“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” – Albert Einstein
This quote, by my favourite genius, validates my belief in stories as a wonderful tool for overall development of children (well rounded intelligence).
Food for Brain:
The definition of intelligence is controversial. When two dozen prominent theorists were asked to define intelligence, they gave two dozen, somewhat different, definitions 1.
Thefreedictionary.com says, intelligence is the ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge;
Wikipedia says, Intelligence has been defined in many different ways such as in terms of one's capacity for logic, abstract thought, understanding, self-awareness, communication, learning, emotional, knowledge, memory, planning, creativity and problem solving;
The controversial Theory of Multiple Intelligence picks nine abilities that characterize intelligence: musical–rhythmic “Musical Smart”, visual–spatial “Picture Smart”, verbal–linguistic “Word Smart”, logical–mathematical “Number/Reasoning Smart”, bodily–kinaesthetic “Body Smart”, interpersonal “People Smart”, intrapersonal “Self Smart”, naturalistic “Nature Smart”, Existential “Spiritual intelligence, moral”.
There are many more definitions. However, the idea of this post is not get into the semantics.
Whatever definition you choose to pick, reading/listening to/narrating stories help stimulate the different aspects of intelligence. Stories provide a wonderful platform to introduce and reinforce a range of ideas, information, morals, history and cultural awareness, language, thinking Styles (logical, practical, creative, Relational)2 and lot more. Till the age of 6, a child’s mind is like a sponge that absorbs anything you pour in. What matters is the way you pour it in. You could dole out information plainly or you could spin a story around it. We all know that the brain remembers and works better with association. Stories help build that association.
Here is an example: An information is conveyed to a 5 year old in two formats:
(a) Blood gushes from your heart to every part of the body. The heart has four chambers.
(b) Hemo and globin were two friends who lived in the red river of blood. They loved swimming together and exploring different parts of the body. They would go to the gooey brain and then to the dry toe skin, they would go to the fluffy lungs and next to the shiny eye. Wherever they went, they always came back home, to the heart. The heart had four rooms...
Which version do you think they like? Which version do you think they would remember after a month?
Food for Soul:
When children go through a rough patch, some of us parents get into the advisory mode. We tell children how to behave and how not to. Though these vocal warnings and encouragement helps once in a while, what is far reaching is that which is not said. Stories have the wonderful capacity to heal (especially, the ones that are not preachy). The right story at the right time can be extremely uplifting. If your child is upset because he has not scored well in an exam encourage him with the Hare and tortoise story: remind him of the importance of hard work and being consistent to achieve their goal. The same story can be used to playfully warn a child who is over-confident and hence lazy. The mouse in The Gruffalo shows how, with a calm mind and a sharp wit, he escapes all his predators. Aesop’s Fables, Panchatantra and Jataka tales are wonderful moral and behavioral stories, which subtly teach children how the world is and how to cope in it. If you want to help your child though something, try telling a story instead of giving advice. If you cannot think of one, make one up! I assure you that even during adversity, the right story can help build a confident, courageous, compassionate, righteous, hardworking, witty and most importantly happy child.
The most significant feature of a story is its power to touch hearts. This makes the impact lasting! Be it being number savvy or being compassionate, exposure to good stories can help build wonderful children and a wonderful society.
This quote, by my favourite genius, validates my belief in stories as a wonderful tool for overall development of children (well rounded intelligence).
Food for Brain:
The definition of intelligence is controversial. When two dozen prominent theorists were asked to define intelligence, they gave two dozen, somewhat different, definitions 1.
Thefreedictionary.com says, intelligence is the ability to acquire, understand, and use knowledge;
Wikipedia says, Intelligence has been defined in many different ways such as in terms of one's capacity for logic, abstract thought, understanding, self-awareness, communication, learning, emotional, knowledge, memory, planning, creativity and problem solving;
The controversial Theory of Multiple Intelligence picks nine abilities that characterize intelligence: musical–rhythmic “Musical Smart”, visual–spatial “Picture Smart”, verbal–linguistic “Word Smart”, logical–mathematical “Number/Reasoning Smart”, bodily–kinaesthetic “Body Smart”, interpersonal “People Smart”, intrapersonal “Self Smart”, naturalistic “Nature Smart”, Existential “Spiritual intelligence, moral”.
There are many more definitions. However, the idea of this post is not get into the semantics.
Whatever definition you choose to pick, reading/listening to/narrating stories help stimulate the different aspects of intelligence. Stories provide a wonderful platform to introduce and reinforce a range of ideas, information, morals, history and cultural awareness, language, thinking Styles (logical, practical, creative, Relational)2 and lot more. Till the age of 6, a child’s mind is like a sponge that absorbs anything you pour in. What matters is the way you pour it in. You could dole out information plainly or you could spin a story around it. We all know that the brain remembers and works better with association. Stories help build that association.
Here is an example: An information is conveyed to a 5 year old in two formats:
(a) Blood gushes from your heart to every part of the body. The heart has four chambers.
(b) Hemo and globin were two friends who lived in the red river of blood. They loved swimming together and exploring different parts of the body. They would go to the gooey brain and then to the dry toe skin, they would go to the fluffy lungs and next to the shiny eye. Wherever they went, they always came back home, to the heart. The heart had four rooms...
Which version do you think they like? Which version do you think they would remember after a month?
Food for Soul:
When children go through a rough patch, some of us parents get into the advisory mode. We tell children how to behave and how not to. Though these vocal warnings and encouragement helps once in a while, what is far reaching is that which is not said. Stories have the wonderful capacity to heal (especially, the ones that are not preachy). The right story at the right time can be extremely uplifting. If your child is upset because he has not scored well in an exam encourage him with the Hare and tortoise story: remind him of the importance of hard work and being consistent to achieve their goal. The same story can be used to playfully warn a child who is over-confident and hence lazy. The mouse in The Gruffalo shows how, with a calm mind and a sharp wit, he escapes all his predators. Aesop’s Fables, Panchatantra and Jataka tales are wonderful moral and behavioral stories, which subtly teach children how the world is and how to cope in it. If you want to help your child though something, try telling a story instead of giving advice. If you cannot think of one, make one up! I assure you that even during adversity, the right story can help build a confident, courageous, compassionate, righteous, hardworking, witty and most importantly happy child.
The most significant feature of a story is its power to touch hearts. This makes the impact lasting! Be it being number savvy or being compassionate, exposure to good stories can help build wonderful children and a wonderful society.
1 - From "Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns" (1995), a report published by the Board of Scientific Affairs of the American Psychological Association.
2. http://www.susieweller.com/brain.html
2. http://www.susieweller.com/brain.html
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