Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — 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 … [Read more...]
How Do We Grieve? Using Multiple Intelligences to Grieve Well and Completely
May 2, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — My book about multiple intelligences is titled How Am I Smart? A Parent’s Guide to Multiple Intelligences, but many other titles would have worked. That’s because our intelligences are relevant to so many areas of life. As you know, if you read last week’s blog posts (here and here), grief has been on my mind lately. Would it surprise you to know that understanding how we are smart can help us grieve well? It’s true. And, it’s important because grief isn’t well understood. Too often, people can be made to feel they’re not grieving right. Really? Disappointing. How Do We Grieve? Using … [Read more...]
Learning a Child’s “Smarts” Brings Liberation Out of Confusion
April 18, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — She was standing off to my right, patiently waiting for me to finish other conversations. As I walked toward her, her smile broadened to fill her face. “I came to this homeschool convention to go to all the seminars about learning disabilities because I was sure our son had at least one. Now I know he’s picture smart, body smart, and nature smart. He’s not disabled! He’s smart!” That might be when the tears began to flow. I’m not sure. I am sure that I was with a greatly relieved and deeply encouraged mom. I was humbled to be God’s messenger of hope. Children with word-smart and … [Read more...]
How Can We Help Children and Teens Use Their Smarts? (Part 2)
March 28, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Last week, I was privileged to teach about multiple intelligences at the Great Homeschool Convention in Greenville, SC. Hundreds of parents were encouraged to look at their children differently. I loved watching their reactions to this refreshing truth. One mom shared with me that she arrived at the convention the day before assuming her son had a learning disability. She thanked me several times for helping her develop a healthier perspective about her son. What a privilege for me! This week, this mom and hundreds of other parents are charged with the task of helping their children believe they’re … [Read more...]
Five Core Needs for Healthy Living
March 12, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Last Monday, I posted about not being as nature smart as some people are. While in Galveston the previous week, I had no need to step into the Gulf. Others would have done that immediately upon arriving. Because the post was about one of our intelligences, it was really better designed for Wednesdays, when that’s the theme. I got my days mixed up. Upon reflection, though, the post did fit Monday’s theme of “discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life.” We’ll more likely live a healthier, more fulfilled life, when we meet all five of our needs in healthy ways. The same is true for … [Read more...]
News Flash: Nature-Smart Kids Enjoy Getting Dirty!
March 5, 2012 by · 3 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — People with nature-smart strengths enjoy being outside among plants and animals. They’re invigorated in the fresh air and can get lost watching clouds float by. They will often want to experience it up close and personal. Nature-smart boys and girls may get dirty more often than others. It will often be intentional. During my school programs, when I ask students who enjoys getting dirty, often 50% of them raise their hands. They laugh and indicate they definitely enjoy playing and exploring outside. Their pockets and dresser tops will be full of rocks, leaves, pine cones, shells, and other treasures they find. Oh, yes … [Read more...]
Four Awakening Strategies for Multiple Intelligences
February 22, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Multiple intelligences is a strength-based way of looking at children, teens, and even adults. That’s one reason I enjoy teaching the Model. All of us are born with a capacity to develop all eight smarts. Although it’s never too late to awaken them, the earlier they’re awakened, the better. It’s a greater likelihood they’ll develop as strengths. Let me share four awakening strategies, in no particular order. We want to create “crystallizing experiences,” a term coined by Dr. Thomas Armstrong. These are turning points that spark the birth of an intelligence. Next Wednesday, I’ll share … [Read more...]
Healthy Belonging Makes People Our Priority
February 20, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — The quality of our relationships – our belonging – can make us or break us. Belonging is the third of the five core needs we teach about at Celebrate Kids, Inc. It’s dependent on our security and our identity and it helps us find our purpose which leads to our competence. When our relationships are based on trustworthiness, that shows up as healthy belonging. If we place our security in things, that shows up in our belonging, too. It won’t be as healthy because we haven’t prioritized people or found people worthy of our trust. If we try to meet our need for security in our popularity, position, or … [Read more...]
Helping Teachers See Students In A New Light
February 8, 2012 by · 1 Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Helping teachers see their students in a new light, with a healthy perspective on why they have the strengths they have, is one of the best things we do at Celebrate Kids, Inc. Being able to identify and classify strengths as intelligences is empowering and refreshing. When teachers know their students are smart, they are more likely to strategically teach to all eight smarts of the brain. This allows students to be more motivated and successful and feel smarter. This results in them actually being smarter because more intelligences are awakened and applied to the topic. It’s such a win-win! Last … [Read more...]
Logic Smart Kids May Struggle with Spelling
January 25, 2012 by · 4 Comments
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — Do you know any children who struggle with spelling? I do. I also make spelling errors. Spelling can be confusing if we are logic smart because we think spelling “rules” should work. And, we think one combination of letters should have one sound. Right? Of course. That makes sense! Why don’t break and freak rhyme? Horse and worse? Cord and word? Cow and low? What about comb, tomb, and bomb? Doll and roll? Home and some? Paid and said? (Pay and say rhyme!) The English language is confusing so mistakes will be made. It’s not necessarily because children are not smart. It might be because of … [Read more...]
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