When my daughter was 2 years old, we began playing a game we called "The Fruit Game." Of all the toddlers' games, I could always depend on this one to be my mother's helper. It stopped her crying, eased her boredom, intrigued her and educated her. Most importantly, it was fun. We played it often and everywhere: in the car; on walks; during bath time; and before bed.

"The Fruit Game" is a question-and-answer type game. I loved the way her eyes would look up and to the side when she was searching her mind for the answers. I could actually see her thinking. She never tired of playing the game. I was always the one who ended it from sheer exhaustion. At the time, I knew toddler learning was taking place. But I didn't understand which parts of her brain were being stimulated until I read an article entitled, "Multiple Intelligences: Gardner's Theory."

Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory proposed that we have eight different types of learning intelligence that help us learn new skills or solve problems: Logical-Mathematical; Linguistic; Spatial; Musical; Bodily-Kinesthetic; Interpersonal; Intrapersonal; and Naturalist.

Gardner wrote that all these learning intelligences are needed to function well in society. When a new idea is introduced in more than one way, many intelligences are engaged. This creates a more exciting, differentiated learning environment and leads to a deeper understanding. This is important because children have different learning types.

Activity for Toddlers Appeals to Many Learning Types

Do:

The first step is to describe a fruit,** such as an apple, and ask the child to tell you what it is. "I'm thinking of a fruit that is round, red, juicy and crunchy." If she can't guess, give a more personal clue. "You love to eat this fruit while you watch T.V." If she still doesn't know, tell her. The game is not intended to frustrate you or your child.

Why?

This part of the game stimulates your child's Linguistic Intelligence (having to come up with the name of the fruit) and Spatial Intelligence (creating a mental image of the fruit in her mind before she says the word).

Do:

After the child knows what the fruit is, ask her to sing a short song about an apple.

Why?

This will nurture her Musical Intelligence.

Do:

Put your hands out and ask, "Pretend I have one apple in my left hand and two apples my right hand; how many apples am I holding?"

Why?

This strengthens Logical-Mathematical Intelligence.

Do:

Next, say: "Now show me what an apple looks like, using your hands or body." Ask older children to spell the word in the air with a finger.

Why?

This develops their Kinesthetic Intelligence. (This step can be quite fun when you're playing the game using the animal category.)

Do:

Stimulating your child's empathy skills is a bit more challenging, so you will need your creative juices flowing. You might try asking: "What would you do if you had an apple and your friend was hungry?" This could open up a discussion about sharing. Another example: "Why might someone be upset if his apple fell on the floor?"

Why?

This will strengthen the Intrapersonal Intelligence (understanding one's own self, what one can do and how one reacts to things) and the Interpersonal Intelligence (understanding other people's feelings and intentions).

Do:

Finally, remember how you started the game? You asked your child to pick from the fruit category in order to answer the first question. Since the game can be played with any subject--vegetables, animals, furniture, toys, or flowers--it helps your child learn to classify, without them even being aware of it.

Why?

This last intelligence is the Naturalist Intelligence which is the ability to recognize and classify living things such as plants and animals, as well as rocks and minerals.

Tailor the game to what your child enjoys the most. If she doesn't like a step, leave it out and try it at a later time. At first it may be hard for you to remember all the parts in the game, but don't worry. Soon your child will tell you what comes next if you forget.

My daughter is now 11 years old, and she still remembers how much fun we had when we played this game together. I am looking forward to the day when she and I can introduce my 2-year-old son to our fruit game.

Dr. Deborah Cutter, Psy.D., MFT is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in California who holds a dual license in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a freelance mental health author/editor whose published articles on learning disabilities, parenting, ADHD, addictions, and Autism can be found at www.helpguide.org and www.brighthub.com. She is also a consultant for Creative Behavioral Consultants (cbcautism@sbcglobal.net), a nonpublic agency certified by the California Department of Education which provides behavior intervention services to children diagnosed with Autism and related disorders in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. She lives with her husband, Mark, and three children, Caitlin, Jacob, and Jenna in West Hills, California.

** This game can be played with any subject: vegetables, animals, furniture, toys, or flowers.