Understanding How Your Child Learns Best
Children do not all approach learning in exactly the same way. One child might enjoy listening to a story, while another would rather examine a picture, act something out or try an activity for themselves.
You may have heard that there are three main learning styles: visual, kinaesthetic and auditory. Although these categories can be useful when thinking of different ways to explain something, research does not support the idea that every child has one fixed learning style.
According to the Education Endowment Foundation, children are unlikely to have a single learning style, and limiting them to activities based on a particular label could restrict their progress.
It is more helpful to think about learning preferences. Your child may find certain activities particularly enjoyable or useful, but their preferences can change depending on their age, the subject and what they are trying to understand.
Why It Helps to Notice How Your Child Learns
Paying attention to the activities your child responds to can help you make learning at home more enjoyable. It can also help when they are struggling with homework or finding a new topic difficult.
For example, a child who does not understand written instructions might benefit from hearing them explained aloud. A maths problem may make more sense when objects are used to demonstrate it, while a timeline or diagram could make a history topic easier to follow.
This does not mean that your child should always be taught in one particular way. In fact, combining several methods often gives them more opportunities to understand, practise and remember new information.
Learning Through Pictures and Written Information
Some children are naturally drawn to pictures, diagrams, maps, written instructions and demonstrations. They may enjoy reading books, creating colourful notes or seeing an example before attempting something themselves.
If your child responds well to visual information, you could try:
- Drawing pictures or diagrams together
- Using colour to organise notes
- Creating a simple mind map
- Watching a demonstration
- Using flashcards with words and pictures
- Making a timetable or checklist
- Highlighting important information
- Looking at maps, charts or timelines
Visual activities can be particularly helpful when a child needs to see how different pieces of information connect. However, remembering something they have seen does not necessarily mean they have a photographic memory, which is much rarer than the phrase is often used to suggest.
Learning Through Movement and Practical Activities
Some children understand an idea more easily when they can explore it physically. They may enjoy building, experimenting, acting, drawing, measuring or using objects as part of an activity.
This is sometimes described as kinaesthetic or hands-on learning.
You could support this preference by:
- Using counters, building blocks or household objects for maths
- Carrying out simple science experiments
- Acting out a story or historical event
- Practising spelling with magnetic letters
- Measuring ingredients while baking
- Going outside to explore nature
- Creating models or craft projects
- Adding movement to revision games
A child who finds it difficult to sit still for long periods is not necessarily being naughty or failing to concentrate. A short movement break can sometimes help them return to the activity feeling calmer and more focused.
Learning Through Listening and Discussion
Other children enjoy listening to explanations, discussing ideas and talking through problems. They may remember information from stories, conversations, songs or spoken instructions.
If your child enjoys learning in this way, you could try:
- Reading aloud together
- Asking them to explain a topic in their own words
- Discussing what they have learnt at school
- Using age-appropriate audiobooks or educational podcasts
- Making up rhymes or songs to remember facts
- Talking through each stage of a problem
- Encouraging them to ask questions
- Playing verbal memory or word games
Some children listen quietly while appearing distracted, while others need to talk through an idea before it begins to make sense. Rather than assuming they are not paying attention, ask a simple question to check what they have understood.
Match the Method to What They Are Learning
The most suitable approach will often depend on the task rather than the child.
A map is usually the clearest way to understand where places are located. Listening is important when learning how words are pronounced, while practical experience is useful when learning to swim, bake or ride a bike.
Try presenting unfamiliar ideas in more than one way. Your child might read an explanation, look at a diagram, talk about it and then complete a practical activity. Using a mixture of methods can make learning more interesting while strengthening their understanding.
Look Beyond Learning Preferences
How well a child learns is influenced by much more than the way information is presented. Tiredness, hunger, confidence, distractions and the difficulty of the task can all make a difference.
If your child is struggling, consider whether they:
- Understand what they have been asked to do
- Have a quiet and comfortable place to work
- Need the task broken into smaller stages
- Would benefit from an example
- Need a short break
- Are worried about making a mistake
- Have gaps in their understanding of an earlier topic
It is also worth speaking to their teacher if a difficulty continues. They may have noticed similar patterns at school and can suggest suitable ways to provide additional support.
Encourage Your Child to Try Different Strategies
It can be tempting for a child to say, “I’m not good at learning from books” or “I can only learn by doing.” These beliefs can make them less willing to try unfamiliar activities.
Instead of giving them a fixed label, encourage them to build a varied collection of learning strategies. Help them notice which approaches are useful for different tasks and reassure them that finding something difficult does not mean they are incapable of learning it.
Praise their effort, persistence and willingness to try another method. Over time, this can help them become more confident and independent learners.
Understanding how your child responds to different activities can help you support their learning without placing them into a particular category. They might enjoy pictures one day, a practical activity the next and a conversation when they need to work through a problem.
By offering a mixture of visual, spoken and hands-on experiences, you can help your child discover different ways to understand new ideas, practise their skills and enjoy learning.
