M΄ agapao - Creative Activity Center for Children with Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences - Montessori Philosophy
M’ agapao - Creative Activity Center for Children with Multiple Intelligences - Volos

“The question is not how smart someone is, but how they are smart.”
– Howard Gardner

The theory of Multiple Intelligences was developed by Professor Howard Gardner and taught us something very important: intelligence is not one and the same.
It is not measured by an IQ test or by how well a child does in math or language. There are many different ways to be “smart” — and every child has their own unique combination of abilities!

What does this mean in practice?
• All children have intelligence — but each one expresses itself differently. Some children learn best through music, others through images, others through movement, or through collaboration with others.
• Intelligence is not static. With the right environment, encouragement, and opportunities, every child can develop their potential.
• There is no “right” way to learn. All ways are valid and valuable. That is why our goal is for children to discover who they are and how they learn best.

What are the basic types of intelligence that the theory recognizes?
1. Linguistic / Verbal Intelligence – Ability to express, write, narrate, understand concepts
2. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence – Ability to think logically, with numbers, patterns, puzzles
3. Musical / Rhythmic Intelligence – Sensitivity to sounds, melodies, rhythms
4. Bodily / Kinesthetic Intelligence – Ability to express through the body, dance, movement
5. Spatial / Spatial Intelligence – Ability to visual imagination, to design, to create images and constructions
6. Interpersonal Intelligence – Ability to understand others, to cooperate, to empathize
7. Intrapersonal Intelligence – Ability to self-awareness, to recognize emotions and thoughts
8. Naturalistic Intelligence – Ability to observe nature, animals, plants, natural phenomena
9. Emotional Intelligence – Ability to understand and regulate emotions, both of oneself and others




	Our approach is further strengthened by the Montessori philosophy, which emphasizes the value of autonomy, free choice and experiential learning. According to Maria Montessori, each child has within him or her his or her own guide to learning and develops best when given a stimulating environment that allows him or her to explore and learn at his or her own pace. As in the theory of Multiple Intelligences, in the Montessori approach: • The child is at the center of learning, with respect for his or her individual needs and particularities. • Learning is experiential, through practice, observation, experimentation. • The educational process is not a one-way street, but takes place through interaction, curiosity and personal discovery. At KDAP M’ agapo, we build our actions on this philosophy. We offer children rich stimuli, so that they can experience all types of intelligence through experiential, creative activities. Because when a child discovers their own way of learning, they begin to learn with joy — and this joy is the key to meaningful, multifaceted development.