This is a collaborative post
Firstly, what does the term “Learning Style” mean? In short, it’s a term which takes into account the fact that everyone learns and processes information in a different way. Children, no matter what their age, learn through experience – the youngest learn through touch, taste and movement. Older, through listening, watching and doing. As children grow, their uniqueness begins to shine through and parents may notice their child has different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning.
Types of Learning Style
There are four main types of learning style.
Visual – through seeing and watching
Auditory – through listening
Tactile – through touch
Kinesthetic – through movement and doing
As a parent, discovering more about your child is always a good thing. You may begin to notice your child’s learning style as they grow and develop but particularly once they begin school. If you do see a pattern emerge, it’s still important to encourage your child to develop their weaker sides in addition to their stronger sides. At this private school in Buckinghamshire, all children are encouraged to push themselves further than their comfort zone in a healthy, nurturing environment.
Visual learners tend to learn most through observation. They watch their family, their peers and teachers to see what they need to take note of. They look at the environment around them, sometimes in great detail. Children like this will often have a great eye for colour and love to see art, textiles and sculptural elements around them.
Auditory learners learn through discussion and listening. They’re often most effectively taught through verbal instruction and explanation. They find music to be stimulating and also enjoy literature.
Tactile learners tend to explore the world around them via their hands. They often excel at art and enjoy practical tasks such as gardening and cooking.
Kinesthetic learners are highly physically engaged with the world around them. They are very active children, often running, jumping and dancing. They love sports and are energetic. Children like this will benefit from experiencing different subjects in physical situations.
You may notice your child’s preferences for learning as early as age 3 or 4 but it’s important to keep an open mind because children develop and change at an extraordinary rate. Notice the areas which they avoid just as much as those they embrace – if your child is not Kinesthetic for example and doesn’t engage easily with physical activities, try to find creative ways in which to engage them. Walking, skipping, dancing for example are all gentle but healthy ways for children to engage physically without the pressure of sport. The most important thing to remember is that all children are unique, all have their own strengths too – celebrate them together.
