TOYS
AND THE STIMULATION OF INTELLIGENCE
If we analyze the theory
of the multiple intelligences, outlined by H. Gardner, we observe
that he conceives intelligence in terms of results and the abilities
required, so he defines it as the capacity to solve problems and
to create products in a natural and enrichened atmosphere.
The seven types of intelligence
are defined, according to Gardner, to meet criteria or basic requirements
that outline it as an integral structure, and make them different
from talent, aptitude or ability. We are not trying to assess
these requirements in this essay, as Gardner’s books can be consulted
for this purpose. The important thing is that these intelligences
outline certain operations and abilities that characterize them,
and as the individuals use them to solve problems and to elaborate
products, they are geared to the results of the process.
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HIPOPÓTAMOS
BAÑO DIVERTIDO
De 18 meses |
These results will be closely
linked with the means that the setting provides for their attainment;
they are materialized in different signs, symbols and objects
that stimulate them and foster their development. It is in that
sense that toys begin to play an important role, as they are part
of the experiences (that stimulate the development of intelligences)
if they are well chosen to activate each type of them.
This theory states that in each
person coexist seven types of intelligence, although not all of
them at the same level of development; most of the children can
develop each one of these intelligences. These intelligences work
together in a complex way, and there are a lot of ways to be intelligent
in each category. These statements combine consequently with the
possibilities offered by real life objects for their appropriate
stimulation.
When toys are assessed from the
perspective of a development process of psychological and physical
qualities, they can exert a stimulating action on those features
that constitute the central nucleus of these intelligences, of
those directly related with the specific type of toys, although,
being consequent with Gardner and the historical-cultural theory,
all objects exercise an action over all processes and psychological
actions, based on the conception of the dynamic localization of
the brain functions. Therefore, when classifying a toy within
a type of intelligence, it is based on their main function, and
not on an exclusive categorization of the type of intelligence.
Based on this classification,
and on the knowledge of the development and particularities of
children in these ages, and of the evolutionary specificity of
each intelligence, a selection is established for each stage of
development, avoiding a closed categorization by ages. This way,
by conjugating all the parameters, we achieve a more scientific
focus for the classification of the toys and their effects in
the intelligence. In the following lines you will read about some
appropriate toys for each intelligence type, remembering that
they don't constitute all those possible ones for each classification.
Toys for the development
of linguistic intelligence
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CARRUSEL
TELETUBBIES
6 month + |
Toys with voices and sounds
in a computer format, interactive puppets, telephones with voices,
microphones karaoke, representative toys of means of transport:
(airplane, bus, car, car), objects that represent real life tools,
marionettes, books of texts and images, wooden animals, plastic
and teddy bears, coffee, kitchen, room, dining room, sets, cleaning
and working tools, toys for role plays: doctor, barber, mechanic,
carpenter, their means and instruments, construction games, printing
sets, traffic games, wooden horse, ball, domino sets of animals,
colors, fruits and vegetables, means of transport, etc., surprise
boxes, record player, rope toys, costumes, doll houses, table
games, lotteries, television of images, group games: monopoly,
etc., card games, elastic band of sound plastic balls, toy mirrors,
and all those that stimulate the use of the word in practical
situations.
Toys for
the development of logical-mathematical intelligence.
Educational electronic toys
of all types, preferably with graphic demonstrations that demonstrate
problem solving, calculation, assembling games, advanced toys
of drawing, logical, numerical puzzles, of diverse groups, comparison,
classification, identification, models and planes, toy compasses,
riddles, inclusion games: of colors, shapes, sizes, toy calculators,
threads, scientific instruments, pyramid, boxes of shapes and
colors, wooden and plastic geometric figures, mechanical and rope
toys, electronic dominoes of letters and numbers, architect's
games, manufacturers, rubber stamps of different figures, building
games, tool kits, and all those that imply the understanding of
quantitative relationships and logical patterns.
Toys for
the development of spatial intelligence
Games of radio control,
crawlers, engagement games, boards, electronic games with graphics,
puzzles of images: animals, plants, landscapes, mosaics of shapes
and colors, of geometric figures, animals, labyrinths, blocks,
books of images, toy computers with activities of drawings, coloring
books, cut outs and fill-in the blanks, play dough, ball, pyramids,
inclusion games: geometric shapes, animals, objects, etc., cut
out boards with figures, molds, sets of rings, models of airplanes,
ships and other means of transport, construction cubes, color
dice, water colors, color pencils, crayons, rattles, mobiles,
videos, light toys, kaleidoscopes, transformers, and some others
that allow the representation of images and space, shape, color
and line interrelations.
Toys for
physical–kinesthetic intelligence
Pull toys, crawlers, drawing
screens, construction and assembling sets, carrousels, swings,
toys for outdoor games, stairways, tricycle, carts, mini-cars,
play dough, drawing games, of construction, cube and shovel, hammer,
balls, scissors, wheelbarrow, plastic or wooden horse, baby rattle,
set of rings, arch and arrows, target shooting, racket, skates,
diverse tool kits, fishing rod, spinning top, soap bubbles, molds
to play with sand, Chinese sticks, watering-can, strings, balls,
big hoops, surprise envelopes, and all those ones that promote
body sensations of physical balance or manual learning.
Toys for
musical intelligence
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BATH TIME
TELETUBBY
6 month + |
Educational electronic toys
with sounds and musical rhythms, microphone of imitative games,
Discman, radio and record player, musical instruments: guitar,
harmonica, xylophone, piano, bugle, percussion teams: drums, tambourine,
rattle and other sound objects, music boxes, recorders, cassettes
and cd player, diverse bells, flutes and whistles, maracas, keys,
bells, Chinese box, triangle, radio and toy record player, marimba,
castanets, cicadas, sound mobiles, walkman, and those toys that
allow to perceive harmonic and musical sounds.
Toys for
the development of interpersonal intelligence
Diverse table games: monopoly,
lottery, dominoes, toys for collective activities: tools and work
implements, wheelbarrow, costumes, tent, bus and mini-cars, accessories
for imitation games: doll, animals of plastic, wood and teddy
bears, marionettes, dining room, bedroom, school, sets, balls
and baskets, cleaning tools, hairdresser sets, long pikes, carrousel
and other outdoor games, puppet theater, and all the other toys
that facilitate social communication and affective contact with
the others.
Toys for
the development of intrapersonal intelligence
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WHISTLING
ANIMALS
10 month + |
Electronic toys of individual
manipulation, toys with computer format, toys that represent objects
of adult life (CD, cameras, telephones...), kaleidoscopes, view-masters,
slides of animals, objects, fruits and plants, mobiles, books
and images, plastic cards of shapes, pencils and crayons, water
colors, play dough, Atari, videos, sound boxes, rattles, self
correcting didactic games, video games, and others that facilitate
individual concentration and self introspection.
As it is observed, the selection
of toys responds fundamentally to the intelligence type they effectively
promote, although there are toys that are "multipurpose", because
of the infinite possibilities they offer and the developmental
stimulation they promote, for example, the case of the ball, one
of the most universal ones, because it acts upon all types of
intelligence and also because it is used in all the stages of
development. Even for intrapersonal intelligence, which is so
difficult to stimulate in the pre-school years because of the
few possibilities the child has to observe himself, the ball,
in a solitary game can constitute a means of self-evaluation of
one’s own abilities. That is why a wisely selected toy may be
one of the most effective and relevant means a child can have
to stimulate his intelligences.