As a parent, you know that your child has a unique personality. If you have multiple children, you’ve probably noticed that each one interacts with the world in different ways. We can partially attribute this to their learning style, which is the way they take in and retain information. Understanding your child’s learning style can make a meaningful difference in supporting how they connect with academic material, engage with their environment and build confidence in their abilities. Read on for a guide to understanding the different learning styles and how to determine your child’s.
Visual
Visual learners learn best when they can visualize what they’re learning. They connect concepts through images, charts, graphs and maps. These learners also grasp information by observing the world around them and how people interact. They benefit from visual demonstrations and materials that allow them to see how things work. The more they can picture an idea, the more it comes to life in their minds. Visual learners also often have active imaginations and vivid memories.
Auditory
Like visual learners need to see what they’re learning, auditory learners need to hear it. They thrive when information is shared aloud and benefit from verbal instruction. They remember details through listening, reading out loud or participating in discussions. Auditory learners appreciate being talked through the topic, and you may see them repeating concepts to themselves to help them remember. Audiobooks, rhymes, acronyms and songs help them retain material, while conversations and verbal explanations give them space to process information and ask questions. These learners also often enjoy group discussions and friendly debates.
Tactile/Kinesthetic
Tactile/kinesthetic learners learn best by doing. They’re the “make it happen” learners. They need to touch and feel what they’re learning in order to fully grasp the concept. Tactile learners enjoy hands-on activities, experiments and projects, as these activities help them stay engaged and retain information. Movement and experiences are also important to their learning. This could mean physically building a structure, drawing an illustration, crafting something or physically performing an activity themselves. When they’re physically and tactilely involved, they connect more deeply with what they’re learning.
Read/Write
Read/write learners absorb knowledge through the written word. These learners are expert notetakers, and they excel with a pen or highlighter in their hand. If they’re watching an educational video, listening to a lecture or looking at a visual, they often take notes and reread them later to deepen their understanding. Read/write learners often keep notebooks full of study guides and heavily annotated notes. They may even turn on closed captions when watching a video so they can follow along by reading the words, pausing intermittently to jot down topics that stick out to them. For these learners, reading the textbook is important, but rewriting concepts repeatedly reinforces their comprehension and retention.
Why it Matters
Every child is blessed with unique, God-given gifts, as well as ways of understanding and impacting the world. When parents and teachers recognize a child’s learning style, they can nurture and support them in reaching their fullest potential. A visual learner who receives mostly verbal instruction may struggle, while that same child could flourish when given diagrams or pictures to support their learning. When learning aligns with how a child processes information, their confidence grows—and so does their curiosity and love for learning. This not only impacts their academic performance in school, but also how they will go forth and contribute positively to their communities.
Determining and Supporting Your Child’s Learning Style
To determine your child’s learning style, start by having an open discussion. Ask questions about what helps them understand something new. Do they like hearing it explained, observing a visual, reading about it or trying it themselves? Notice how they naturally engage with the world around them. Do they draw pictures, take notes, talk things out or use their hands? Teachers can also offer valuable insight. Ask them how your child interacts with the material in class.
Once you understand your child’s learning style, you can create a supportive environment and provide supplies at home, like:
- Diagrams and posters for visual learners.
- Audiobooks and discussions for auditory learners.
- Hands-on projects and activities for tactile learners.
- Reading materials and stationery supplies for read/write learners.
Recognizing these differences reminds us that every child’s path to understanding is special. By meeting children where they are, we encourage them to view their strengths as part of how they were wonderfully made in God’s image. St. Charles Borromeo, a private school located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to develop a love for learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.