Developing the brain as a whole.

Knowledge involves understanding while skill involves movement. Together they help the child to develop every part of him/her to the highest potential possible.

To develop the brain for knowledge, we must also remember that there is a right brain and a left brain. In the 1960's, an American psychobiologist, Roger W. Sperry, discovered that the human brain is made up of compartments in the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere of the brain. This research resulting in the right brain, left brain concept won him a Nobel Prize in 1981.

Those compartments in the right hemisphere are more into visualisation, intuition, tone/sound, emotions, motion. As such, we can see that it is more into spatial-visual intelligence, musical intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, naturalistic intelligence, existential intelligence and intrapersonal intelligence.

As for the compartments in the left hemisphere, they are more into verbal-linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence. Although brain intelligence is not as clearly divided as given, we ought to remember to some people are more inclined to one hemisphere of the brain. So as to have better brain development, a complete left and right brain development, we ought to think of developing not just some of the intelligences which we presume to be more important but to develop the brain as a whole so as to reach the highest potential and not just about ten percent of it as researchers found.

In schools as well as among parents, we find that importance is usually given to verbal-linguistic intelligence above all else. Then, attention is given logic-mathematic intelligence. Some might consider musical intelligence and/or visual-spatial intelligence important. That is why most parents do not place much emphasis on musical intelligence. How many schools provide music lessons? How many parents ever thought of getting musical instruments for their children or providing such lessons?

Kindergartens may provide some children with interpersonal intelligence which could be lacking in the home. That is why some children are unable to mix well with other children in kindergartens. Some may even be anti-social, always avoiding, quarrelling or fighting with other children.

How many parents would take their children to enjoy nature, listen to the running water of streams, watch the colours of birds, see the grace of flight and know how their life is? I know parents do take their children to the zoo. But how many parents would tell their children about the birds and animals they see there. How many would go into their life-story?

How many parents would teach children to listen to their instincts and feelings? Nay, how many would allow them to voice their instincts and feelings and follow them. In fact, most parents do the opposite. They silence them and tell them to just follow mummy and daddy, not their feelings and instincts.

In their first six years of life, do we allow our children to think for themselves? Do we listen to what they have to say? Are they allowed their opinions. No, they are usually silenced. Adults know better, it seems. I, myself, suffered such a fate and it was then that i decided that my children would never have their opinion and ideas silenced while I load my own opinions on them. I was determined that they would have that chance to develop that part of their brain.

Today, my children have a mind of their own with thoughts and ideas easily expressed. Of course, there is a problem, not with me though as i accept their opinion with respect always, and the problem is there are times when they would reprimand me for whatever faults or weakness that is evident. And at such times, they are right. So, I accept it and improve on mmyself. As i have always said, I am still learning.

So, being aware of the different types of intelligences and inclinations of humans to be more inclined towards certain types can help us to understand our children better as well as help them to develop from the day they are born.