Children have different strengths that need different nourishment.

Byline: Birth to three By Paula Prober For The Register-Guard

James, age 15, is introspective and sensitive. Because he's emotional and has been ridiculed for it, he rarely shows his feelings. But he has a complex inner life. Journals and science-fiction novels are piled under his bed. James feels peaceful in nature, and loves bird watching and rock collecting. He enjoys the theater and writes songs he'll practice for hours on his guitar.

James' interests and sensitivities make school difficult and friends hard to find. Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences can help. MI theory looks at the many ways children are smart and suggests how to build on these strengths.

How can you help children like James using the MI model?

Learn about MI theory and discuss it with your children. It's useful for all family members to assess their own strengths. Read Laurel Schmidt's "Seven Times Smarter" or go to thomasarmstrong. com. Teachers can use this information to understand a child's learning needs.

Intrapersonal intelligence is the strength of philosophers and theologians. Children with this intelligence need to know that their inner lives are important; that examining their feelings and the larger meaning of life is valuable to a society. Encourage sharing of questions, thoughts and journal entries.

Children with naturalist intelligence have an affinity with the natural world and often notice patterns while sorting and collecting objects they find outdoors. Allow time on hikes for looking under rocks and hugging trees. Grow vegetables and flowers. Make connections between patterns in pinecones, sunflowers and numbers.

To nourish musical intelligence, provide lessons and opportunities to listen, compose and perform. Notice rhythms and sounds in the environment. Write radio plays with sound effects.

Linguistic intelligence is recognized in youngsters who are avid readers. It's also visible in songwriting and journaling. Children with this intelligence enjoy talking, writing and playing with words in puzzles and games. Read to them and with them.

James has some body-kinesthetic intelligence that shows up in his ease with performing on a stage. Typically, this intelligence is the realm of athletes and dancers, although it also includes people talented with their hands in jobs such as welding, auto mechanics and physical therapy. These children need to move, touch, build and role play.

James' visual-spatial intelligence is minimal. He doesn't draw, paint or care much about art, and he has difficulty following directions on a map. If he did have interests in this area, he might enjoy architecture, graphic design or engineering. Art supplies and objects to take apart and reassemble help kids with this intelligence.

Logical-mathematical intelligence is noticed the most in school settings. These children are skilled in science and math and benefit from working with computers, complex puzzles and science experiments. They are able to explore complicated topics in depth, preferring their own timelines.

Get children with interpersonal intelligence on teams and into groups. Have them lead, mediate and organize. Engage them in community service.

All youngsters have different types and amounts of "smarts." If they learn about their strengths through the theory of multiple intelligences, confidence and appreciation of differences in themselves and others will grow and flourish.

Paula Prober is a licensed counselor in Eugene. This is the second part of a two-part column that began on April 26. Birth To Three is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families through parent support and education. For more information about Birth To Three, call 484-4401.