How to Determine Your Child’s Learning Method

Children learn differently and see the world through their own lens, which can impact their experience in the classroom. It is important to affirm this lens in a way that allows them to build on their natural strengths.

A CCA parent or caretaker can help identify a child’s learning preferences to guide them on their path to academic success. At CCA, our exclusive learning management system, edio®, provides courses that can be personalized for each child’s learning preferences.

Knowing your child’s preferred methods of learning can help them study effectively and find the after-school activities, camps, and extracurricular classes that fit them best.

Types of Learners 

Parents and educators have identified four main types of learning— kinesthetic, visual, auditory, and reading and writing. Your child may display some aptitude for more than one of these learning methods. For example, they may feel inclined toward auditory and kinesthetic or visual and reading and writing. Therefore, identifying the best method might take a little detective work. Ultimately, this recognition can help you tailor your child’s education to better suit their needs.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners are driven by the sense of touch. They are very active and physically expressive and learn best by doing things themselves. However, kinesthetic learners can struggle with following directions.

Signs your child is a kinesthetic learner might include:

• An aptitude in sports, dance, or other physical activities.
• A tendency to fidget or an inability to sit still.
• The frequent use of gestures when speaking or explaining.
• An interest in hands-on activities such as writing and drawing.

Learning tools that may work best for a kinesthetic learner include craft projects, math manipulatives, tracing, creating visual tools, and dramatic plays.

Visual Learners

Visual learners observe the world around them. Children who are visual learners may show an interest in photographs and illustrations. They also tend to retain information presented on screens like computers or televisions. However, they may struggle to think “outside the box.”

Signs your child is a visual learner could include:

• A vivid memory of people, places, and names.
• An aptitude for reading.
• An interest in art, like painting, drawing, or crafts.
• A good sense of direction.

Learning tools that may be helpful for visual learners include matching games, flashcards, pictures, graphs, timelines, videos, and maps.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners prefer to take in information by listening. They’re great communicators and often learn to talk at an early age. They also tend to remember verbal instructions, songs, and stories. However, they may struggle with attention to detail in written work, math, science, and history.

Signs your child is an auditory learner might include:

• An aptitude for playing musical instruments or singing.
• The strong ability to communicate, often through repeating words and phrases.
• An ability to follow oral directions.
• A tendency to notice sounds that others don’t pick up on.

Learning tools for auditory learners include music, rhymes, audiobooks, and conversations.

Reading and Writing Learners

Reading and writing learners prefer to absorb information by — you guessed it — reading and writing. This learning method is often considered a sub-method of visual learning. Reading and writing learners might enjoy reading articles and taking notes in class. Your child may learn best when it’s quiet.

Signs your child is a reading and writing learner might include:

• A tendency to write concepts multiple times to remember them.
• A habit of writing definitions for important terms.
• An enjoyment of written discussion posts or book report-style assignments.
• An aptitude for reading and writing stories. 

Learning tools for reading and writing learners include flashcards, checklists, organized notes or study materials, and reference materials like dictionaries. 

What Is Your Child’s Learning Method?

A child may exhibit traits in more than one area, with one method proving stronger than the rest. These tips can help you identify when your child learns best:

• Observe your child: No one spends as much time observing your child as you do. You watch them grow and change every day and you can use these observations to gain insights into their learning preferences. If you help your child with their school work, observe which assignments they respond to best. You can also observe how they behave day to day, including whether they have trouble sitting still, can sit and read for hours, or watch YouTube videos during their free time. 
• Think about your child’s interests: Hobbies can help describe your child’s learning method. If they love art or making crafts, they might be a visual learner. If they engage in multiple sports, perhaps they are a kinesthetic learner. 

It’s important to remember that intelligence is fluid and ever-changing, meaning your child’s learning preferences might change over time as they grow! 

Help Your Child Excel With CCA 

At Commonwealth Charter Academy, we offer courses that can be personalized to fit the kind of learner your child is! CCA provides a personalized approach to education that helps learners succeed in the classroom and out there in the world. Contact us today if you’re interested in seeing if CCA is right for your learner and your family!