What Is Your Child’s Learning Style?

When your child is learning at home, understanding the most effective way for them to learn the material is very important. Recognizing your student’s primary learning style(s) can greatly improve their ability to process and grasp what is currently being taught in their classes. It can alter the way that they study when they are not in class and lead to higher engagement when they are in class.

The three different types of learning styles are visual, auditory and kinesthetic. It is important that you do not box yourself in because it is possible to have more than one dominant style. There are a few ways to figure out what kind of learner your kid is, but if you are really curious, you can take this kids learning style survey to get a better idea. Another learning style test that is a little more extensive and will give more clear results is by Psychology Today.

Once you have identified what kind of learning style(s) is most dominant, there are many things you can do to help improve your learning experience. 

Visual Learners

Remember that when you are a visual learner you need to see things, not just hear things, to get the best learning experience possible.

• Try to visualize things that you hear in class
• Write down key words, ideas, or instructions as they are being said
• Draw pictures of new concepts/ideas and then explain the pictures
• Color code things
• Avoid distractions during study times
• Doodle pictures of the things you’re learning in class in the margins
• Create a flowchart of your notes and the ideas behind each lesson
• Make flashcards with pictures or diagrams 
• Highlight key information in your texts or notes
• Make data and notes into charts, tables, graphics & pictures
• Vocabulary mnemonics

Auditory Learners

Keep in mind that when you are an auditory learner that you need to hear things, not just see things, in order to learn well.

• Use flashcards and read them out loud
• Read stories, assignments, or directions out loud
• Have test questions read to you out loud
• Study new material by reading it out loud
• Read your notes aloud when studying 
• Work with a regular study partner to review out loud  
• Work in a group where you can talk about what you’re learning  
• When learning new material, especially equations, talk your way through it 
• Singing/creating a song about what you’re learning
• Use of metaphors/similes to compare and remember 
• Invent acronyms and use mnemonic devices

Kinesthetic/Tactile Learners

Remember that when you are a tactile learner that you learn best by doing, not just by reading, seeing, or hearing.

• Do a lot of touching, building, moving, or drawing when learning
• Do lots of hands-on activities like completing art projects, taking walks, or acting out stories
• Arrange flashcards in groups to show relationships between ideas and concepts
• Trace words with your finger to learn how to spell it
• Take frequent breaks during reading or studying periods
• Walk back and forth, chew gum, move in some way, when studying notes 
• As much as possible, create models for the information you’re learning  
• When possible, visit locations for your material (library, museum, historical sites, ect.)
• To learn a sequence or equation, use notecards to review each step  
• Use a dry-erase boards to review and study
• Correlate physical movements with ideas/terms

Use the tips above to make the most of your education and create a more effective learning experience. These tips will help the information to resonate more and help ease the frustration that comes along with having a hard time grasping content. Give some of the tips a try and let us know what you think!