Do you know what makes a child intelligent?
I had lots of thoughts on this. Is it – inherited ability/aptitude, education, experiences,motivation but what do researchers say?
I.Q. is one of the most researched subjects as it is thought to impact so much of a person’s life. It is believed that intelligence is the determining factor of a child’s academic life, the determining factor for prospects of employment and even whether a child may have a criminal record.
Generally, it is thought the maximum amount of intelligence passed on in genes is 50%.
With so much riding on intelligence we need to know if we can help a child improve their intelligence and succeed in life.
- We all share 99.5% of our 3 billion DNA we are made of.
- The difference we have is in 15 million DNA only.
- In intelligence tests children are tested on learned school skills and general cognitive ability.
Genetic input is only 50%. - Environment including the people and experiences we give children account for 50% and if the first 5 years are the most important, how responsible are we for the future of young children?
- This puts child care under the spotlight for responsibility to be taken for children’s intellectual growth depending on how many hours a child attends child care facilities.
- In April 2014 Leyla Abdulla yeva wrote – In having a talk with an economics professor, the professor stated that everything we know or learn is pointless unless we know how to apply it.
- Bill Gates states he reads to understand the world in which he is living and the way it functions. If Bill Gates needs this information with all his knowledge, then how much more does a young child need this information? This very thinking is reflected in the current Australian Early Childhood Curriculum.
- Conclusion is intelligence is not only what you know but your knowledge on how to apply it to situations. This would not be a skill derived from genetic input but rather learned through education/experience – intelligence must aid you in understanding the World around you.
Psychologist Robert Sternberg says that skills and knowledge DO come from family but not through genetics. - Family affects how much interaction you will have with children and the content of what your family teaches you. Children from higher socio-economic families have greater interaction with family which teaches social skills, helps them solve social problems and to speak correctly. Over time this affects self-esteem.
- Lower socio-economic families may work two jobs and generally have less time with their children in addition to not having access to high quality local schools.
- “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell is a book which states that in Asian countries it is culturally accepted that you are responsible for your own outcomes in academic life and therefore if you do not succeed then you did not work hard enough.
- Of course, this cannot be completely true but Leyla Abdullayeva states don’t let your intelligence or lifestyle be a slave to what is genetic input. Attitude is what will give or take away from your drive to succeed.
- I strongly believe we can assist children to have a great, positive attitude with regard to their abilities and in turn motivate them to be their best.
