In the modern world, it is very easy to label your child. It almost seems like a badge of honor to be told your child has ADHD or something similar. This is despite the fact that labeling is not beneficial to children and their feeling of self-worth. It is better to understand them and appreciate them for who and what they are.
As part of this, it is worthwhile to look at what type of learner your child is. This isn’t so you can give your child another label. But, understanding the type of learner they are will help you and your chosen early learning center, give them the best possible education. That’s critical to their success later in life.
Let’s take a look at the types of learning styles that exist:
Physical Learners
The technical term for a physical learner is kinesthetic. Unsurprisingly, a physical learner learns through touching things and physically doing things. They are likely to be good at sports and have great balance and coordination. In many cases, this type of learner is an early walker, but that’s not always the case.
The following signs tell you that your child is a physical learner:
- Good at sports and physical activities
- A constant need to move
- Lots of hand gestures when talking
- Excellent hand-eye coordination
- Loves hands-on activities.
Sound Learners
Sound or auditory learners are generally very good listeners and they will be drawn to sounds. They usually have an excellent sense of hearing and will notice things that other babies and children don’t.
Sound learners will often be drawn toward musical instruments and may read aloud to themselves as they learn best from listening.
They’ll display the following symptoms:
- Good at singing and playing musical instruments
- Excellent verbal skills that start with repetition
- Love talking and discussing almost as much as listening
- Will hear things that others don’t
Visual Learners
Visual learners are often quieter as they are happy to take in everything that is going on around them. They are very good at spotting things that others don’t and usually have excellent memories. They are often drawn toward art and are likely to spend plenty of time in front of the screen.
They will:
- Have a great imagination
- Excellent memory skills
- Like reading
- Be good at recognizing people and places
- Possess a good sense of direction
Deciding What Type Of Learner your Child is
In reality, most children display traits from each of the different learner types. There is nothing wrong with that! However, if you pause to really watch your child you’ll see they lean toward a specific learning style.
By understanding how they learn best you will be able to introduce new material in a way that will interest them. This will help them to absorb the information, effectively helping them develop the skills and knowledge they need throughout life.
