No single style of teaching works for all students. In fact, there is not even a single approach to teaching that works for most students. Learning styles in children and teens vary significantly, with each individual having a different preferred method for receiving, processing, and retaining information.
Due to different learning styles, the teaching method that works well for one student may not work well for another student. This makes it necessary for teachers to present information using a wide array of methods to support diverse learning styles in their students. Plus, parents who become familiar with their child’s preferred learning style can better support them with at-home study and work and through parent-teacher communication.
The Primary Learning Styles in Children and Teens
Although they are sometimes further broken down into additional categories and more specific preferences, the most common model defines four primary learning styles (VARK Model):
- Visual Learners (Spatial) – Visual learners understand information best when it is presented in images, diagrams, graphs, and charts.
- Auditory Learners (Aural) – Auditory learners comprehend best through listening to lectures, group discussions, stories, or podcasts.
- Read/Writer Learners (Verbal) – Verbal learners absorb information best when it is presented in text format (books and manuals) or by writing it down through note-taking or repetitive writing.
- Kinesthetic Learners (Physical) – Kinesthetic learners grasp new concepts best through hands-on experiences, physical activities, and trial-and-error participation.
While some students can only learn well through a single style, most learn through a combination of multimodal learning styles, where one style is dominant. For example, a study that looked at medical students and their learning styles contained:
- 39% Unimmodal Learners
- 41% Bimodal Learners
- 14% Trimodal Learners
- 6% Quadrimodal Learners
According to Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, there are categories of intelligence, and our individual combination of aptitudes can impact our learning style. These intelligences include:
- Social (Social) – Individuals who learn best with others or in groups
- Solitary (Solitary) – Individuals who learn best working alone through self-reflection
- Naturalist – Have an aptitude for observation in nature and learning through experience
- Musical – Have an aptitude for music and learn well through it
- Logical/Mathematical – An aptitude for quantification and learn well through the scientific method
- Linguistic – Verbally expressive learning through words
- Spatial – Able to visualize the world and concepts
- Bodily/Kinesthetic – Able to coordinate the body with the mind
How to Identify Your Child’s Learning Style
To help your child learn and make the most of their study time, parents and teachers can identify their preferred learning style. To identify a preferred learning style, parents and teachers can:
- Use a VARK questionnaire to identify preferred and combined learning styles.
- Observe the child’s response and performance with respect to different teaching styles.
- Pay attention to the child’s preferred activities and natural talents. (For example, a child who excels in athletics may also be a kinesthetic learner, and a child who excels in music might be an auditory learner.)
- Analyze the child’s study habits. (Do they tend to work alone in a quiet space or with a buddy? Do they take detailed notes, listen attentively, read quietly to themselves, or fidget a lot while studying?)
Matching Study Techniques
Parents can help support their child’s preferred learning style by helping them explore new techniques for studying that are designed to complement their individual aptitudes. For example:
- Visual Learners
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- Draw diagrams
- Watch videos
- Use flashcards
- Create mind maps
- Use highlighters
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- Auditory Learners
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- Record lectures
- Use pneumonic devices
- Put music to lists that need to be memorized
- Talk through ideas with a friend or out loud to themselves
- Listen to educational podcasts
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- Reading/Writing Learners
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- Take detailed notes
- Rewrite notes
- Read textbooks
- Write lists
- Use workbooks
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- Kinesthetic Learners
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- Use flashcards
- Incorporate tactile tools
- Walk while studying
- Build models
- Conduct experiments
- Role-play
- Use a fidget chair or under-desk pedals to move while studying
- Take short breaks to move around
Adapting for School Success
Teachers are aware of different learning styles, and most of them work hard to vary their lessons in order to accommodate diversity in their classrooms. Most teachers diversify instruction on individual concepts by using a mix of different teaching techniques and by varying active and reflective engagement with different activities.
Parents who know their child’s preferred learning style can talk with their teachers to ensure they are aware of how the child learns best and work with them to find solutions to optimize the lesson structure and learning environments.
Additionally, parents can work with their children to help them understand how they can transform classroom lessons into formats that better complement their learning styles while taking notes in school, listening in class, participating in group projects, working alone, or studying at home.
The Importance of Health in Academic Success
At Children’s Wellness Center, we always like to emphasize the importance of good health, as a child’s physical and mental wellness impacts everything else in their lives, including their academic performance. Our pediatricians are here to provide parents with support in keeping their children healthy so that they can excel in school, in extracurricular activities, and at home.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s preferred learning style or how their development might impact their academic success, we welcome you to contact us today.
