“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” ~ Albert Einstein
Intelligence is not just about “book learning.” We all know of people who achieved great success, be it in farming, business, or computer technology who may not even have completed high school.
While I am certainly an advocate of education, there is a danger that children might equate their intelligence with how they do in school. While there certainly is some connection, many very intelligent children do not, for various reasons, perform well in school. They may have difficulty with attention, sitting still, behavior, or they may be bored.
It is important for parents to help children have confidence in their own brains! Point out good thinking when they demonstrate it. Perhaps they are skilled at building things, or they are artistic. A child might have a good imagination. These are all signs of intelligence. Similarly, a child might be very compassionate and understanding. This demonstrates emotional intelligence.
School success depends on so much more than intelligence. There must be motivation, an ability to concentrate and stay focused, and a good fit between learning style and the teaching style of the classroom.
If you really want to raise an intelligent child, then have intelligent conversations with him or her. Expose the child to the world of knowledge beyond what is taught in the classroom. Visit the library, and if they must watch television, make it the learning channel. Value their ideas, and ask their opinion. Build their self-esteem, and encourage them, even if they are not blazing stars in the classroom. Einstein wasn’t.
Copyright © Gwen Randall-Young, All Rights Reserved. Contact us if you would like permission to reprint.
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