Understanding how your child learns!

There are three learning styles that will help reinforce skills and concepts that your child may otherwise be having difficulty understanding. Everyone processes and learns new information in different ways, whether you’re a child, teen or an adult. These three main cognitive learning styles are: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Sometimes two or three styles are needed to grasp concepts and retain important information particularly if the topic does not spark curiosity or interest. 

 1. Visual learners - Need to see what they are being taught, instead of just reading or listening to a discussion by someone talking or being read to.  When subjects and new concepts are presented with visual aids; these learners will grasp concepts and retain the information more easily.  Without visual aids, this type of learner will become distracted, letting their mind wander during discussions and presentations.     

Recommended teaching tools as they grow:  

*Flash cards, pictures, diagrams, charts. 

*Some will have a photographic memory, they memorize images, recognize patterns and sequences.

 *They visualize even abstract concepts in order to understand it.

*Encourage highlighting with a colored marker the key points in text. 

*Take notes during a discussion or while reading.  

*Use acronyms and mind maps to help with memorization. 

 2. Auditory Learner - Learns through the act of listening. They are generally extroverts and enjoy talking. They become distracted if they are not included or participating in discussions.  Auditory learners like to have music or some type of background noise while playing, working or studying.  

Recommended teaching tools as they grow:  

*Videos

*Reading aloud

*Songs

*Rhymes and poems

*Role playing

*Friendly debates

*Using word associations  

*They enjoy talking things through

 3. Kinesthetic Learner - This type of learner enjoys hands on learning by movement and touch.  Individuals who prefer this method have trouble focusing for extended periods of time. They need to be able to stand, move about or have something to touch or hold.

Recommended teaching tools as they grow:  

*Games 

*Hands on activities that reinforces concepts

*Role playing

*Songs  

*Puzzles 

*Maps 

*Field trips

*Problem solving