French philosopher Rene Descartes once said, ‘It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well’. Using the mind well is what the theory of multiple intelligences is partly based on.
What Are Multiple Intelligences?
IQ and EQ are probably the two components people usually dissect a mind into. However research has shown that everyone has 8 intelligences. These 8 intelligences are made up of logical mathematical, linguistic, spatial, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily kinesthetic and naturalistic.
Confused? Well, to break them up with examples, we have emotional intelligence (EQ) that falls under interpersonal intelligence while self-understanding and self-motivation can be categorised as intrapersonal intelligence. Seeing things in a pictorial manner or being totally in tuned with the surroundings and knowing one’s way around would be the spatial intelligence at work.
The Local Route to Cultivation
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Preschool for Multiple Intelligences (PMI)
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A school that readily accepts the theory of multiple intelligences is the Preschool for Multiple Intelligences (PMI). Imaginative play, creative art, drama are just some of the things the children at PMI learn. A bilingual programme is what the children are enrolled in. PMI’s founder, Dr. Khoo, is extremely experienced in the period of a child’s early development. “Nurturing all 8 intelligences is what PMI excels at. Children excel in certain intelligences. For areas that they do not do as well, PMI gives them exposure,” explains Dr. Khoo.
However, how can one programme develop 8 intelligences, is probably the question on your mind. Dr Khoo gave theAsianparent a perfect example of one the activities that the children do that tap these intelligences – baking muffins.
Firstly, by writing the recipe, the linguistic intelligence is at play. Measurement of ingredients and be aware of the quantity needed to bake each muffin, triggers the logical mathematical intelligence. Just by a simple action of stirring, the bodily kinesthetic intelligence is active. Next, the children all doing it together, chatting and having fun, cultivates the interpersonal intelligence. Musical intelligence and spatial intelligence are tapped respectively when the children sing while baking and decorate the muffins. Using flowers that are colourful, for example green flowers on brown muffins; awaken the naturalistic intelligence within the children. Finally, after the muffins have been baked, the warmth and happiness that washes over the children seeing their completed work, activates the intrapersonal intelligence.
For children, cultivating these intelligences from a young age enables parents as well as the children themselves to know their potential and strength in certain areas.
With schools like PMI, ready to assist in such cultivation, children should have no problem working towards their potential in the early development of their childhood.
