Resources to Develop Children’s Multiple Intelligences

Over the past year and a half, I have written posts on a variety of topics. One topic in particular has consistently surfaced as being of most interest to Tot Thoughts readers – multiple intelligences. As this is an area of parenting and education that I think is critical to explore with our children, I have put together a consolidated list of resources, tips and ideas on multiple intelligence theory in general and specific ways to apply it in child-rearing.

What is Multiple Intelligence Theory?

Howard Gardner is a developmental psychologist who developed the theory of multiple intelligences. As stated by Gardner, “an intelligence refers to a biopsychological potential of our species to process certain kinds of information in certain kinds of way.” To be clear, “intelligence itself is not a content, but it is geared to specific contents.” For instance, “linguistic intelligence is activated when individuals encounter the sounds of language or when they wish to communicate something verbally to another person. However, the linguistic intelligence is not dedicated only to sound. It can be mobilized as well by visual information, when an individual decodes written text…”

There are eight intelligences that fall within the scope of this theory– linguistic, musical, spatial, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. For your reference, throughout my posts, I refer to the different intelligences using the following MI code:

Linguistic Intelligence – (L.I.)
Musical Intelligence – (M.I.)
Spatial Intelligence – (S.I.)
Logical- Mathematical Intelligence – (LM.I.)
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence – (BK.I.)
Interpersonal Intelligence – (Ie.I.)
Intrapersonal Intelligence – (Ia.I)
Naturalistic Intelligence – (N.I.)

Developing Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligence Theory

• General thoughts on multiple intelligences
• Using multiple intelligences in designing instructional scaffolds
• Using multiple intelligences to understand the anatomy of a problem
• Multiple intelligences as a key skill in a digital era
• Multiple intelligences in babies

Developing Linguistic Intelligence

• Activities – Linguistic Intelligence
• The Animal Game and other ways of stimulating intelligence
• Teaching Time (part 1 and 2)
• Teaching Money
• Multiple intelligences in babies
• Learning and creating with Rock Thoughts
• Any of these resources for developing lingusitic intelligence.

Developing Musical Intelligence

• Activities – Musical Intelligence
• The power of music to further individual growth
• The Animal Game and other ways of stimulating intelligence
• Using butterflies to teach music
• Multiple intelligences in babies
• Any of these resources for developing musical intelligence

Developing Spatial Intelligence

• Activities – Spatial Intelligence
• Strategies to engage spatial intelligence with art
• The Animal Game and other ways of stimulating intelligence
• Teaching Time (part 1 and 2)
• Teaching Money
• Subtraction made easy
• Using butterflies to teach music
• Multiple intelligences in babies
• Learning and creating with Rock Thoughts
• Any of these resources for developing spatial intelligence

Developing Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

• Activities – Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
• The Animal Game and other ways of stimulating intelligence
• Teaching Time (part 1 and 2)
• Teaching Money
• Subtraction made easy
• Using butterflies to teach music
• Multiple intelligences in babies
• Any of these resources for developing logical-mathematical intelligence

Developing Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

• Activities – Bodily Intelligence
• Using bodily intelligence to manage emotions
• Using bodily intelligence to teach literacy
• Developing Creativity – Lesson 2 (Connect)
• Multiple intelligences in babies
• Learning and creating with Rock Thoughts
• Any of these resources for developing bodily-kinesthetic intelligence

Developing Intrapersonal Intelligence

• Activities – Intrapersonal Intelligence
• Empowering children with a toolkit for feelings
• Using the quiet circle and ying-yang to manage emotions
• 10 questions – making mistakes
• 10 questions – beginning a new project
• 10 questions – failed idea
• 10 questions – coping with envy or hatred
• Multiple intelligences in babies
• Any of these resources for developing interpersonal intelligence

Developing Interpersonal Intelligence

• Activities – Interpersonal Intelligence
• 10 questions – making mistakes
• 10 questions – coping with envy or hatred
• Multiple intelligences in babies
• Learning and creating with Rock Thoughts
• Any of these resources for developing intrapersonal intelligence

Developing Naturalistic Intelligence

• Activities – Naturalistic Intelligence
• Developing your child’s naturalist intelligence
• Using butterflies to teach music
• Multiple intelligences in babies
• Learning and creating with Rock Thoughts
• Any of these resources for developing naturalistic intelligence

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, if you like this post, please share it!

About the Author: Karla Valenti blogs about parenting on Tot Thoughts, is founder and CEO of NiSoSa (developing resources to empower children through creativity), Creative Director for Rock Thoughts (a global art and collaborative storytelling initiative), and does creative writing as herself and as Nico, a fictional character and host of Nico Knows (creative writing for kids).

© Tot Thoughts – smart parenting for smart child development