The Parents' Guide

Know how your Child learns best

As a parent, do you know how your child learns best? If no, then this handy information on learning styles is created just for you. Every child is different and learns differently based on their unique learning styles.

This post is created to educate you as a parent on learning styles to help you discover your child’s learning preference. It also gives some useful strategies that will help your child learn better based on his/her learning style. The most common learning styles explained in the table below:

Visual

Your child learns best through his/her eyes.

Your child:

- Remembers best what s/he sees

- Can easily picture things in his/her mind

- Likes to watch things

- Finds it sometimes difficult to remember what was said

To help you child study better, let your child:

- Write down key words to remember what s/he hears

- Draw pictures of things that s/he needs to learn

- Write down instructions

- Use colours to mark places in his/her notes

- Sit with his/her back to scenes that attract his/her eyes when studying

Auditory

Your child learns best through his/her ears

Your child:

- Remembers best what s/he hears

- Spoken instructions (not written)are best for your child

- Can hear in his/her mind things that are heard before (like a recording)

- Likes talking and interacting with others

To help your child study better, let your child:

- Read out loud what s/he needs to learn (not reading silently)

- Ask other people to explain things to him/her verbally

- Find a quiet place to study

Tactile

Your child learns best through his/her hands

Your child:

- Remembers best by touching and doing

- Can remember strongly things s/he actively did

- Uses his/her hands when talking

- Does not like sitting still for a long time

To help your child study better, let your child:

- Use his/her hands to ‘draw’ or ‘write’ words or pictures in the air

- Walk around or move his/her body while reading

- Get up often just to stretch their your legs when studying

- Copy his/her notes on pieces of paper that s/he can arrange on table

- Sit at a place where s/he can move his/her arms and legs without disturbing others

Individual learning style preferences usually become more pronounced when a child is about 4-5 years old.

To help you know your child’s learning style, we have developed this short quiz for you. After you complete the quiz, you will have an idea of your child’s learning preference. Refer to the strategies in the table to start practicing them based on the results of the quiz.

Please choose the option that fits your child best. There’s no right or wrong answer:

1. You are reading a story; what does your child do?

A. Comes to sit beside you to look at the pictures in the book.
B. His/her eyes aren't necessarily on you but they are calm and listening; they can reproduce the story clearly.
C. Zoning out, tends to keep his/her body moving and playing with a toy, not seeming to listen.

2. What does your child like doing best?

A. Looking at pictures in a book.
B. Listening to music.
C. Doing something with his/her hands.

3. You are doing an artwork together; your child:

A. Doesn’t need to hear you talk at all, just show him/her an example or let him/her watch you help another child and s/he is good.
B. Listens carefully to all the instructions.
C. Ignores you, finds your instructions unnecessary and just dives in!

4. Which club would your child join if they were all for free?

A. A Painting & Drawing Club
B. A Music Club
C. A Sports Club

5. You are teaching your child a new thing, does s/he…

A. Wants to see you do it first?
B. Listen to your instructions and ask questions before starting?
C. Want to just get started, maybe try to get you to hurry up and finish talking?

6. When your child is happy, how do they show it most?

A. Smiles and laughs.
B. Talks plenty.
C. Jumps and dances.

7. You’re cooking with your child. S/he

A. Wants to see inside the bowl
B. Asks a ton of questions
C. Wants to do everything by him/herself, generally the more mess the better

8. You’re telling your child something s/he has done wrong. S/he…

A. Looks at you and focuses on your facial expression.
B. Does not necessarily look at you but can repeat everything you said.
C. Fidgets.

9. You're out (at a market, mall, restaurant) with your child. S/he…

A. Is distracted, often lagging behind to look at something more intently.
B. Talks your ears off.
C. Is all over the place and touching things.

10. Which statement best represents your child?

A. My child likes to watch, write or make lists, read or visualize, plan before they do.
B. My child loves to listen and conversation is very important to them. S/he can often repeat back what I have said word for word and is very aware of verbal tones and cues.
C. My child likes to create, build, mould and design things in a unique and creative way. S/he loves taking things apart and putting them together again.

Your Child’s Score:

1. If you got more A’s, it means your Child’s dominant learning style is Visual: s/he learn best through the eyes.

2. If you got more B’s, it means your Child’s dominant learning style is Auditory: s/he learn best through the ears.

3. If you got more C’s, it means your Child’s dominant learning style is Tactile: s/he learn best through the hands.

Remember: every child is unique and has a unique blend of learning styles. This is their dominant style, not their only style. Knowing this can help you to direct their education a little more clearly.