For young children, learning is not always planned. It just happens….all the time. That is why parents and educators try to create a stimulating environment for children filled with a variety of colorful posters, books, blocks, crayons, and other toys. Spontaneous investigation and play with these materials is extremely important.
In providing an appealing environment for your home (day care room, classroom), why not offer items for each of the eight intelligences? You most likely have done so instinctively, even if you’ve never heard of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences before reading this blog.
So I am starting a series to highlight some items for young children that would lend themselves to each of the intelligences. This is not an exhaustive list, but should be useful in considering materials you already have or want to get to help children utilize each of their eight intelligences.
I’ll start with a brief overview of each intelligence before listing some components of a multiple intelligence rich environment.
BODILY-KINESTHETIC INTELLIGENCE
This intelligence involves learning through fine and gross motor activities. With this intelligence, people process information through their tactile senses, movement, and expression. Basically any physical activity or hands-on activity would fit into this category. Creative dramatics such as role playing, pantomimes, and charades are also using the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.
Keep in mind that many bodily-kinesthetic materials can also be categorized under the other intelligences. For example, crayons are found in the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (because they contribute to fine motor skills) as well as spatial intelligence (because crayons can create pictures). Toys and other supplies to promote bodily-kinesthetic learning opportunities include:
Some of our bodily-kinesthetic toys and materials.
Playdough, silly putty, and slime
Dry erase boards and markers
Coloring book with crayons and markers
Safety scissors
Lacing and beading toys
Balls of all sizes, including balance balls and nerf balls
Scooters, bikes
Pull toys
Sensory bins 0f rice, beans, pasta, or kinetic sand
Mini trampolines
Dress up clothes and fabric remnants (to create their own fashions)
Blocks, Legos, and other construction sets
Toy cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, helicopters
Toy tools and kitchen utensils
Stacking cups or rings
Sandbox toys
Water table toys, squirt guns, (and bathtub toys for the home)
Plastic containers with lids (could be empty and cleaned yogurt tubs)
Outdoor play equipment such as basketball hoops, swings, slides, climbing ropes
Hula hoops, pool noodles, and jump ropes
Butterfly nets
Musical instruments such as xylophones, drums, and maracas
Play tunnels (could be made from large cardboard boxes)
Puzzles and mazes
Exercise videos for children
Well, this list could go on and on, but you get the idea. Feel free to comment on other bodily-kinesthetic materials you use in your home or classroom for young children.
In Part 2 of this series, I will blog about materials for the spatial intelligence.
Mimi and the Grands 
I find this so interesting! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop! We hope you stop by again next week!
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Yes, I will definitely be following The Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop each week. Love seeing so many inspiring ideas!
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