Children receive and process information all day, every day, especially at school. The way they do this differs from child to child and if you want to help your child make the most out of their education, it’s worth identifying their learning style. To help, I have teamed up with Mill Hill School, who have put together the following advice for parents who want to bring out the best in their children, no matter what their age.
First of all, you’ll need to understand the three main learning styles:
- Visual learners like to read, write and draw and will find diagrams and pictures beneficial when learning something new or revising for a test.
- Kinaesthetic learners are better at processing information through a hands-on approach. They like to touch and feel things and might prefer active subjects like PE or Drama.
- Auditory learners are good listeners and will like to talk things through in order to understand. They tend to enjoy group discussions and having information verbally explained.
Observational clues will make themselves known, even if your child is very young; you will need to monitor them and determine whether they learn by looking, listening or doing. Think about how they express themselves and even what their hobbies are. Visual learners will like to read, while auditory learners will prefer listening to music. Kinaesthetic learners will like to play out and will be quite active.
Once you understand what type of learner your child is, you’ll be better at helping them with their homework and general education. The type of learner that you are is also important, because it will determine how you teach. You will need to alter your teaching style to match your child’s learning style. It’s worth pointing out that many children will have a combination of different learning styles, so don’t rule any out!