With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, many of us are
beginning to consider how we might show our affection for friends and family,
including the kids in our lives. On the one hand, I don’t personally overdo Valentine’s
Day because I believe we should demonstrate love every day, not just when
tradition and Hallmark dictate. But at least the holiday gives us the
opportunity to remember the importance of expressing our feelings.
Of course, if we’re going to make that effort, we should
purpose to be intentional about it. And taking into consideration the multiple
intelligence strengths of those we love is an excellent starting point.
For example, a word smart child will appreciate a heart-felt
card – maybe written in clever verse she can analyze for meter and rhyme.
Alternately, she would love a journal for herself or beautiful stationery she
can use to bless others with her word smart gifts.
On the other hand, a picture smart child might value a
coloring book, drawing paper, markers and paint, or a special graphic novel.
And you could express your love for a music smart kid by giving a new songbook
from which he can sing or play his instrument of choice, or tickets to a
favorite artist’s concert.
What about a logic smart child? A card written in code,
puzzles of various sorts, and coupons for family game nights to play Risk,
Stratego, and Chinese checkers come to mind.
A body smart kid would love coupons for family time at a
skating rink or bowling alley, or trips to the gym for parent-child basketball
games and buddy workouts. Of course, he would appreciate simple cuddle time,
too, because body smart people thrive on touch.
For a nature smart child, you can offer field guides for
plants and animals native to your region, a visit to a botanical garden, or a
butterfly habitat kit for when the weather (finally!) warms up. And this is the
child who can’t ever have enough stuffed animals!
People smart folks thrive in relationship. So what about
surprising your people smart kid with permission to invite a couple of friends
for a sleepover? Alternately, consider hosting a simple daytime gathering with
a handful of her “besties;” it needn’t be elaborate because she’ll most value
the opportunity to be with others.
And what of the self smart child – the one who thinks deeply
within himself and is most content when alone? Life for most of us – kids and
adults alike – is often much too busy, loud, and chaotic, and self smart people
become acutely stressed by that reality. Thus, any opportunity you can provide
for peace and quiet – time alone at home for an older child or teen, or clear
permission for a younger child to enjoy a book, music, or art supplies in
solitude – would be an amazing blessing.
Obviously, these are just a few ideas out of myriad
possibilities. But they demonstrate how we can consider a child’s smarts when
expressing our love – at this time of year and always. What can you add to each
list as you think of your own kids?
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