Learning Styles

All children learn in different ways! Children use all their senses to interpret and learn about the world but they each do so in their own unique way. By determining how your child learns, you can incorporate tips and tricks to best support learning in daily life and academics. The three types of learning styles we will touch on today are visual learning, auditory learning, and tactile/kinesthetic learning.

Visual learnersbenefit from engaging their visual system and seeing what they are learning. Visual learners will remember information best when presented in written or picture format. They may have a difficult time remembering spoken directions or seem distracted while you are trying to talk to them. If your child is a visual learner, you can incorporate visual aids such as a written list of instructions or a sequence of pictures. They may also benefit from watching you model an activity before trying it on their own.Here are some tips to try while teaching visual learners:

• Provide clear written instructions broken down into each step
• Highlight important information
• Model an activity to visually show how to complete it
• Incorporate picture books into learning
• Show a video on the subject
• Have your child draw or write down the instructions
• Clear the area of visual distractions

Auditory learnersbenefit from engaging their sense of hearing. Auditory learners will remember information best through verbal instruction, songs, and spoken stories. These children may have a difficult time recalling information they saw written on paper or in picture format. You can help your child make up songs to remember information they are learning or studying. They may benefit from singing the song while or repeating directions out loud while they perform a task such as saying each step out loud as they tie their shoelaces. Here are some tips to try while teaching auditory learners:

• Make up a song or mnemonic to teach instructions
• Have your child verbally repeat directions in their own words
• Allow your child to sing or talk out loud while completing their work
• Use a quiet room without auditory distractions

Kinesthetic/tactile learnersbenefit by engaging in movement and touch. These children learn best by "doing." Kinesthetic/tactile learners will remember information when they are able to move their body and interact physically with materials. These learners may have a difficult time sitting still and remembering information they hear or see. Engage your kinesthetic/tactile learner by using their sense of touch, for example tracing letters in sand or making letters out of play dough before writing them on paper. These learners also benefit from whole body movements. Have your child hold a different yoga pose while you explain each step of an activity or do a jumping jack after you read each page of a book. Kinesthetic/tactile learners may need to move their body or use a fidget to help engage their mind. Here are some tips to try while teaching kinesthetic/tactile learners:

• Provide hands-on experiences
• Use sensory trays to practice forming shapes and letters
• Provide instructions while your child is up and moving
• Allow your child to use a fidget while learning
• Provide immediate feedback while your child is "doing"
• Provide various seating options such as sitting on a yoga ball or lying down on the floor while learning

To determine your child's learning style provide ample opportunities to engage in visual, auditory, and movement activities such as music, art, story time, and obstacle courses. Observe as they engage with different inputs and how they respond. Determine the types of activities they are drawn to and enjoy the most.