As a parent, you always look for ways to support your child’s development and ensure they reach their full potential. So, one area that often garners our attention is the Intelligence Quotient or IQ. We grew up believing a person with a high IQ has a phenomenal advantage over others. Well, these days even EQ or Emotional Quotient and Social Quotient are equally given weightage, but let’s discuss that in another blog. For now, let’s understand what IQ is, how it varies among children, and whether it can give an untoward advantage in your child’s development; these are all valuable information for your parenting toolkit.
Is Intelligence a Natural Trait?
The common belief is that we are all born with a fixed amount of intelligence and it’s a trait we are lucky to be born with. To satisfy this Western belief, we have even created pencil and paper tests to quantify this intelligence in numerical values; which we call IQ. I always believed this is questionable, as this is the heart of the idea of academic ability in individuals and the standardized set of subjects our education system favours. In other words, the whole idea of IQ is centred around logical and critical reasoning, the approach that led to the spectacular advances in science that gave rise to the Industrial Revolution.
This approach of science to define worldly views did help us steer clear of superstitions & myths. But it also led to a bigger problem, we started believing the world is only what we could feel through our senses. This is the reason why IQ testing is promoted so much by academic institutions worldwide.
The most ironic part is that psychologist Alfred Binet (Father of IQ testing) who invented the first practical intelligence test (The Binet-Simon test); invented it for an opposite reason. He created it to identify children with special needs; so, they could get appropriate forms of schooling. In fact, he specifically said that intellectual qualities are not things that can be measured on a linear metric scale or stacked in layers. He added that each individual’s mental worth is not a fixed quantity and can be improved over time through experience. So, gauging intelligence in a finite way is something we should avoid and start looking for possibilities that would allow us to express intelligence in various ways.
Psychologist Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Principle
Howard Gardner, a famous psychologist, introduced the groundbreaking theory of Multiple Intelligences, contradicting the entire worldview of Fixed Intelligence. He suggests intelligence isn’t a single thing, but rather a blend of various strengths like rhythmic, logical, social, spatial, linguistic, inter (relationships)& intrapersonal (Knowing yourself) intelligence etc. Imagine a child who excels at math problems – that’s strong logical-mathematical intelligence. And another child who showcases high artistic skills with his visual sense and
spatial intelligence. Both are intelligent, but just in different ways! So, Howard argues that every child has different strengths and that our education system should treat them equally; so that each one of them would receive opportunities to develop their abilities.
If not measurable, then does it make sense, comparing?
Each child is unique, and so is their natural intelligence. Genetics play a significant role in determining intelligence, but environmental factors such as education, socio-economic status, and parental involvement also have a substantial impact. For example, a child who grows up in a stimulating environment with access to books, educational toys, and enriching activities is likely to develop higher cognitive abilities than a child who does not have these opportunities.
Albert Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” This quote emphasizes that fostering creativity and curiosity is just as important as traditional learning. Encourage your child to engage in imaginative play, such as building with blocks or creating stories, as these activities can enhance cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills.
Consider the story of Thomas Edison, who was once labelled as “addled” by his school teacher. His mother decided to teach him at home, nurturing his curiosity and encouraging his interest in science and invention. Edison’s high level of curiosity for science and innovative & divergent (An experience-oriented learning style) mind led to the invention of the electric light bulb and many other groundbreaking technologies. This example illustrates the importance of a supportive and stimulating environment in unlocking a child’s intellectual potential.
Human intelligence is not just about our brain:
The author of Other 90%, Robert Cooper says that we shouldn’t think of intelligence as something happening only in our skulls. He speaks about the “Heart brain” and the “gut brain”. In any new experience, our enteric nervous system or our second brain is activated; which is the neurological network of our heart and intestine. This is why we often say; “my gut feeling about this is “which is the first reaction we have to something new.
Intelligence is “Diverse, Dynamic & Distinct” – Ken Robinson
Human intelligence is extraordinarily diverse and not just limited to logical reasoning, critical thinking and hyperlexic skills. If so, then none of the world’s beautiful creations would’ve ever happened. We wouldn’t have seen such beautiful dance forms, paintings, musical performances etc; even such innovative inventions which would require enormous experiences. Like a dance, the performer reflects the rhythmic, kinaesthetic, spatial and logical intelligence that developed over exposure or experience and woven together with thorough practice.
Our intelligence is also dynamic. It is not a linear sequential system and many forms of intelligence could work in tandem for the expression of ideas; like in a dancer, the rhythmic, kinesthetics, spatial and logical intelligence could work together to give that graceful performance or in a musician where the skill to detect pitch, managing rhythm and a capacity to control tones and notes through musical, linguistic and bodily kinesthetic intelligence.
Also, the way a Rubik’s cube solver performs with a high level of hand dexterity and spatial intelligence; all this is only possible, if and only if our brains are highly interactive. In the biography of Einstein; it is mentioned that his prowess as a scientist and mathematician was not from the brute strength of his mind but from imagination and creativity. He understood math is a language of nature and used music for inspiration. So, Einstein clearly understood creativity comes through the dynamic nature of our intelligence.
Each person is born with a unique inner world and so has an entirely distinctive form of intellectual abilities. This being the case given any scenario, no matter how many layers of intelligence are active, the way each one of us uses it will be very different.
Conclusion
Challenging our preconceived notions about IQ and understanding a single intellectual score will not define your child; will empower you as a parent to better support your child’s intellectual development. Remember, intelligence is not just about scores and tests; it’s about curiosity, creativity, and the willingness to learn. As Albert Einstein also said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”
Just as sailors adapt to the ever-changing seas, parents must learn to navigate the complexities of raising children. Tell your children they are smart, expect them to be smart, and reinforce the idea that they can become smarter each day. Convince them of this truth, and they will believe it—and it will make a difference. By cultivating a supportive space that values curiosity, effort, and exploration, you can help your child achieve their full potential, regardless of their IQ. Remember, intelligence is not a fixed point but a continuous journey of learning and development.