Eleni Garifalaki talks about her book "SMART BABIES - The emotional, social & multiple intelligence of the child" November 13, 2020 – Posted in: Books, Children, Interview – Tags: parents, education, intelligence, child, multiple intelligence, interview

Interview with Angeliki Lalou about the childit.gr

On the occasion of her book "SMART BABIES The emotional, social & multiple intelligence of the child» which is released by Furfouri editions, we spoke with the educator Eleni Garifalaki. 

An interesting discussion, among other things about the child's emotional, social & multiple intelligences.

What is Multiple Intelligence?

An amazing idea, an excellent theory, that creates motivation to learn for life and discover new ways of thinking, communicating and collaborating. Each person's intelligence is unique and complex, like a fingerprint, it is not just an IQ number, which is difficult to change. We think differently, we create differently, we live differently.

How did you come up with the idea for the book?

I constantly observe how children learn and adjust every day how I help them learn, think and create. It's incredible the way the younger generations think and work. When, now, it was time to have my own children and be able to observe them from birth, well, I think the idea did not come to me, it had been there for a long time, it was just time for it to become a book.

What does smart babies mean?

The question of what "smart" means is the reason for an entire seminar for parents! In fact, it is the first seminar of the positive parenting cycle, which has been held every year since 2012. We talk about what we mean by "smartness", "intelligence", "intelligence" and we realize that we need to get away from academic abilities a little, especially when we're talking about babies. We need to start talking about other abilities and skills that define and make up intelligence, skills that have to do with emotions, social interaction, psyche, talents and skills of each person.

How can this book be useful to parents?

This is not another recipe book, but a book that wishes to support and inspire parents in this demanding new role in their lives.

Who is Spin theory?

It is a spiraling theory that begins with an emotionally secure Ego, continues with integration into a social group, is enriched with Multiple Intelligence theory, and expands with participation in peer production, which has no end. As Picasso also said: "The essence of life is to find your gift." The purpose of life is to give it away." I would say that this phrase sums up Spin theory in meaning.

How can parents move beyond the theory and put the book's ideas into practice?

All parents are gifted with an infallible instinct by nature, an unconditional love for their child. We lose it somewhere along the way. You want because we listen and trust more the experience of other, familiar persons, you want because we are persuaded by other moms in social media groups or expert articles on the Internet, I don't know how to answer exactly. The point is that parents do not need other theories, nor other ideas. Inspiration and support are needed. This is also the aim of the book. To empower the parent in his role and to broaden his thinking base a little.

From your contact with parents what are parents' "constant" concerns about their children and have you seen whether these concerns have changed at all now with the coronavirus?

Parents are always most concerned about three things: if their children are fed properly, if they are safe away from them, and if they are having a good time. This period of the pandemic is very difficult and has filled parents with insecurity, because they live with the constant fear that something threatens their children's health and theirs like a sword of Damocles, but also that they cannot have a good time, because of a mask, because limitations and due to fear. On the one hand, the children have absorbed all these "shocks" and have lost in spontaneity and communication, but on the other hand, they are extremely adaptable and have managed to face this challenge with incredible maturity and composure. We are still, however, in the minus, as long as we lose in human proximity and communication. He wants attention.

If you were writing this book today under the conditions of the pandemic, would you change or add anything?

No, I don't think so. Personally, I am not afraid of this whole situation. I follow all the rules, but I have in my mind, that at some point I might get stuck and pass it. I'm not going to lose a life because of fear. Nature does her work and I do mine.

Where do you think parents should focus today in parenting?

To observe their children. Each person has his own character, his own temperament, his own psyche. Therefore, each person has his own needs, his own dreams and his own way of living. No psychological theory can guarantee ideal parenting, there are no recipes. When we observe our children, we discover their truth and it comes and harmonizes with our own truth, that unerring parental instinct, based on love, care and play. In a magical way, everything is then genuine and authentic, without "musts" and "must nots".

How has the book helped you in your work?

I would say that my work helps the writing of the books and their promotion and not the other way around. Through my work I observe children, mainly, but also parents. They are both such an inspiration! An inexhaustible source of inspiration!

Preparing something new?

Yes of course. I am preparing a book for elementary and high school students on how to learn more effectively and a book for teenagers and adults on smart citizens of the 21st century^u century. Also, too many children's books have been sitting on the shelf for years, looking for creative illustrators to "bring" them to life. I think their time has come, because I'm starting to find my "team" too, my own tribe!

Eleni Garifalaki has completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies in education. He has been creating learning experiences for students of all ages for the past 20 years. For the last 7 years, he has been designing and coordinating Multiple Intelligence and Educational Robotics actions. They take place in her own place, the Good Agogo, in Heraklion, Crete. It was founded in 2013 and is the first space of multiple intelligences in Greece. In the same year, her first book Multiple Intelligences was published.

The book "SMART BABIES The emotional, social & multiple intelligence of the child» by Eleni Garifalaki is published by Furfouri editions.