3 Learning Styles In Children

Help your children gain more knowledge and understand the world better by stimulating different learning styles.

To think that all children perceive the world, in the same way, is a bit like thinking that everyone has the same taste. The truth is that every child receives information through different channels and by using different learning styles.

You do not have to worry too much if your child does not handle certain tasks exceptionally well, or does not like a specific subject in school. It may depend on the child’s unique learning style.

Parents need to explore different approaches with their children to help them discover effective learning styles. Once you have identified methods that suit your child, you will be better prepared to provide support during your child’s academic journey. You also help your child reach their full potential.

The psychologist David Kolb created the theory of learning styles in 1984. He believed that individual learning styles arise due to three causal factors: genetics, life experiences and the demands of the environment.

3 learning styles and their characteristics

Auditory style

Children who have this learning style have an easy time absorbing oral information. Although it may sometimes seem as if they are not paying attention , a child who has this learning style listens and understands every word.

Here are some characteristics that children with this learning style have:

• They remember information when they say it out loud.
• They need or prefer to explain things orally.
• In some cases, it is difficult for them to follow instructions from manuals or written texts.

• They usually talk loudly when they learn something new.
• They prefer group discussions rather than independent work.
• Their emotions are easily expressed through tone and volume.

• They love to talk and also to listen.
• Their descriptions of situations are usually long and accurate.
• They easily remember names and can be distracted by sound.
• They love music and singing while doing activities.

Visual style

As the name suggests, these are people who learn things by seeing how they work. To improve their cognitive processes, they need to visualize and illustrate the information they are trying to learn.

Some characteristics that these children have are:

• They remember details that may seem insignificant about pictures, landscapes and faces.
• They like to be able to see things while being explained to them. These children usually need to have paper and pen on hand to illustrate their ideas.

• They prefer to follow instructions that are written down, or see demonstrations of how things are done.
• When they arrive at a new location, they carefully analyze the surroundings.
• They show their feelings with gestures and facial expressions.
• These children have an easy time describing mental images.
• Listening is not one of their strengths, as they usually concentrate more on things they see.
• These children remember words that they see written down. This is why their notebooks are usually full of information.
• They plan what to do in advance. They usually arrange their tasks by writing them down.
• These children are good at reading. They also usually have good handwriting.

Kinesthetic style

Children who have this learning style like to be actively involved in their learning. You can improve their learning by using crafts and movement exercises.

Here are some characteristics that these children have:

• They are looking for ways to apply everything they hear and see. Their favorite tool is action.
• They move their hands while talking. Feeling is a very important mind for them.
• In some cases, kinesthetic learning styles are confused with hyperactivity. These children simply need to move to focus better.
• They show their feelings through their attitude.
• They lose interest quickly when they have to be silent for a long time. Speeches or lengthy presentations tend to bore them. They must participate directly to learn.
• These children remember what they did better than what they saw or heard. The experiences stay in the memory for a long time.

• They like to have physical contact with people to show affection. Closeness with peers is important to them.
• Since visual association is not a strength they possess, they are usually poor at spelling.
• They like interactive books that contain more than words. The more they can experiment with texts, the more they enjoy reading.

No matter what learning style your children have, it is important to find the right tools to enhance their learning experience. If you help them identify their learning style , they will be better at acquiring knowledge.