How to Determine your Child’s Learning Style

If your young one is struggling to pay attention or grasp any concept or just generally not enjoying learning, it's probably because their method of learning is not in tune with their preferred learning style. In other words, it may have more to do with the way the material was presented - the how - than the material itself.

In fact, each one of us has a dominant learning style. This is the way one learns the best. Your learning style dictates how your brain works most efficiently to input, organize, understand, and learn new skills and information.

Tapping into your child's learning styles early on, positively impacts their academic potential and personal development. When you understand your child's preferred learning style, you're able to crack the code to engage, motivate and ensure your child's success.

This article will help you identify your child's preferred learning style and figure out the right methods to support your child's learning journey.

Identifying Your Child’s Preferred Learning Style

The best way to know your child's individual learning style is by observing them closely, especially during unstructured time. Paying attention to what they choose to do when not focused on schoolwork can provide clues.

It can also be helpful to observe your child's weaknesses and challenges. Noting where they may be behind developmentally or what types of tasks are challenging for them may help you narrow down their learning style. For example, a child who has trouble following oral directions may be a visual learner, and a child who struggles to sit still in the classroom may be a kinesthetic learner.

In the following section you will find helpful cues to help you determine your child's preferred learning style. Remember these are just cues based on observations and they may not be necessarily true for your child.

The Three Main Learning Styles

Three are primarily three main learning styles

• Auditory Learners - learn by hearing
• Visual Learners - learn by seeing
• Kinesthetic Learners - learn by doing

Evidence suggests everyone is born with a tendency toward one style. Their preferred/dominant learning style may change, or combine with other styles according to other environmental factors or circumstances they grew up in. At the same time, it is crucial to understand that most individuals in their lifetime have to use all three learning styles depending upon the circumstance and material they are engaging with.

Visual Learners

Visual learners are those who learn best by seeing the information. They tend to retain information by seeing and reading it. Their visual senses are more active, sharp and engaging, helping them organize and store information based on visible cues.

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How to identify whether your child is a visual learner?

You may have a visual learner if they:

• tend to have a well-developed imagination.
• show an interest in art
• often take notes, rewrite words, underline, use different colors and highlighters
• prefer written instructions over oral ones

Ways to support a visual learner:

• Visual learners concentrate better when they can clearly see the whiteboard or any visual aids, therefore parents could recommend that they sit in the front row of the classroom to see the teacher/board clearly.
• Introduce them to different visual aids for learning. Using mind maps, diagrams, videos, demonstrations are likely to benefit them more than revising from written notes.
• Note-taking techniques like maintaining color-coded notes and others such as the Cornell method work wonders as they learn best by writing and visually organizing the information.
• Incentivize their efforts by offering art and writing supplies so that the child has a toolbox to explore their ideas.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners are those who learn best by hearing, listening or speaking. They are capable of retaining and recalling information when they engage with it through aural senses. Therefore, it's natural for them to prefer listening to topics and subjects rather than reading them.

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How to identify whether your child is an auditory learner?
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‍You may have an auditory learner if they:

• are extremely good with following oral directions
• are talkative in class and otherwise
• tend to demonstrate a strong ability to memorize
• show an interest in music from a young age

Ways to support a auditory learner:

• They work best when they study by reading material out loud to themselves and discussing it afterward. Therefore, it's important to encourage your child to have space and time to share - so they can process information through talking.
• Engaging in debates and group discussions can be great study tools to retain & recall information.
• For any auditory learner, information has little relevance unless it is heard. Encourage the use of auditory aids such as audio books, oral presentations or music to support their learning.
• These types of learners benefit most from a quiet study environment as they tend to get easily distracted due to their heightened auditory sense. Providing a quiet study space facilitates an environment to learn through reading out loud & listening to other audio aids without interruptions.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing or experiencing things. Incorporating a hands-on activity or some kind of movement is the best way to keep these types of learners engaged. This particular learning style is usually most beneficial when learning a physical skill. However, you can also incorporate physical movement into a routine even when what you're learning is conceptual.

How to identify whether your child is a kinesthetic learner?

You may have a kinesthetic learner if they:

• find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time or get restless during long lessons
• enjoy participating in hands-on experiences
• remember information best by actually experiencing or doing a related activity
• tend to excel at dance or sports

Ways to support a kinesthetic learner:

• They learn more effectively when given freedom to move around. Therefore, encourage them to take breaks often to move around and stay active. This will help them stay focused and engaged in the material.
• Encourage them to create games and activities around the subjects they are learning. For example, creating quizzes and flashcards can be an engaging learning exercise to do with your kinesthetic learner.
• Another useful tip is to incorporate hands-on activities whenever possible. For example, during science lessons, have them build models to truly understand concepts on a physical level.

Final Thoughts

It is quite possible that your child may not fit perfectly into one learning style and instead display a mix of preferences across all three styles. The important thing is to identify their dominant learning style(s) and methods to make the learning process enjoyable to them.

At the same time, even if your child falls perfectly within one category, it's important to understand that your child should not rely just on one learning style. This is because depending upon the nature of the subject or skill, your child might benefit from using a method that does not naturally align with their dominant learning style. The bottom line is that there is no one "right" way to learn. The best way to support your child's development is to provide them with opportunities to explore, play, and learn in a variety of ways.

At Crimson Rise, we recognize the importance of tailoring how material is presented to match each student's unique profile of abilities, challenges and interests. Our mentors and advisors are experts in individualizing curricula and lesson plans to accommodate different learning styles. If you want to give your child the holistic learning experience through a personalized educational plan, contact us to schedule a free consultation. Learn how our customized, holistic approach can help foster each student’s growth and discovery.