A talent for every child The eight types of intelligence
Why are some children better at sports, others better at math, and others better at painting, reading, or playing an instrument? The answer seems simple and full of meaning: because each child has his or her own motivations and talents, which he or she develops at his or her own pace and in a way that is different from others.
This is the conclusion reached by Harvard University neuropsychologist and educator Howard Gardner in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
Gardner argues that each child evolves with his or her own needs. Thus, a child who does not show interest in language, for example, might have great ability in the field of mathematics and spatial intelligence.
Fun with values, even when on holiday
The Star Camp children's training program at Iberostar takes Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences as its starting point.
The aim of Star Camp is that, during your next family holiday, and through more than 140 activities, the youngest in the family can develop their talents, have fun and at the same time learn values such as diversity, fun as an attitude towards life, respect for the environment or the development of a technological awareness, among others.
Eight types of intelligence
The research carried out identifies the existence of areas in the human brain that correspond to certain spaces of knowledge, all of which are distinct and relatively independent of each other. Here are the eight types of intelligence explained one by one.
1. Logical-mathematical intelligence
Their problem-solving ability is very striking and is often related to a type of non-verbal intelligence, i.e. they can know the answer to a certain problem long before they verbalize it.
Children with this type of intelligence are good at solving mysteries or brain teasers, doing puzzles, logic exercises, counting or doing calculations, computer problems and playing strategy games.
2. Linguistic intelligence
Children with this type of intelligence are skilled and have preferences for activities such as reading, talking, telling stories and jokes, writing poems, learning languages and playing word games.
3. Spatial Intelligence
This type of intelligence shows patterns that prove the kid’s capacity to think in three dimensions. People who develop spatial intelligence are good at solving spatial problems such as drawing and painting, reading maps, looking at pictures, solving mazes, or playing construction games.
4. Musical Intelligence
It is typical of children with an innate ability to learn different sounds, which translates into a great ability to sing, listen to music, play instruments, compose songs, enjoy concerts and follow different rhythms. This type of intelligence may notice off-key notes that others do not and can easily memorize songs and tunes.
5. Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence
It is the ability to use the whole body in the expression of ideas and feelings, and the facility in the use of the hands to transform elements.
Children who show kinesthetic intelligence are good at dancing, acting, imitating gestures or expressions, playing sports, running, moving and jumping.
6. Intrapersonal Intelligence
It distinguishes those who know themselves best. These children like to work independently, set goals and focus on achieving them, understand their feelings and know their strengths and weaknesses.
7. Interpersonal Intelligence
As opposed to intrapersonal intelligence, it is common among kids that are good at talking, working in teams, helping others, mediating conflicts and meeting new people.
8. Naturalistic intelligence
Related to the attraction towards environmental issues, plants and animals. People with this kind of intelligence enjoy doing activities such as camping, hiking, caring for animals, learning about nature, recycling and caring for the environment.
Star Camp: one program, three age groups
The Star Camp program has three groups according to the children’s ages and needs: Monkey (4-7 years old), Dolphin (8-12 years old) and Eagle (13-17 years old). It is based on Iberostar's philosophy, which believes family holidays are a unique opportunity to discover, explore, imagine, acquire healthy habits and make friends from other parts of the world.
All these values are transmitted in a fun way, through activities that stimulate children's creativity and attention. Becoming the stars in music videos, developing scientific experiments, learning cooking techniques or reproducing works of art on a big scale, among many other activities that will stimulate children with all types of intelligence.
And also discovering the oceans during Ocean Day, a day entirely dedicated to learning about underwater life through awareness actions with the fauna and flora of the seas and oceans.
Emotional intelligence in children
Still in the process of being studied, this type of intelligence is not yet considered as a multiple intelligence. However, it is derived from the eight described above, mainly from intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence.
According to Howard Gardner, emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize our own feelings and those of others, to motivate ourselves and to manage emotions well both with ourselves and in our relationships.
A good guide to achieving the big goal: for children to get to know themselves better as they grow up, so that they can allow their own talents to unfold.
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