What is crystallized intelligence? "Crystallized intelligence is defined as the ability to use learned knowledge and experience." First, I never before heard the term crystallized intelligence and it is no doubt because I am unfamiliar with that branch of thinking in the realm of psychology. So I looked it up.
What I found was Fluid vs crystallized intelligence and thus far unrelated to the story I am about to tell that triggered my press release. I hope you read to the end and I thank you for doing so. I was talking to a friend recently about how my son at age 3 would not allow me to read unless I read to him. I mentioned his favorite book he would always bring and say "mommy please read." What I found fascinating at the time was that he would set himself up comfortably under my arm, had his eyes peeled on the book, not moving an inch, or uttering a word until I finished reading the whole book.
This kept up for awhile, after which he would sit with the book and go through page by page reading aloud with the same intonation he heard. So this day a friend visited and heard him reading aloud. She was so fascinated that she stood quietly behind him as he read. at the end of which she announced "My God, This child can read! Amazing! Well I had a good laugh because my child had memorized the book, turning the leaves at the right time reading verbatim. If you asked him what it was about he would tell you based on how he felt and thought.
My friend's response was "I am told this is called crystallized intelligence where kids do not necessarily understand or internalize what they memorize versus fluid memory of older children and adults."
My response was I beg to disagree. "As I recall my experiences as a child from age 3, I am ready to disagree with the term crystallized intelligence in relation to a kid and certainly do not think it applies across the board. It is a subject for debate." While agreeing that the child may not fully understand or can put in full context what they are saying it has nothing to do with their ability to recall verbatim long stretches of texts or even whole books, videos, and even when to turn the pages. The unthinking part has to do with learned responses not with memory or what comes naturally to them. We are back to this business of listening.
Children have a lot to say if you only listen and adjust your thinking to theirs in order to understand. You improve a child's self confidence when you can do that and respond to them as thinking intelligent human beings, that what they have to say is important, and not as "you wouldn't understand." When you listen to a child they challenge your thinking and your perception. As little as they may be that kind of response not only confuses them but frustrates them. My young son at the time used to respond with "but why" every time he posed a question and I answered. Eventually, and not the thing to do, I would say "because I say so." He wore me out! The look on his face made me feel badly as he walked away looking very upset.
Like a dog that worries a bone he would be back a few days later with the same question and "but why" hoping to get answers. Sometimes I would try to create an analogy to explain for a better understanding.
That suggestion came from a book: Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi