LEARNING STYLES –
Self help article
by realkidsworlds.com

First I want to congratulate you for visiting this page. You deserve praise for taking the first step in understanding your child in a new way. This is a fascinating journey into the real world of kids and how they learn from us and we learn from them.

Let me start by telling you a personal story. I have three daughters, each very different from the other. When the two older girls were quite young and as they grew, I would help them to understand the world around them; to eventually become self reliant and healthy adults. My oldest daughter was easy to teach. She would listen patiently to my instructions, ask questions, and apply the new knowledge she gained appropriately. It was very rewarding and effective for us both.

Thinking I was good at this, I applied the same techniques with my second daughter. Instead of experiencing similar rewards, we each became frustrated, angry and gave up in just a few minutes. I was completely baffled. I hadn’t changed the way I was explaining and teaching, so why was this not working with my second daughter? Was there something wrong with her? Was there something wrong with me?

The obvious answers were “NO”. What I didn’t understand at the time was that Erin (my oldest) and I had similar learning styles, while Kristine’s style was quite different. Once I learned the differences and how to communicate with her, everything went much more smoothly, and I’m proud to say they have both turned into very lovely and capable adults, despite my early blundering.

So let’s jump right in and take a few minutes to determine our learning styles. Please keep in mind that we all use each of the styles described here, though we tend to favor one over the other two. The predominant learning style is the one you want to focus on while communicating with anyone in your life.

The three styles listed are the very basics. There has been extensive research on this topic for more than 20 years now, and the categories have expanded. This is just to get you started, but can provide tremendous insight.

QUIZ NO. 1 is designed to help you determine your natural learning style.

QUIZ NO. 2 is to help you determine the natural learning style of your children.

These quizzes work well with other people in your life as well; your spouse, boss, parent, friends, etc.

QUIZ NO. 1

Circle all the answers that apply to you:

1. I like any place where:
a. There are things to see and people to watch.
b. There is music, conversation or quiet.
c. There is room to move around.

2. When I solve problems I…
a. Keep looking at alternatives until the pieces come together.
b. Talk about new approaches until something clicks.
c. Fit possibilities together until I get a feeling of balance.

3. When I am talking to someone, I…
a. Try to watch their body language to see what they are saying.
b. Listen closely so I can hear what they have to say.
c. Try to get in touch with what they are saying.

4. When I have many things to do, I…
a. Make lists for myself, or imagine making them.
b. Keep reminding myself that I have things to do.
c. Feel uncomfortable until all or most of the things are done.

5. I enjoy books or magazines that…
a. Have lots of pictures.
b. Discuss interesting topics.
c. Cover sports, activities or crafts.

6. When finding my way around a new city, I tend to…
a. Use a map.
b. Ask for directions.
c. Trust my feelings about which way to go.

7. I learn most easily when I…
a. See someone demonstrate what to do.
b. Get verbal instructions.
c. Get “hands-on” experience.

8. What I notice most about people is…
a. How they look or dress.
b. How they sound when they talk.
c. How they move.

9. When I have leisure time, I prefer to:
a. Watch TV or a video or go to the movies.
b. Listen to music or the radio or read books.
c. Do something athletic, physical or using my hands.

Count all the “a”, “b”, and “c” answers.
Mostly “a” answers – Visual Learner
Mostly “b” answers – Auditory Learner
Mostly “c” answers – Kinesthetic Learner

QUIZ NO. 2

Circle all the answers that apply to your child:

1. When my child is learning something new, he/she…
a. Says “show me.”
b. Needs to listen and/or talk it through.
c. Gets his or her hands on it.

2. The activities my child enjoys most are…
a. Playing computer games or watching videos or movies.
b. Listening to the radio or tapes and CDs.
c. Outdoor games and sports.

3. My child expresses his/her feelings by…
a. Making facial expressions.
b. Talking about them.
c. Using touch or body movements.

4. When placed in an unfamiliar setting, my child…
a. Warms up slowly.
b. Joins right in.
c. Relates to others with his or her body instead of words.

5. As a baby, my child…
a. Especially enjoyed looking at things.
b. Babbled a lot.
c. Often needed to be held.

6. My child’s personality can be best described as…
a. Not very emotional outwardly.
b. Very dramatic, enjoys having an audience.
c. Sensitive, with easily hurt feelings.

7. My child is easily distracted by…
a. Color and movement.
b. Voices and music.
c. Movement and sound.

8 My child prefers…
a. Looking at things, being an observer.
b. Listening and talking.
c. Touching things, engaging in activities involving movement.

8. The skills that are strongest in my child are his/her…
a. Fine motor skills (i.e., holding small pieces, coloring, etc.)
b. Ability to follow directions.
c. Eye-hand coordination.

Count all the “a”, “b”, and “c” answers.

Mostly “a” answers – Visual Learner

Mostly “b” answers – Auditory Learner

Mostly “c” answers – Kinesthetic Learner

Adapted from Debi Musick

Visual Learner…The LOOKER
• Remembers by seeing things
• Shows feelings in facial expressions
• Is sensitive to others’ facial expressions
• Is quiet, watches, warms u slowly in new situations
• Often not outwardly emotional, likes to spend time alone
• Easily distracted by color and movement
• Often liked by their teachers, 86% of whom are visual themselves
• Enjoys computers, videos, movies
• Good fine motor skills as a baby/toddler
• Important to them to look good; color-coordinated

Auditory Learner…The LISTENER
• Remembers by hearing things
• Shows feelings with worlds
• Hears distress or joy in others’ voices
• Prefers to be with groups of people
• Loves to talk, express thoughts and feelings
• Easily distracted by voices and music
• May have trouble in school because they like to talk so much
• Enjoys listening to radio, tapes
• Babbles a lot as a baby; likes an audience

Kinesthetic Learner…The MOVER
• Remembers by doing things
• Shows feelings with body and action rather than words
• Is sensitive; feelings are easily hurt
• Likes active group games with others
• Parents can feel “smothered” by this child, who hugs a lot vs. saying “I love you”
• Easily distracted by movement and sounds
• Often has trouble in school because they need to move around a great deal
• Enjoys outdoor activities, sports
• Has good eye/hand coordination as a baby/toddler, but probably lacks fine motor skills
• Perpetual motion machine!!

Wow, good work. Now take a little break. There is a lot of information here to digest. Think about all the other people in your life and how communicating with them may be a bit easier if you can understand what their strongest learning style is. This can be very powerful.

So, now that you have a better understanding of how we learn in different ways, what do you do with this knowledge? Think about your child’s natural learning style when planning activities, buying gifts or toys, and teaching new skills.

For the Visual Learner, seeing is believing. Visual Learners generally think in visual images and therefore is often accused of being a daydreamer in class. She will enjoy drawing, designing things, building with blocks or Legos, looking at books, inventing things, watching movies and looking at photographs. It is interesting to note that famous Visual Learners, like the painter Leonardo da Vinci and the inventor Thomas Edison, filled their journals with sketches so they’d have visual tools to refer to later. Provide your Visual Learner with tools like books, art supplies, software, maps, charts, films, slides, videos, cameras, and toys that catch her eye. She enjoys mazes and puzzles, board games, and memory games. You can promote writing by providing colored pens, computer activities, or drawing.

The Auditory Learner understands the world best through his ears. He likes to verbalize concepts, spin tales and jokes. He spells words accurately and easily, can be a good reader, and has an excellent memory for names, dates and trivia. He likes word games, enjoys using tape recorders and is often musically talented. To help this child most effectively, talk to him, give him sound-making toys, telephones, tapes, tape recorder, and music CDs, musical instruments, and rhyming books. Encourage him to create his own word problems. A really fun idea is to have him dictate a story to you and watch while you write it or type it out on your computer, then have him share it with you and others.

In general, Auditory Learners aren’t very happy in a house full of silence. Sound is extremely important to him. Sometimes as parents, we wonder why our kids are always banging on things and making so much noise. The truth is, as they bang, they learn. Encourage and stimulate his curiosity about sounds. You can even get in on the act by making music together, or make up silly, rhyming songs.

The Kinesthetic Learner lives in a very sensory world. She is often a graceful soul who uses her body as her instrument. If you look at famous dancers, sculptors and seamstresses in history, you can safely assume they are all high in Kinesthetic Intelligence. If your child is often in motion, and seems to touch everything in sight, encourage her. She is processing knowledge through her physical senses. Kinesthetic Learners enjoy tactile experiences and may learn to distinguish letters by feeling their shapes in addition to seeing them in pictures or hearing them sounded out. She will “show” you rather than “tell” you; she needs to touch and feel the world; she is good at mimicking others, and likes scary amusement rides. Many Kinesthetic kids are naturally athletic and often express themselves through body language and gestures. Not surprising, these are the kids who are often labeled with attention deficient disorder. (For more information on this, check out The Myth of The A.D.D. Child) Physical action is the key ingredient to stimulating this child. While reading, let her chew gum, walk around, rock or ride a stationary bike. Use numerous “hands-on” activities and experiments, art projects, nature walks or acting out stories. These kids yearn for toys that help them develop their strength, flexibility, dexterity, expressiveness and coordination.

For more information on learning styles, read:

Discover Your Child's Learning Style by Mariaemma Willis, Victoria Kindle-Hodson

The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias.

In Their Own Way by Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.

Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner.

(these books can be purchased at my site) go to: http://www.realkidsworlds.com/index.html

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BONUS Parents self help article for fun craft activities with the kids:

Leaf Stamping

You'll need:

- A collection of fresh, supple, clean leaves
- Transparent watercolors, or acrylic paint, fabric paint for cloths, or water-base metallic paints
- 2/3 inch flat brush
- 1 quart-size heavy plastic bag cut into two pieces at the seams
- Roll of paper towels
- Small container for water
- Spray bottle of glass cleaner
- Paper with a smooth, absorbent surface; heavy writing paper, blank postcards, or cut-up manila envelopes for example. Avoid papers with slick surfaces

Test each leaf by painting it with water. If the water beads up, dry the leaf and spray it with glass cleaner.

This will allow the paint to stick to the leaf. Pat the leaf dry and test again.

Start by using a single color of paint. Use the flat brush to paint the leaf on the underside, barely wetting the brush. If you use too much paint, it will run when you apply it to the paper.

Once the leaf back is completely covered, carefully place the painted side down onto the paper. Hold the leaf with a finger as you overlay the heavy plastic sheet.

Press down but do not rub. Try substituting a paper towel for the plastic - it will quickly absorb paint that escapes from under the leaf.

Store the cleaned leaves submerged in a tray of clean water and seal with a zip-lock plastic bag in the refrigerator.

You can use this technique to make note cards, frameable art, to print on clothing, pillows, aprons, and decorative gift wrap.

What a great idea as we head into fall!

THEN HAVE FUN!

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