Nature Smart Children

Being Nature Smart means that you are curious about and understand the environment you live in. You notice what's around you and enjoy identifying and classifying things like plants or animals. Maybe it means collecting bugs, watching birds, or studying the rocks on the grounds. According to Thomas Armstrong, PhD., if you answer yes to any of the questions below, then your child might be identified as Nature Smart.

Does your child:
1. like animals?
2. have a "green thumb"?
3. care about nature and environmental causes?
4. like going to parks, zoos, and aquariums?
5. enjoy camping or hiking in nature?
6. notice nature wherever you are?
7. have a garden at home or in the neighborhood?
8. adapt to different places and events well?
9. enjoy taking care of pets (at home or in the classroom)?
10. have a good memory for the details of places where you've been and the names of animals, plants, people, and things?
11. ask a lot of questions about the people, places, and things you see in your environment or in nature so you can understand them better?
12. have "street smarts" (the ability to understand and take of yourself in new or different situations or places)?

Your Child Should READ This Summer

Summer is officially here! Most of the schools in the South are already out for Summer break! All parents should be thinking about what their children will be doing this summer. Below are a few suggestions:

1. READ! READ! READ! Make sure your child is reading or being read to at least 15-30 minutes a day. Older children should be reading 30-60 minutes. If children don't read during the summer they will lose grounds on how many words per minute they were reading during the school year. This will effect the start of the next school year and put them behind. Research shows that student will lose 10-15 words per minute if they are not reading during the summer.

2. Take your child to the public library. Most have special programs weekly for children and it doesn't cost any money. Sign your children up for a library cards and let them check out books to read weekly. It can be a lot of fun visiting the library.

3. Make sure your child is active. Don't let them become couch potatoes during the summer or computer addicts. Get them outside for at least 30-60 when it is not too hot. Suggest they ride bikes, take a brisk walk, jog, play ball, swim, or cut the grass. Getting active can be a family goal and fun for everyone.

4. Eat healthier. Take a close look at what everyone in the family is eating. Cut out junk food, sugar drinks, and process foods as much as possible. Have the kids get involved in making up healthy menus and let them get involved in preparing the meals. It will pay off for the entire family.

5. Plan time to enjoy the summer. If you can go on a vacation. If you can not just plan to have fun right where you are. Check out what is going on in your community and take advantage of as many free activities as possible. If it is no more than taking a walk in the neighborhood and having pleasant conversations it is worth millions. Make sure your family is building memories.

To find out more information on what children can be doing during the summer, purchase my book, A Parent's Handbook: How to Get the Best Education Possible K-6. You can order my book from http://www.besteducationpossible.com/ .

Self Smart Children Looking to the Future

So what can you do with your Self Smart child can do when he/she gets older? A lot of very different things. Some of the careers your child might look at according to You're Smarter Than You Think, by Thomas Armstrong, PhD., include:

1. actor

2. artist
3. chaplain or member of the clergy/theologian
4. comedian
5. crafts person/artisan
6. detective/investigator
7. film maker/director
8. entrepreneur
9. guidance counselor
10. holistic health practitioner (massage therapist, acupuncturist, herbalist)
11. inventor
12. leader (business, political, social)
13. performance artist
14. personal lifestyle coach
15. personal trainer/therapist
16. philosopher
17. poet/writer
18. professor
19. psychiatrist
20. psychologist
21. research scientist
22. self-employed business person/venture capitalist
23. social worker
24. teacher
25. time management consultant

My Child Is Self Smart Superstar!

If your child is really a strong Self Smart child that's great! The Self Smart skills can help your child build the other intelligences. Here are some Self Smart ideas you can use to help your child understand and develop the other intelligences in school and in life according to Thomas Armstrong, PhD.:

1. Word Smart: Have your child write an autobiography. Talking to members of your family can help your child with their autobiography by giving him/her information about your family as a whole as well as your and the child's part in its history.
2. Music Smart: Encourage your child to create a musical autobiography using their favorite songs from when they were younger.
3. Logic Smart: Let your child look for patterns in the things he/she likes. It can be a lot of fun to learn about how our mind works, so let your child the science of the mind. Find out what the different parts of the mind are and the different functions they perform.
4. Picture Smart. Have your child experiment with the different arts to express how they feel or to create a self-portrait. Painting, drawing, collage, and paper-mache are just a few of the ways you can let them express themselves.
5. Body Smart: Let your child do physical activities that let them express how they feel, like dance, acting, mime, or fine arts such as sculpture. There are many physical activities that you can get involved with that let your child focus their mind or even meditate while they get exercise, like running, bicycling, yoga, martial arts, or swimming.
6. People Smart: Tell your child to use how well they know themselves to get to know others better. Find people with common interest to do things with.
7. Nature Smart: Go for a walk and take a good look around you. How does being in nature make you and your child feel. Use objects fond like pine cones, leaves, and feathers to create an art piece to express how nature makes you feel.

What If My Child Has Self-Doubts About His/Her Self Smarts?

Maybe your child doesn't fell too Self Smart. Almost everyone has certain amounts of Self Smart ability whether he/she realizes it or not. Everything that your child is already strong in can help him/her learn more about who he/she truly are, how your child feels, and what is important to him/her. Below are some ways your child can become stronger or more comfortable in becoming more Self Smart, according to You're Smarter Than You Think, by Thomas Armstrong, PhD.

1. Word Smart: Think about what your child likes to read and reflect on what that says about your child. Does he/she enjoy flights or fancy or does your child have more interest in the world around them. Writing is a great way to explore the answers to the questions about what your child is interested in. Keeping a journal about the things that are important to your child - his/her hopes for the future and how he/she feels, and goals.

2. Music Smart: Use music to reflect, relax, and give your child thinking time by listening to it or playing it. Many musicians find their music helps them understand how they're feeling or what they're thinking about. Set practice goals for your child and be patient, and stick with it.

3. Logic Smart: Encourage your child to explore the world of logic on their own by working on individual logic and puzzle books. Logic Smart skills can help your child break down goals into logical and methodical steps.

4. Picture Smart: Find time for your child to create artwork by him/herself. While he/she is creating, have him/her reflect on their goals, their thoughts, and their ideas. Art journals are a good way to explore and reflect on your child's emotions, thoughts, and fears.

5. Body Smart: Have your child try out different solo sports (biking or swimming for examples), instead or a team sports. When you find a solo sport your child enjoys, use the time when they practice alone have him/her think about the day, problems, or goals.

6. People Smart: It is great that your child gets along with other people, but try to use that understanding of others to better understand who he/she really is. Ask your child what qualities does he/she admire in others? Do you find these qualities in yourself? What positive traits do you think you have?

7. Nature Smart: The next time you take a nature hike or walk, use that time to encourage your child to think about what is going on in his/her life. Try taking the time to reflect and even journal while outside in any environment.

My Child Is Not Self Smart! What Can I Do?

If your child know him/herself really well that is great! Fortunately, there is a lot for your child to know about him/herself, and he/she should always have a chance to become more Self Smart. Your child can always explore new ways to express him/herself and his/her feelings. Your child's Self Smart skills can help him/her build the other intelligences. Below are some Self Smart ideas your child can use to help him/her understand and develop the other intelligences in school and in life according to Thomas Armstrong, PhD.:

1. Word Smart: Have your child write an autobiography. Talking to members of your family can help.

2. Music Smart: Have your child create a musical autobiography using favorite songs from when your child was younger.

3. Logic Smart: Encourage your child to look for patterns in the thinks he/she likes. Have he/she answer the question, "Do your favorite things have anything in common? If so, what?"

4. Picture Smart: Let your child experiment with the different arts to express how he/she feels or to create a self-portrait. Let your child design an original invention by sketching it out, and if he/she can, build it.

5. Body Smart: Have your child do physical activities that let him/her express how he/she feels, like dance, acting, mime, or fine arts such as sculpture.

6. People Smart: Encourage your child to get to know others better. Find people with common interest to do things with your child that would include volunteer opportunities.

7. Nature Smart: Go for a walk with your child and take a good look at everything around. Ask your child how nature makes him/her feel?

How Can My Child Become More "Self Smart"?

According to You're Smarter Than You Think, by Thomas Armstrong, PhD., below are some ways you can help your child expand and enjoy his/her Self Smart skills. Have your child try any activity that appeals to him/her no matter how Self Smart you think your child is.

1. Have your child ask him/herself, "Who am I? At the top of a sheet of paper, write the words, "Who Am I? Have your child write down as many answers to this question. Your child can list likes and dislikes, hobbies, and anything else that comes to mind.

2. Keep a journal. Encourage your child to write down feelings, ideas, memories, or anything he/she can think of.

3. Make a self lists. Your child should make a list of all the things he/she does well.

4. Set goals for themselves. Pick a regular time each day, week, or month to set up specific goals that your child like to reach over a given period of time.

5. Put together an autobiography. Have your child create the story of his/her life so far.

6. Create a self-collage. Use pictures from magazines, photos, or art materials.

7. Remember your dreams. Find a way to keep track of your child's dreams at night. Write them down if you wish. Then spend time discussing the dreams and what they mean to your child.

8. Think about the day. At the end of each day, reflect on the great thing that happened, or what didn't go so well, or what was learned, and what can be improved in the future.

9. Take a look in your Self Smart "tool box". Make a list of all the "tools" your child has to help deal with problems and stress in his/her life.

10. Read self-help books. A lot of books can help your child learn about self. This can include reading biographies about successful people.

11. Do something your child loves. Spend time each day or week by letting your child spend time by him/herself doing something they love.

12. Start something important to your child. Your child might invent something that fixes a common problem, or might start a business base on one of their ideas or inventions.