, they become more active and involved learners. Then, they are able to demonstrate and share their strengths, increase their self-esteem, become less afraid to make mistakes and increase their capacity to solve problems in life.

Remember: “Work SMARTER, not harder!”

Alright, it’s Let’s Talk time..