What Type of Learner Is Your Child?

August 31, 2020 by Evan-Moor | 0 comments

Every child learns differently and will respond to different teaching strategies depending on his or her learning style. Some students will excel with hands-on activities, while others prefer quiet reading or writing-based learning. So what are the different learning styles, and which one does your child prefer? Below are tips for how to identify what type of learner your child is and how to incorporate strategies to help him or her learn best.

What are the types of learning?

There are seven main types of learning styles, and though students can process all seven, usually one stands out as their strongest. The seven types are:

Auditory (aural-musical)
Visual (spatial)
Verbal (writing-speaking)
Kinesthetic (physical)
Social (interpersonal)
Solitary (intrapersonal)
Logical (mathematical)

Teachers often use a combination of these styles in class, but adapting at-home learning or study activities to your child’s strengths will help him or her excel. For example, if your child is an auditory learner, encourage him or her to practice other types of learning, but emphasize reading out loud, listening to music, etc.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners thrive in situations where directions or lessons are spoken rather than written. They prefer listening to audiobooks rather than reading, or would rather give an oral report on something than write a report on it. Your child may be an auditory learner if he or she:

Likes background music when playing or trying to sleep
Talks to others or self frequently
Asks lots of questions
Enjoys reading aloud
Has difficulty understanding written instructions

If your child is an auditory learner, there are several learning strategies you can adapt in at-home work and studying. These include:

Using rhyming word games to help memorization
Reading aloud whenever possible
Use video or audio tapes instead of reading materials
Recite and repeat vocabulary or study materials with eyes closed
Talk through difficult areas
Working in a quiet environment or playing soft background music

Visual Learners

Visual learners excel when they have strong visual aids or examples included in their learning. They prefer charts, graphs, and pictures in their activities, and may work better after seeing a demonstration of what they’re supposed to do. Your child may be a visual learner if he or she:

Likes movies or TV better than reading, audiobooks, or music
Likes drawing, pictures, or art activities
Struggles with auditory directions or verbal instructions
Becomes impatient or disengaged when listening to something
Processes information better when it is displayed as a chart or graph

Visual learners will improve their learning and memorization with strategies like these:

Color coordinating notes and using different colored pens
Flashcards for study facts
Drawing diagrams or charts for memorization
Show problem solving when working with multi-step problems

Verbal

These learners are often grouped with visual learners, but while visual learners benefit from pictures, verbal learners prefer words through writing and speaking. They will like reading comprehension questions that directly relate to the passage they just read as well as interacting with the text. Your child may be a verbal learner if he or she:

Likes reading books or stories
Can recall information from something he or she read
Has trouble concentrating with auditory distractions
Doesn’t process oral or visual presentations well

Use strategies like the following to help your reading/writing–style child improve his or her study methods:

Copy notes by hand instead of typing
Repeat writing important information for memorization
Provide written instructions for activities
Keep notes organized with headings, titles, etc.
Write notes in the margins of readings

Kinesthetic Learners

Learning by doing is the best way for kinesthetic learners to learn. They will prefer hands-on activities and have a hard time sitting still while learning. They will learn better by doing and figuring it out for themselves rather than watching someone else do it. Your child may be a kinesthetic learner if he or she:

Has difficulty processing reading or auditory material
Likes sports, science experiments, or other hands-on activities
Likes study activities and games
Likes puzzles or figuring things out independently

For these types of learners, try the following study strategies:

Play study games instead of using flashcards
Create practice tests to simulate test environment
Act out situations instead of reading about them
Use movement or whiteboards for studying activities instead of sitting still

Social Learners

Students who are social learners will process and understand better when working in a group. Group activities and projects, as opposed to individual work, will benefit these types of learners. This has more to do with the setting they thrive in rather than the style of learning. They can be visual, auditory, or other learners as well. Your child may be a social learner if he or she:

Gravitates toward groups
Is extroverted
Naturally assumes a leadership role in a group
Learns and performs better in group settings

For these learners, practice some of the following activities and learning strategies:

Form study groups with friends and classmates
Play group games
Work/study in partners
Repeat information back to a partner instead of writing it out

Solitary Learners

Solitary learners prefer working independently rather than in groups; this is the setting they prefer, whether they are auditory, visual, or reading/writing learners. This style of learner will focus better when working individually. Your child may be a solitary learner if he or she:

Works faster, better, and more efficiently alone.
Is generally independent
Behaves privately
Has a hard time concentrating in busy areas or loud groups

Use study strategies like the following for your solitary learners:

Provide quiet or independent study time, especially in stressful or busy environments
Provide lots of visual and reading/writing materials for your learners, so they have plenty to work on individually
Limit group projects or work so as to not overwhelm your students
Encourage your learners to work individually but share with a partner or group

Logical Learners

Logical learners benefit from mathematical learning activities and will prefer logical processes to abstract ones. Logical learners may benefit from both individual and group settings. Logical learners will exhibit the following:

Strong pattern and number recognition
Interest and talent in math and science
Difficulty with creative or abstract subjects
Understanding of statistics or facts

Encourage the following strategies to help your logical learners:

Include puzzles, numbers, or statistics whenever possible
Make vocabulary into a crossword puzzle
Develop systems or patterns in all subject areas to help logical students process information

Helping students recognize what study strategies work for them will help develop study habits and patterns that will help them down the line. It’s also important to note that not every child has just one learning style and that children will need help figuring out what works best for them by testing out different strategies. Observe your child in a working environment and play games to figure out what works best!

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Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help students have fun while learning.