There are a few widely recognized learning styles, and your child could potentially prefer one learning style over the others. This article will guide you in identifying your child’s learning style and provide suggestions on how to give them full support at home and in the classroom.
How do I know which type of learner my child is?
Visual Learners
If your child is a visual learner, it is likely that:
• They like to draw, paint or do arts and crafts, as they like to visualise ideas in their head.
• They like using and seeing bright colours and shapes in their activities.
• They enjoy learning from the screen, whether that is on the television, on mobile phones or videos and movies
Kinesthetic Learners
If your child is a kinesthetic learner, it is likely that:
• They are always active, may be fidgety when seated, and like to move around.
• They often use hand gestures when trying to express their ideas.
• They love hands-on activities and could potentially be more physically advanced, such as walking, crawling earlier than others.
Auditory or Aural Learners
If your child is an auditory learner, it is likely that:
• They enjoy humming along or singing along to songs.
• They have good listening skills and follow instructions well.
• They have good communication skills overall and are able to express themselves in conversation.
How to best accommodate your child's preferred learning style
Visual Learners
Knowing that visual learners are attracted to bright images and shapes from a young age, experts recommend that you surround them with colourful picture books. It would also be great to have some art supplies (crayons, paint or other interactive materials) to let your child express their creativity. If your child is learning specific letters or words, you could prepare some flashcards. This has been proven to be more effective for visual learners as they can see the letters and words.
Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic Learners learn more efficiently when they can hold objects or engage with the concept physically. Examples include using number blockers when learning about numbers, or alphabet blocks when learning about the alphabet. They may have shorter attention spans, therefore removing visual distractions or having short breaks in between activities can be very beneficial as they can refocus and continue their learning later on.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners excel when they can use their verbal and listening skills. Ask questions when doing interactive activities or during storytelling time, as this allows your child to develop critical thinking skills while using their preferred learning style. Other strategies to consider include using audio files, videos, songs or other forms of media and information as auditory learners can process auditory information more efficiently. Additionally, encouraging your child to be vocal and to engage in conversations will develop strong listening and verbal communication skills.
Although it is good to know your child’s learning style early on, it’s still a good idea to expose your child to different styles of learning. Children often solidify their learning profile at a later age and your child might have a balance between two or all three learning styles.
