How does your child learn?

It is amazing to me how all three of my children learn and react in different ways. I really didn't pay attention to learning styles until I had children and saw my oldest struggling in school. When she went to Kindergarten she was still having a hard time with letters and phonics. Somehow, I missed the boat on how to teach her using her learning style.

Since that time I have learned that there are 3 different learning styles. Although we all learn from each of the ways there is usually one that is predominant.

For example- my oldest has always loved music and listening to books on tape. She is my auditory learner. My middle daughter has always asked to see what you are doing. I remember my mom trying to make a movie of her and all she wanted to do was see the movie before it was even made!! I am still trying to figure out my youngest daughter's learning style. It will probably be kinesthetic so I will have all three different!!

Play is the primary way that children learn. Play is how we show children that we love them. Sadly, the average parent spends 14 minutes a day playing with their children. I hope the following examples will help you to increase communication with your child and enhance the play level.

Here are some tips in helping determine how your child learns and examples of products that can help your child achieve different skills. Most of the information was compiled from the Discovery Toys website.

VISUAL LEARNERS:

Uses eyes to learn.

They may say “let me see” or “show me”.

Spelling – recognizes words on sight
Distracted by color and movement
Handwriting – tend to be good, spacing and size important
Liked by teachers.
Generally tidy and they do not like clutter
Pick out misprints and typos in books.
Good at reading maps or charts
Show feeling in facial expressions
Sensitive to others facial expressions. “Mom, you look mad”
Enjoy computers, videos, movies – have to watch TV….can’t just listen
Not very emotionally outwardly – sometimes labeled shy or snobbish
Like to spend time alone
Warm up slowly in new situations
In crowd – quiet and like to watch
Usually look good in appearance – well put together – color coordinated
Good fine motor skills – can put models together using directions
Look up when they are thinking
Plan by making lists

ABSeas Fishing Game is a great way to visual learners to learn letters, phonics and more. Fishing for letters and matching to the correct upper or lower case letter shows the visual learner the difference between letters. Advance the skills by having the children tell you the phonics sound with the letter.

AUDITORY LEARNERS:
Love to listen and talk to others.
Remembers by hearing things
Spelling – they use phonics approach
Show feelings with words
Handwriting – they have difficulty learning initially
Distracted by music and voices
As babies, they babble a lot and in crib they listen for sounds
Can repeat a conversation word for word
Enjoy listening to radio and tapes over reading
Very dramatic and love an audience…..good storytellers, like to sing, like to tell
jokes
Like to talk on the phone
Talk to themselves when working alone
Give verbal excuses for not getting things done
Prefer to have someone else read directions when assembling models
Commit a phone number to memory by saying it aloud, usually know their own at a
early age
Tends not to look when listening, head often down or cocked at one side when
listening
Prefers to be with group of people – always wants friends around
Hears emotions in others voices “Mama you sound mad”

Sounds Like Fun CD is a great example of a product that can help an auditory learner. The phonics based song on this CD pairs right up with how these children learn. Pair the song up with the phonics chart and it will key in to the visual aspect needed to learn reading and phonics!

KINESTHETIC:

Learns and remembers by doing, “hands on” experiences
Speaks slowly
Spelling – often a poor speller, writes word down to see if it feels right
Handwriting – deteriorates when space becomes smaller and push harder on pencil
Touches everything – satin on blanket
Enjoys sports, well coordinated
Prefer movement games
Sensitive, feelings easily hurt
Must touch to convey feelings – like hugs, handshake, high five
Often have trouble in school because generally likes to be outdoors
They need to move around
Remember what was done, not what they heard or saw
Perpetual motion machine
Like to take things apart and put them back together, like crafts, building things, art
projects
Likes to wear comfortable clothes
Eyes often diverted down while listening or “gazes” over others head
Need to adapt to a visual or auditory world and our job is to make them feel good
about it

ABSeas Fishing game again is a great game for kinesthetic learners. Playing the game is a great way to enhance learning. Another idea is to have the kids line up the letters in order. Have the kids step by the letters while singing the alphabet song. Anything that can get these kids moving and learning is going to ehance the skills for this child.

Take a moment to figure out how your child learns. Although you don't want to purchase items only in their predominant learning style it can enhance the learning if you target this area.

Would love to hear what you found out about your child or yourself! What learning style are your children? What learning style are you?

Personally, I always thought that I was kinesthetic. Now, I believe that I am an auditory learner. My second is visual and then kinesthetic!!