Book Title:
8 Great Smarts - Discover and Nurture Your Child’s Intelligences
Author:
Kathy Koch
Why I picked it:
I heard about this book on a Focus on the Family program. The author discussed the idea that all children are smart. Not just those who are good in school.
In a nutshell, what’s it about:
It’s about finding what our kids are really good at. The author talks about 8 general “smart” areas. She describes each smart and explains that we are all strong in one or more of these smarts. She says “children who believe they’re smart excel more in school and approach life with greater confidence.”
Smarts Breakdown: Words, Logic, Picture, Music, Body, Nature, People and Self-Smart.
Benefits of reading it:
You will discover strengths you didn’t even know you had. You’ll be able to see strengths in your children which you may have not considered before. The author also discusses how each smart can be used correctly to help a person succeed.
Favorite chapter:
Chapter 10 - I am Self-Smart: I think with reflection. This chapter was eye opening for me. I totally related to it. I had no idea being quiet, an independent worker and thinker was a smart!
Favorite quotes:
“Dr. Gardner determined that everyone is born with each of these distinct intelligences. They have to be awakened, but they’re there, built into each person at birth.”
“Once stretched, a balloon never goes back to its original size. The mind is the same. Things you did when you were young stretched parts of your mind and each part will be forever larger that they were.”
“The smarts are great, but they’re no substitute for God.”
“Children who believe they’re dumb will hang out with peers who believe the same thing about themselves.”
Who should read it:
Teachers, Parents, Grandparents and anyone that wants to mentor or encourage children.
How many chapters & pages:
10 Chapters, 1 Forward and 2 Appendices. It has a total of 239 pages.
Final Thoughts:
If you’ve ever wanted to find out what are your child’s strengths this is a book for you. I love that Kathy discusses the fact that smart is not determined by grades. Smarts can be a logical thinker, visual learner, a musician, an athlete just to mention a few.