Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do.
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My nephew, Andy, played with Duplo® blocks, Legos®, and his Thomas the Train for hours and hours at a time. I imagine every family member can testify that our favorite memories of Andy growing up include either watching him play with them or participating with him.
Andy’s imagination was significant. I think he really saw castles, fire stations, and bridges over raging rivers when he built ordinary-looking structures. His trains were carrying important products and many families to their destinations many miles away. His picture-smart strengths were obvious from the very beginning.
He found new ways to connect Thomas’ tracks so he was never bored. His logic-smart abilities allowed him to think things through and predict what pieces he needed for certain constructions. His parents (my brother, Dave, and his wife, Debbie) learned to be very careful checking on him in the middle of the night. They didn’t want to step on tracks or worse yet, Thomas.
Andy played with these toys longer than many boys and girls did. In fact, last Christmas, during his senior year in college, I gave him the Lego® game, Creationary, at his request. Because it’s for ages 7 and older, I wondered if he knew what he was asking for and he assured me he did.
Andy took Creationary back to college with him and played several times with his roommates this past semester. His inventiveness, innovation abilities, and fun through exploration continues.
It’s not an accident that Andy just graduated from Cedarville University with highest honors (a 3.96 GPA), a degree in mechanical engineering, and a fabulous job. Every moment he played with Duplos®, Legos®, and his train was related to this accomplishment. Every moment.
This is why I encourage parents to never answer the common question, “What did you do today?” with “Nothing. I just played with my kids.” There might be nothing more valuable.
The fact that Dave and Deb didn’t make Andy pick up his train set every night to clean his room contributed to his academic excellence. The fact that we purchased expensive Lego® sets for his birthdays was an investment in his future.
Play awakened and strengthened Andy’s smarts and led to his future. Play more!
My son just came home from his freshman year at VA Tech, he too is majoring in mechanical engineering which I attribute to his many hours with his Legos and Brio track. I spent many hours myself laying on the floor helping him organize and sort out the variety of shapes and colors of this magical plastic bricks. We had many Thursday mornings spent going from garage sale to garage sale in hopes to find someone who would part with these precious toys. One day we hit the jackpot! Some one was actually parting with a box of misfit bricks, lego people and books and books of directions, both Chirstopher and I thought we had won the lottery, the best part is she sold them to Chris for $10 because she knew he was going to play and learn from them as her son had. As Chris’ first summer as a college student begins, and he rarely has time to “play” anymore, his Legos and Brio sit in large plastic bins in the attic awaiting the day his son will play as he did!!
Jean,
Thanks for your comments. How fun that you’ve had similar expereinces to ours. Enjoy your summer with your son. I dare you to surprise him one day by dumping his Legos onto the living room floor for some play time!
I loved reconnecting with you at the Memphis homeschool convention. Blessings to you!
Perfect!! I can’t wait to play with him a again…Thanks for all of your words of hope and encoragement! I will try to be the teacher your nephew had to my 6th graders…help them find their purpose as a unique and beautiful teenager!!