Is Your Child Good with Words? Understanding Linguistic–Verbal Intelligence

By Navita Jain – Educator with 10+ years of experience working with young children

Some children love to talk. Others enjoy listening to stories, asking lots of questions, or making up rhymes and jokes. These are signs that your child may be strong in linguistic–verbal intelligence—one of the eight ways children learn, as described by psychologist Howard Gardner.

What Is Linguistic–Verbal Intelligence?

Linguistic–verbal intelligence is the ability to think in words and use language effectively. Children with this strength often enjoy reading, storytelling, writing, and engaging in conversations. They use words to understand the world, express ideas, and connect with others.

How to Tell If Your Child is Linguistic–Verbal Smart

You may notice that your child:

• Enjoys reading or listening to books
• Likes telling stories or sharing what happened in their day
• Asks thoughtful “why” or “how” questions
• Enjoys rhymes, tongue twisters, or silly songs
• Uses new words in conversation
• Likes writing notes, lists, or letters—even if just scribbles

These children often love talking, listening, reading, or writing. They feel most confident when they can use words to learn and express themselves.

How to Support This Strength at Home

You don’t need any fancy tools. Just simple, everyday things help a lot:

• Read aloud daily – Choose fun or meaningful stories. Let them pick books too.
• Encourage drawing and writing – Even pretend writing helps develop this skill.
• Have conversations – Ask open-ended questions like “What was your favorite part of today?”
• Sing together – Rhymes and songs help build language and memory.
• Play word games – Try “I spy,” rhyming games, or story-building with sentence starters.

Let them talk, explain, wonder out loud—and just listen. That alone is powerful.

How This Helps Them Learn Better

Children who are strong in language usually learn well when:

• They talk about what they’re learning
• They hear or read stories to explain ideas
• They are asked to describe, compare, or explain things in their own words
• They use writing or speaking to remember and make sense of information

They often enjoy subjects where words matter—like reading, languages, or storytelling—but using this strength can also help them learn math, science, or even social skills more easily.

Educational Toys That Can Help, Too

Hands-on learning toys can support this skill in a fun way:

• Alphabet puzzles help with letter recognition
• Word-building games help kids make simple words and say them aloud
• Pretend play toys or story prompts help kids create their own stories and practice speaking
• Word wheels or letter cards build vocabulary and make learning sounds enjoyable

These educational toys for kids support learning without pressure—and invite natural talking and thinking.

What’s Next

Every child learns in their own way. In the next post, we’ll explore Logical–Mathematical Intelligence—great for children who love puzzles, patterns, and problem-solving.

For now, if your child loves words, give them more chances to speak, read, and create. It’s a gift—and one that grows stronger with use.

By Navita Jain https://www.linkedin.com/in/navita-jain-24634138/