Multiple Intelligences – Discovering the Ways Your Child is Smart

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I first heard of multiple intelligences when I was a college student taking loads of education classes. The idea of multiple intelligences completely resonated with me and set a framework for how I now see my own kids.

So what ARE multiple intelligences?

The idea started with a man named Howard Gardner who came up with the “Theory of Multiple Intelligences” which he proposed in 1983 in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. As a side note – I have not read this book. I have read Dr. Kathy Koch’s book How Am I Smart? (now called 8 Great Smarts) which is all about multiple intelligences.

I am not here to debate the science behind this, but want to present the information for you to use as a tool to encourage and empower your own kids, especially those kids who may be “outside the box”.

According to Gardner there are eight different intelligences or “smarts”.

They include:

Spatial – “Picture Smart”
Possible careers: Architect, Illustrator, Construction Worker, Web Designer

Musical – “Music Smart”
Possible careers: Conductor, Disk Jockey, Music Therapist, Sound Engineer

Bodily-Kinesthetic – “Body Smart”
Possible careers: Actor, Carpenter, Dancer, Physical Therapist

Linguistic – “Word Smart”
Possible careers: Teacher, Lawyer, Politician, Writer

Logical-Mathematical – “Logic Smart”
Possible careers: Accountant, Banker, Computer Programmer, Scientist

Interpersonal – “People Smart”
Possible careers: Counselor, Teacher, Administrator, Nurse

Intrapersonal – “Self Smart”
Possible careers: Guidance Counselor, Comedian, Detective, Entrepreneur

Naturalistic – “Nature Smart”
Possible careers: Animal Trainer, Environmental Scientist, Meteorologist, Nature Photographer

Where do your kids fall in this list? OR, where do you fall? Happy learning!

This is merely a “cliff notes” version of Multiple Intelligences. I encourage you to check out the books(linked above) to learn more!

**For a more complete list of possible careers go to the Kathy Koch’s website listed below.**

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Here are some links for further reading:

www.8greatsmarts.com (Dr. Kathy Koch’s website on Multiple Intelligences)

http://multipleintelligencesoasis.org/ (This is Howard Gardner’s site on Multiple Intelligences)

Also, a book I just discovered while gathering info for this article is You’re Smarter Than You Think. I will be checking if our library has that one!