The purpose of this study was to investigate the multiple intelligence characteristics
of young children with developmental disabilities compared with young children. For
this purpose, a multiple intelligence test was administered to 214 young children
attending a general kindergarten, kindergarten attached to an elementary school, or
childcare center and 209 young children with developmental disabilities attending a
special school, general kindergarten, and childcare center in 12 cities and provinces
across the nation by their homeroom teachers to examine their developmental
characteristics according to gender, age, and types of disabilities.
The result was as follows: First, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence was the highest and
naturalist intelligence was the lowest both in the young children with developmental
disabilities and the young children. Secondly, it turned out that the multiple
intelligences of young children were influenced by the main effects of gender, age,
and area of residence and the interaction effects between gender and age, gender
and area of residence, age and area of residence, and among gender, age, and area
of residence. Finally, those of young children with developmental disabilities turned
out to be affected by the main effects of area of residence. There was no
statistical significance in the main effects of gender and age. But there were no
interactive effects between gender and age, gender and area of residence, age and
area of residence, and among gender, age, and area of residence.
It was suggested that this study provide basic data for developing an intervention
program to help young children with developmental disabilities take advantage of their
strong intelligences and make up for their weaknesses.