Teaching children through linguistic intelligence (multiple intelligence) - Activities, Toys, Materials, Examples

Parentree-editors 2009-03-16 10:54:25

Linguistic intelligence is how we use language, to express one's thoughts and feelings with clarity so others may comprehend, understand, even enjoy them. This can be verbal or in written form. This is an integral part of conventional intelligence and is well understood by parents.

For a child, who is strong in linguistic intelligence, here are some ways in which you can provide interesting learning opportunities.

Strengths of children with linguistic intelligence

They understand words and language very well and have well developed vocabularies
They use language well and can learn the complex rules of language quickly
They use language to remember and think
They can express themselves very well in both oral and written forms

Activites that children with linguistic intelligence will enjoy

Read books
Hear stories - Oral or even on tape/CD
Debating and discussing various issues
Writing poems, short stories
Reading newspapers and magazines
Word games like Scrabble
Public speaking about issues
Reading aloud

Helping children with linguistic intelligence learn

For children with higher linguistic intelligence the written and spoken word are the best pathways of helping them learn and analyze information.

Provide them with books about a variety of topics
Give them access to a reference library - like an encyclopaedia or over the Internet
Encourage them to read the newspaper and ask you questions about what they do not understand
Talk a lot with them about what they see around them
Encourage them to describe what they see or what they do, in words
Have them enact stories by playing different parts and making up those dialogues
Encourage them to speak to you whenever they would like to (instead of asking them to be quiet)
Have them create stories or songs by themselves or with your help
Have them write stories or poems
Encourage them to keep a diary

Toys and materials that you should have for children with linguistic intelligence

Books
Paper/Notebooks
Pencils/Pens
Newspapers
Magazines
Word games
Encyclopaedia
Dictionary
Thesaurus

Examples of how to teach various topics to children with linguistic intelligence

Mathematics

To teach addition and subtraction, make up a story with two characters. The first character has two mangoes. The second also has two mangoes. When the second gives one of his mangoes to the first one, ask them how many mangoes each will have?
When they do a problem with equations, tell them to describe aloud each operation they have to carry out. "To calculate the square of the sum of two numbers a and b [(a+b)²], first I have to take a and multiply it by itself [a²] and then I have to take b and multiply it by itself [b²] and then I have multiply a with b and then with 2 [2ab]. Then I have add all these three together [a² + b² + 2ab]."

Science

To teach gravity tell children the story of an apple falling on Newton.
Talk about sources of energy by encouraging your child to describe what would happen if electricity and petrol were no longer available.
If they go to the zoo, tell them to write an essay on what they saw, in detail - the features and habits of the animals and birds.

Geography

Teach children words and phrases like "Hello", "Thank You" and "Good night" in multiple languages and associate them with those countries.
Go climb a nearby mountain (many places of worship are on mountains) and ask them to describe the terrain, the rocks, the vegetation etc., as you climb.
Have children pretend to be a drop of water and describe or write their journey from the mountains to rivers to oceans to clouds to rain and back to the mountains

History

Have your child describe the changes in clothing that have taken place since the early 20th century to today
Have your child make a speech to you about the rights given to each individual by the Indian constitution

Also see

Comments

Anne0404 2012-04-02 10:57:14

Hi, This describes exactly how important it is for parents to interact with children and the methods of developing their intelligence. I also believe that learning languages when young helps develop cognitive skills in children. Could you kindly provide more information on how learning a foreign language can help children.

anshri 2011-07-22 17:11:12

very useful material, thanx

smani 2009-10-12 21:49:13

seems to be very apt and useful. thank u.