Children learn differently, and research has consistently shown that students' achievement increases when they are instructed in a way that it complements their individual learning styles, according to Barbara Prashing of Technology Based Solutions. Some children are visual learners who learn by seeing, some are auditory learners who learn by hearing and some are kinesthetic learners who learn by doing.
Learning Styles
A learning style describes the way in which a child processes information. The University of Illinois Extension reports that there isn't a particular style considered right or wrong, and some children combine styles when learning, although they usually have a preferred primary style. A parent may have a different learning style than his child and must remind himself to give instruction in line with the child's learning style.
If a student is not doing well in school, the parent can investigate the way in which instruction is being presented and consider whether the environment is affecting the child's learning, says the University of Illinois. For example, a visual learner being given her spelling words orally may not be able to remember the words unless she sees them written on the board.
Visual Learners
Baby Center website describes visual learners are those who rely on sight as a primary means of gathering information and then processing, understanding and comprehending it. Visual learners may lean toward being "picture learners" or "print learners;" some children learn both ways but usually prefer one over the other. The difference in these visual learning styles, says Baby Center, is that picture learners visualize images while print learners visualize words when they think. If you ask a picture learner about the Rocky Mountains, for example, she will first visualize an image of the mountains in her mind and then answer your question. If a child is a print learner, his mind will conjure up the image of the words "Rocky Mountains," and then he will answer your question. Forty percent of secondary students, according to the University of Illinois, are visual learners.
Visual Learner Traits
About 80 percent of what people learn is through their eyes, which makes regular schooling conducive to visual learning, according to Child-Central. Visual learners often have organized study habits, enjoy reading read books as a way of obtaining information, including crafts and painting, learn more through pictures, have good imaginations and are creative, according to Child-Central website.
Instruction for Visual Learners
Visual learners, according to Inspiration Software, Inc., do well with teaching techniques that involve graphics and images. Instruction that makes use of web diagrams, concept maps, mind maps and diagrams, for example, enhances the learning process for visual learners. These visuals help the visual learner focus his thoughts, process abstract ideas, and structure and plan his writing, discussion and thinking. Baby Center recommends offering a visual learner materials and activities that support her learning style. For example, if she likes to read, have lots of books on hand; if she likes to write, encourage her to write often; if she likes television, let her watch educational programs.
Learning Style Testing
Scholastic website offers an online assessment designed to help parents determine the style of learning preferred by their children. Answering questions -- such as how a child spends free time, what interests him at the library, what process he uses when researching for school projects and how he approaches tasks that include building a complex toy structure -- reveal the child's preference for visual, auditory or kinesthetic learning. The North Carolina State University website also contains a free learning style assessment for adults and older children who can answer the questions for themselves. The "Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire" is a free 44-question tool that reveals the learning style after the test taker clicks "Submit."
