Identifying your child's learning style

Your child’s environment is a great teacher. They touch, see, hear, play, and learn along the way.

Over time, as they interact with their surroundings, they develop preferences for how they absorb and process information. This often reflects in their interests and how they express themselves. So observing them closely can help understand what type of learners they become.

If you're curious to figure out how your child learns, the Visual, Aural, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic model (VARK) is a great place to start. The model has been used by educators to identify how students learn best.

Let’s explore each of these categories:

Visual Learners

These are learners who absorb information better when it’s presented in the form of graphics like pictures, infographics, charts, and videos. They have a keen eye for detail and love to observe the world around them.Is your child a visual learner? Look for these cues:

• They enjoy making art
• They love reading, especially books with lots of illustrations
• They have a good sense of direction
• They can easily recognize people and places

Aural Learners

Aural or auditory learners—as the name suggests—learn by listening. They benefit best from instructional modes of teaching such as classroom lectures. Besides listening, they also have strong verbal skills and process information through active conversations. They are great at following verbal directions too!

Is your child an aural learner? Look for these cues:

• They are always the first to pick up on sounds around them
• They create their own songs, hum as they work, or sing along to music
• They love having discussions
• They perk up when they hear dialogue or music

Reading/Writing Learners

These are learners who prefer processing information through text. While this learning style can overlap with visual learning, reading/writing learners are inclined to express themselves through writing, reading research, or looking up words. It’s important to note here that this style of learning may only show when kids are comfortable and confident enough to read and write independently.

Is your child a reading/writing learner? Look for these cues:

• They find it easier to follow written instructions
• They enjoy reading and writing stories
• They retain information better when they have read it
• They love making notes and lists

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners learn by doing and touching. They have a hands-on and practical approach to processing information. They love anything related to movement and tend to be great at sports and dancing. They are eager to explore their surroundings and can barely sit still!

Is your child a kinesthetic learner? Look for these cues:

• They are inclined toward sports and other physical activities
• They use gestures when they speak
• They may have had early physical development such as walking, crawling, or sitting
• They enjoy active learning exercises like drawing and study games

Other learning styles

Apart from VARK, educators have also recognized other styles of learning:

Social learning, or interpersonal style, where learners prefer participating in group activities with peers.

Solitary learning, or intrapersonal style, where kids learn best alone.

Logical learning, or mathematical learning where learners use logic and structure to understand concepts

Understanding your child’s learning style is a great way to achieve better learning outcomes. It is, however, important to note that your child has a unique learning pattern—and they don’t have to fit into just one of the categories. In fact, they can be a combination of several learning styles. So it’s best to observe, adapt, and improvise.

Head on over to byjuslearning.com to learn more about our Active Learning approach to Math, Language, and Reading for children between Pre-K and Grade 3.