Page 18 - ParentsWorld March 2020 flipbuilder

nurturing 21st century children
middle

years

Developing children’s

sPATIAl INTEllIGENCE

Spatial intelligence is capability to visualise three-dimensional images, shapes
and positions of an object in relation to another object and is vital for developing
mathematical thinking and conceptual understanding

dipta Joshi

patial intelligence or visual- in geometry, chemistry and physics.
spatial processing may “The right side of the brain
sound unfamiliar and controls spatial tasks and
shighfalutin. But ability to comprehend three-
the truth is that you are dimensional shapes and
using this intelligence in images. Research has
everyday activities. shown that spatial
Think of the times intelligence is critical
you visualised how to to the development
pack differing items of mathematical
into a suitcase. Or thinking, conceptual
how you know which understanding, and
Russian Matryoshka enables success in
wooden doll fits careers such as medical
into another. spatial surgery, architecture,
intelligence is capability engineering, professional
to visualise three- sports and art. Educators
dimensional images, shapes are becoming increasingly
and positions of an object in aware of the vital connection
relation to another object. between spatial intelligence and
The development of children’s high academic performance,” says
visual-spatial intelligence gained Suzanne Perkowsky, co-founder and
traction in the 1980s after Dr. Howard Gardner, head of education, New Nordic school, a Finland-based
celebrated professor of education at Harvard University, education solutions company.
in his book Frames of Mind — The Theory of Multiple Though children with higher visual-spatial intelligence
Intelligences (1983), propounded that all humans have are likely to excel in architecture, art or engineering, it’s
one or more of eight different intelligences — visual- pertinent to note this intelligence is required even if to
spatial, logical-mathematical, linguistic-verbal, bodily- a lesser degree, in all careers and to perform everyday
kinaesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalistic. tasks. Therefore, it’s important to encourage children to
According to Gardner, individuals with high visual- develop this intelligence from young age. A University of
spatial intelligence are adept at solving puzzles, reading, Chicago research study titled ‘Relation Between spatial
drawing, painting, reading maps and are better at science skill and Early Numbers Knowledge’, published in
and maths as they have the capability to generate sharp Development Psychology (2012), found that exposing children
mental images. This facilitates calculation, measurement between the ages of five and six to spatial learning
and pattern recognition which is important for excellence activities accelerated their understanding of maths

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