Every child has a unique way of processing and understanding information. Recognising and understanding your child’s learning style can be a game-changer in their educational journey.
Knowing your child’s dominant learning style can help them learn effectively and lead to better results. It also allows you to pinpoint specific strengths and weaknesses in your child’s learning pattern.
This blog will explore the importance of identifying your child’s learning style and provide actionable tips to help them learn effectively.
Japari School is a remedial school that empowers students to overcome learning barriers and discover their potential. These tips will help you identify your child’s learning style and how they can use it to their advantage.
Understanding Japari School
Japari School is a renowned remedial school that takes a personalised approach to education. It aims to empower students by addressing their individual learning barriers, allowing them to overcome challenges and unlock their true potential. The school recognises that every child learns differently, and their curriculum and teaching methods are tailored to meet the unique needs of each pupil.
Our dedicated Multi-disciplinary team comprises Educational Psychologists, Academic Support coordinators, Occupational, Physiotherapists and Speech-and-Language Therapists. Our team ensures pupils’ Specific Learning Difficulties are addressed according to their individual needs.
We create a specific plan for each pupil to ensure their success. Our specialised teachers provide a safe and nurturing environment for pupils to flourish and grow at their own pace until they are ready for a mainstream setting.
Read: A School for Children with Learning Difficulties: What Parents Should Know for more information on this topic.
What is a learning style?
A learning style is a preferred way of acquiring, processing and retaining information. It reflects the unique combination of sensory modalities, cognitive processes, and environmental factors influencing how a person learns most effectively.
“Learning styles are related to our senses and how we engage with material to understand and retain information”
Understanding your child’s unique learning style can help optimise the learning experience by creating specific instructional methods, study techniques, and learning environments to match their unique learning needs.
The Importance of Identifying Your Child’s Learning Style
Identifying your child’s learning style is crucial for their academic success. It enables you to tailor their learning experiences to match their preferences, making the educational process more fun and effective.
By understanding your child’s learning style, you can create an environment that supports their natural learning and retention abilities.
The best way to learn about your child’s learning style is to observe what he or she is doing. Offering a variety of experiences will help your child develop new strengths and interests that will broaden his or her understanding of the world and enable you to understand them better.
Different Learning Styles
Visual Learners
Visual learners store and remember information through sight. These learners prefer visual aids such as charts, diagrams, and images. Visual learners grasp information better through visual representation and may even remember where specific information is located on a page.
They will love books and reading materials, enjoy writing notes, do well at spelling, and enjoy using visual materials when learning. They tend to be quite tidy and have strong imaginations that may help them understand body language and facial expressions to navigate the world.
Actionable tips
- Use visual aids: Provide your child with visual materials like colourful charts, graphs, and flashcards to reinforce learning concepts.
- Offer stationery that will enable them to make their notes exciting and engaging using mind maps, flashcards, etc.
- Encourage note-taking: Encourage your child to take notes while studying, using different colours to highlight important points.
- If you give your child instructions, write them down rather than tell them.
- Make sure their study or homework area is distraction-free and used only for work so that they associate it with a space for working.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners learn best through listening and speaking. They excel in discussions, classes, and audio-based learning materials. These types of learners excel in memorisation, enjoy participating in discussions and debates, actively engage in reading aloud, and are naturally talkative in the classroom due to their communication skills.
However, they might encounter challenges when interpreting diagrams and graphs, relying on their finger as a guide while reading. On the other hand, they possess strong abilities in grammar and languages.
Actionable tips
- Engage in discussions: Encourage your child to participate in conversations related to their studies. Discussing concepts out loud helps them reinforce their understanding.
- Utilise audio resources: Provide access to audiobooks, podcasts, or recorded classes that align with your child’s learning materials.
- Let them listen to white noise or classical music while studying.
- Too much noise can distract them, creating a relatively quiet study.
- Practice reading and comprehension with them, as this is where they may fall in school.
- Let them “teach you” what they have learnt in school so they can converse with you to understand it better.
Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic learners are hands-on and learn through physical activities and movement. They benefit from interactive experiences.
Kinesthetic learners excel in acquiring skills through hands-on experiences, whether through demonstrations, imitation, simulation, or role-playing.
Prolonged periods of sitting are challenging for them, leading to restlessness during lengthy lessons, which may result in being labelled as “hyperactive.” These children often express themselves with rapid speech and animated gestures during communication.
Actionable tips
- Incorporate hands-on activities: Include experiments, models, and real-life examples to make learning more interactive and tangible.
- Allow movement during study sessions: Let your child take short breaks for physical activity to enhance their focus and retention. Let your child move around and talk while they are learning so that they can stay focused.
- Fidgeting: use physical tools to help while studying, like fidget toys, a wobble cushion, or even a Pilates ball to maintain focus.
Reading/Writing Learners
These learners prefer written text and thrive in traditional learning environments that involve reading and writing activities.
These learners prefer it when they are reading notes or textbooks, using dictionaries and other reference materials. They also benefit by rewriting notes and rereading notes silently again and again.
Actionable tips
- Encourage reading: Provide various reading materials, including books, articles, and educational websites, that align with your child’s interests.
- Promote writing exercises: Assign writing tasks like essays or journals to reinforce understanding and improve written communication skills.
- Quiet places: provide a study area that is calm and quiet for your child to concentrate in.
- Read aloud: encourage your child to read aloud and encourage them to take notes.
Actionable Tips to Facilitate Learning
Now determine what your child’s learning style is.
Reflect a bit on how your child is and what you’ve observed as typical characteristics of learning that they may have.
Understanding your child’s learning style involves not only recognising their strengths but also paying attention to their areas of weakness. By observing where your child may be behind or which tasks pose challenges, you can gain further insight into their learning style. For instance, if your child has difficulty following oral directions, it may suggest they are more inclined towards visual learning. On the other hand, if your child struggles to sit still in the classroom, it might indicate that they lean towards kinesthetic learning. By identifying these specific areas of difficulty, you can narrow down their learning style and provide targeted support to help them thrive academically.
Here are a few ideas to determine what kind of learner your child is.
Observe and communicate: Pay close attention to how your child naturally engages with information and discusses their preferences. Ask open-ended questions to understand their perspective on learning.
Experiment and adapt: Try different learning techniques and strategies to identify what resonates with your child. Be flexible and adapt your approach based on their responses.
Create a conducive learning environment: Establish a designated study area without distractions. Ensure it is well-organized, comfortable, and equipped with the necessary learning resources.
Collaborate with teachers: Share your observations and insights about your child’s learning style with their teachers. Collaborate to create a supportive learning plan that caters to their individual needs.
Use technology wisely: Leverage educational apps, online resources, and interactive tools that align with your child’s learning style. However, ensure that screen time is balanced and used purposefully to enhance learning rather than becoming a distraction.
Encourage self-awareness: Help your child understand their own learning preferences and strengths. Teach them to advocate for themselves by expressing their needs to teachers and seeking resources that align with their learning style.
Emphasise a holistic approach: Remember that children are multifaceted learners. While identifying their primary learning style is important, encourage them to explore and develop skills in other areas. This will foster well-rounded growth and adaptability.
Celebrate progress and effort: Recognise and acknowledge your child’s big and small achievements. Encouragement and positive reinforcement go a long way in motivating them to continue their learning journey.
What to do
Knowing which learning style fits your child best is a significant first step in supporting their learning journey. Understanding your child’s learning style gives you the tools you need to help your child succeed.
Know that your child can have two learning styles at the same time, and this is perfectly normal, however, you just need to address both learning styles or incorporate them together to ensure they are getting the best help.
Secondly, learning styles can change over time, and you can teach them to learn differently based on their different learning styles over time.
Every child is unique, and learning style is just one part of the excellent way your child learns.
Conclusion
Understanding your child’s learning style is a powerful tool that can significantly impact their educational experience. By recognising their preferences and providing tailored support, you empower them to thrive academically.
Japari School, as a remedial institution, understands the significance of catering to individual learning styles to help pupils overcome barriers and reach their full potential.
As parents, you play a vital role in this process. By observing, experimenting, and creating a conducive learning environment, you can nurture your child’s unique learning style. Remember to collaborate with teachers, use technology wisely, and foster self-awareness in your child. By implementing these actionable tips, you can create a positive and practical learning experience that prepares your child for success.
As you embark on this journey, remember that learning styles may evolve and change over time. Stay open-minded and adaptable, always prioritising your child’s growth and well-being. With your support and understanding, your child can embrace their learning style and flourish in their educational pursuits.
References
- Fleming, N. D. (2001). Teaching and learning styles: VARK strategies. Christchurch, N.Z.: N.D. Fleming.
- Honey, P., & Mumford, A. (1986). The manual of learning styles. Maidenhead, UK: Peter Honey.
- Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall.
- Pritchard, A. (2009). Ways of learning: Learning theories and learning styles in the classroom. New York, NY: Routledge.
- Reid, J. M. (1987). The learning style preferences of ESL students. TESOL Quarterly, 21(1), 87-111.
- Riding, R., & Cheema, I. (1991). Cognitive styles: An overview and integration. Educational Psychology, 11(3-4), 193-215.
- Silver, H., Strong, R., & Perini, M. (1997). Teaching styles and strategies. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
- Smith, M. K. (2001). David A. Kolb on experiential learning. The Encyclopedia of Informal Education. Retrieved from https://www.infed.org/mobi/david-a-kolb-on-experiential-learning/
- Crawford College. Help your child study more effectively by knowing how they learn best. https://www.crawfordinternational.co.za/how-to-identify-your-childs-learning-style
- ABILITYPATH. (2020). Children’s Learning Styles. https://abilitypath.org/ap-resources/childrens-learning-styles/#:~:text=The%20best%20way%20to%20learn,child%20isn’t%20yet%20doing.
- Cinelli, E. (2023). Discover Your Child’s Learning Style: A Guide for Parents. https://www.parents.com/discover-your-childs-learning-style-7368094
- Roell, K. (2018). The Kinesthetic Learning Style: Traits and Study Strategies. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-kinesthetic-learning-style-3212046
