The first six years is the basis of life for everyone. It is said that first six years of a child is the GOLDEN period of his life. We do not realize that children accomplish numerous achievements and develop several skills in the first six years of life. They learn to use their limbs to walk, run, hold, carry, they learn to speak and understand a language sometimes even two or three at a time, they learn to interpret feelings, control their bodily functions. Then eventually when they are developmentally ready, correct guidance and an appropriate environment allows them to develop skills for literacy (reading, writing) and the skills required to solve problems, reason and work with numbers.

The 21st century has its share of incredibly talented children as well. Sachin Tendulkar, one of the most renowned cricketers began his career at the age of 14 and Bobby Fischer was named a ‘chess legend’ at the age of 13. Divya Tej, an Indian child prodigy, is, till date, the youngest child to have completed the 10th standard at the age of eight.

But these children did not become child wonders overnight. They became so because they were respected for what they liked and allowed to follow them through. They were gently persuaded to practice their skill uninterrupted for hours; they had access to all the things they needed to boost their abilities. Their parents developed congenial environments to aid their skills and enhance their explorations, but most of all, they were allowed to make mistakes and learn from them.

All children are born with a predisposed attitude to certain things and they often begin to display their likes and dislikes very early in life. Howard Gardner, the theorist of ‘multiple intelligences’, expounds that every child has several areas of intelligence and therefore, intelligence cannot be tested as one entity through an IQ test. According to Gardner, all children have a higher intensity of expertise in one area or the other, for example a child who is interested in music may have a higher intelligence quotient for the arts or a child who is interested in sports may have a proficiency in the ‘bodily-kinesthetic’ intelligence. It is important for every parent to understand the importance of nurturing the child’s interest before making assumptions of his/her talent through a few adult directed activities. It is a good idea to talk to your child, respect his/her choice, and reflect on the questions s/he asks about what interests him/her. However, the most important aspect of helping children nurture their interest, which may eventually evolve into a talent, is being patient with their struggles and encouraging them to carry on doing what they love doing.

IVM Shiksha delivers thro its latest biometric technology, skilled assessment and counselling professionals, and its on-going research which produces fresh insights that help people to tap their innate potential to an even higher degree.

The approach of using Multiple Intelligences to understand an individual’s abilities and potential is radically different in the sense that rather than generalities, we delve into the very specific amalgam of innate skills latent in a particular individual. Only this type of assessment can prove valuable to charting a person’s success strategy that is based on an assessment of their innate potential.

At IVM Shiksha , we foster your understanding of these concepts and encourage you to cultivate your Innate Intelligence – a clearer sense of what is working within you, how to harness your personality better, and the most likely directions in which you can discover success.