Does your child notice how other people are feeling? Is he empathetic, and can he relate to others easily? Does she have strong communication skills?
In this installment of my series on Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, we're going to explore the interpersonal intelligence and how to identify it in yourself and others.
Interpersonal, meaning "between people", is all about how people relate to and interact with one another. This goes beyond basic conversation and people skills — people-smart learners are good at "reading" others' emotions and understanding their motivations and desires. They are acutely aware of body language and facial expressions, and can use that information to read between the lines and hear what may not be said aloud.
Those with a strong interpersonal intelligence are skilled at working and communicating with others, which gives them a distinct advantage when it comes to conflict resolution and forming strong relationships. They have a knack for finding balanced compromises, and are good at interacting with, relating to and getting along with others. These skills demonstrate potential for effective leadership. The good news? Everybody can strengthen their interpersonal skills.
Want to learn activities you can do at home to strengthen your child's interpersonal intelligence?