Learning Styles - One Size Doesn't Fit All

As parents, it is usually easy to identify which of our children is more naturally athletic, musical, or creative. We may not, however, give thought to the way in which our children learn. Recognizing how God has uniquely created us in this way, too, may help us parent more smoothly as well as provide helpful information to our child’s leaders at church or teachers at school.

We each have highly individualized ways in which we take in, process, and organize information. Simply stated, there are three basic learning styles.

• Auditory—you do best when you listen to an explanation
• Visual—you do best when you read something for yourself
• Kinesthetic—you do best with a demonstration, being hands-on

If you think about yourself, you will be able to recognize which of these three is the most natural way for you to take in information. Your child has a way which seems most natural to him, too. If it is not the same as yours or his teacher’s, difficulties may be on the way.

An auditory learner may do very well with verbal instructions or directions. A visual learner, who retains information better from the written word, may do better with a list of chores or when the homework assignment is written on the board. The kinesthetic learner processes information more successfully when large and/or small muscles are involved. In a classroom, they may be described as a fidget, because movement helps their retention.

In addition to the ways in which we take in information, our perceptions may also be described as concrete or abstract. The former is “just the facts” while the later looks beyond for implications. Finally, there are differences in the way we order the information we’ve perceived. Some people are very sequential, doing things in a linear, step-by-step manner. Others are very random in their approach which may seem more impulsive than orderly. People are, of course, blends of each of these!

• Consider the way in which you take in and organize information
• Observe your child to determine what seems most natural to him
• Do you communicate with your child in a way which is easiest for him/her to learn?
• Ask questions to understand how information is presented in your child’s classroom. Is it consistently contrary to their learning style?

Often adults tease about those who have to see something to understand versus those who never read directions but plunge right into a task. These preferences reflect a basic part of ourselves and how we learn. The Way They Learn (see Book Review) is one of many books which provide detailed descriptions and quizzes to help you identify your learning style. Understanding this about yourself and your child is worth a little homework!

Information presented here was drawn from The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias and www.focusonyourchild.com a resource of Focus on the Family.