A child's learning style relates to the approach he takes to learning. In much the same way your child develops a preference for using his right or left hand, he also develops a preference for using sight, sound, touch or thought when learning. According to the University of Illinois Urban Extension, the most common preferred styles include visual, auditory and kinesthetic or manipulative. Whether your child attends regular school or is home-schooled, determining which learning style your child prefers provides information vital to helping him succeed in the classroom.
Step 1
Say a word, such as dog or cat, and ask your child to tell you the first thing she thinks of. According to the University of Illinois Urban Extension, visual learners "see" the animal and may describe a breed, such as golden retriever, or a body part, such as a tail or nose. Auditory learners typically describe a sound the animal makes and kinesthetic learners will typically use "touch" words, such "soft fur" or "wet nose."
Step 2
Give your child an object, such as a toy or game he is unfamiliar with, and watch to see what he does. If he is a visual learner, he may ask you to demonstrate how it works or if it has packaging, look at pictures or diagrams on the box. If he asks questions or wants to talk about the object, he is displaying a preference toward auditory learning. Kinesthetic learners will handle the object and learn how it works using a trial-and-error approach rather than reading or asking for directions.
Step 3
Sit with your child and take an online assessment that can provide further insight into your child's learning style. No-cost learning style assessments are available from sites such as Learning-Styles-Online.com, Vark-Learning.com and Berghuis.co.nz/abiator.
Tips and Warnings
- Although your child will display a preference for a specific learning style, according to the University of Illinois Urban Extension, she may also incorporate elements of another, secondary learning style. Make sure to share information you collect with your child's teacher if he attends regular school.
Things You'll Need
- Toy or game
- Online learning style assessment
References
- UrbanExtension.Illinois: Helping Children Succees in School: Learning Styles
- School.FamilyEducation: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic Learners
- Learning-Styles-Online: Discover Your Learning Styles
- Vark-Learn: The VARK Questionnaire: How Do I Learn Best
- Berghuis: Abiator's Online Learning Styles Inventory
