Parents who want to encourage their children to learn in their own way, work with their high-energy children (whom others might be quick to label as having ADD/ADHD), or who simply wish to know more about how their children learn and how they can help could all do well checking out Dr. Thomas Armstrong’s book In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encouraging Your Child’s Multiple Intelligences. Recently I checked the book out from the library and it has helped me learn so much about my own child’s learning and how each of the eight intelligences apply to her. (Keep in mind that everyone, including every child, has all eight of these learning styles; some exhibit themselves more strongly than others, is all.)

The eight intelligences that Dr. Armstrong discusses in his book include the two that schools focus on, lobgical-mathematical intelligence (number smart) and linguistic intelligence (word smart). He says that schools fall far short, however, because they fail to acknowledge the other six intelligences that exist. Any child who doesn’t learn with words or logic, for example, is considered a failure, when this is simply not so. If all of the intelligences were taken into account—as they are in some schools across the country—all children would be able to exhibit their skills and prowess over subject material.

Armstrong also discusses how so many children who can’t seem to sit still are often labeled problems when, in reality, it is in our blood to learn by movement. Our earliest ancestors learned everything by doing, not by reading or doing math equations on paper. Then, as we developed words, we passed down knowledge through music and dancing long before we used textbooks. This type of learning is absolutely natural, not something to be punished or labeled as a sickness.

Armstrong gives parents some concrete helpful advice for how to deal with schools and teachers, such as evaluating them, staying in the loop, and asking teachers to use these different methods. Though most may argue that they can’t do them all every day, even if one different method was used every day, for the full day, and another the next and so on, it would be helpful for children.

Lastly, parents are given dozens of resources—from video programs to websites to toys and more—that cater to each style of learning so that each parent can select what is appropriate for his or her child. It’s a gem of a book and so helpful; definitely a must-read for every parent.

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