Before you start homeschooling - DO YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING STYLE?!
Homeschooling and Different Learning Styles
This is such an interesting topic and with homeschooling, we can help our children more effectively (and avoid unnecessary conflict) if we take into account our child's preferred learning style. You don't need to be an educational expert on different learning styles to be able to help your child...all it really takes is to be watchful and mindful of how your child reacts to general things and learning content. In fact, if you can remember how your child was when they were still very young, there would also be indications as to what they gravitate to naturally...long before having to learn to read and write.
In really simplistic terms, you can think of 3 categories of learning styles: a child who learns best by looking (visual); the child who learns best by hearing (auditory); and the child who learns best by doing (kinesthetic). For a general explanation, especially applicable for younger children, you can try the LEARNING STYLE QUIZ.
It is important to note that we all learn in a variety of ways but some are just more dominant than others. The situation/ setting also determines the style of learning and it is beneficial to include a variety in our homeschooling - at least with the 3 different areas. What can cause frustration for a child is when all the content is presented in one particular way e.g. only textbook or only online videos. If this way isn't a child's natural learning style, you may start noticing that behavioral problems develop or they become very reluctant to work or cooperate or even physical manifestations emerge e.g. headaches, stomach-aches, neck or back pain etc. As a general rule, a young child shouldn't have to sit still for longer than 20 minutes before having a chance to move about for a break.
By the time your child starts with formal schooling (e.g. learning to read and write), you will begin to notice how they specifically prefer one way to another. Within the foundation phase, one can absolutely cater for their preferred learning style quite easily. But as you will find, just when you think you have got it all sorted, they respond in a different way than expected...this is because life isn't black and white and how we approach situations or learning content, can be influenced by many different elements.
Emotions play a large role with learning, therefore it is so important to keep it "light", engaging and a positive experience for the child. I know that this is sometimes difficult to attain but it's worth the effort as opposed to learning becoming a constant battle of wills! Understanding how your child prefers to learn is definitely one way to help your child have a positive learning experience.
Here is an extract taken from HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR CHILD'S LEARING STYLE.
Kinesthetic
Kinesthetic learners are your active, hands-on kids. They learn best through movement and activity. These are the kids who learn through doing and tend to be good at sports, dance, and drama. They will have a hard time sitting still and may fidget while working. They often like to do two things at once, like listening to music while they study. Kinesthetic learners may be able to focus better sitting on a stability ball while they work.
Being active can help their memorization. For example, these kids may do better practicing their spelling words while bouncing on a mini-trampoline, rather than trying to sit still. Sitting still may actually make it harder for them to pay attention.
Visual
An interesting note from Learning Abled Kids:
“Not all visual learners have dyslexia, but all children with dyslexia are visual learners.”
Auditory
Auditory learners learn though – you guessed it! – sound. These are the kids who do well with lectures and read-alouds. They probably like to talk and listen to music. They’re the kids who do well putting facts to music to study for a test and who respond well to oral directions.
Auditory learners may read out loud to themselves when trying to understand something. They tend to be good with words or language and are abstract, conceptual thinkers.
Tactile
Tactile learners are often lumped with kinesthetic learners because they, too, are hands-on. The difference is that tactile learners learn best through exploring with their senses. Tactile learners are the kids who like to manipulate things – blocks, math manipulatives, models, and puzzle pieces. These kids learn by doing and touching. Good tactile teaching tips include letting a child “write” out their spelling words with their finger on sandpaper or in shaving cream, using beans as counters when practicing math skills, or building salt-dough maps when studying geography.
HOW TO PRACTICALLY IMPLEMENT THIS KNOWLEDGE OF LEARNING STYLES
If you are wondering HOW to practically implement this knowledge, I highly recommend reading this comprehensive list of practical suggestions for learning techniques. If you click on each learning style, you will see fantastic suggestions on how to homeschool your child as well as further explanations.
FIND THE RIGHT CURRICULUM AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Having got a better idea now of what you think would suit your child the best, you will most likely be on the look-out for the right homeschooling resources/curriculum? Have a look at my latest homeschooling guide, where I've listed loads of FREE and affordable homeschooling curriculum and made pairing suggestions to cater for specific learning needs and styles.
As we have seen, learning isn't just book work or with online videos or learning apps.
For our readers from USA, Canada, Europe, Asia & Oceania have a look at KiwiCo. They have a beautiful and stimulating range of activity crates, perfect for the children who like to get "stuck in" with educational building projects.
South Africans, have a look at these amazing, practical learning tools!! They are interactive - ideal for your tactile learner, visual, good conversational pieces for your auditory learner and gets your kinesthetic learner active!
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| My Math Bot |
 My Math Box |
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| My Three Dimensional Puzzle |
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| My Manual Clock |
At HOMESCHOOLING IN REST we mostly focus on the foundation phase learning but here is more information for older children, even adults. You can try this VARK TEST. VARK stands for Visual, Aural, Reading/Writing, Kinesthetic.
For those who would like to know more, there is another element to consider - that is the concept of multiple intelligences. There is a difference between learning styles and multiple intelligences where the learning styles speak more about a specific preferred approach to learning compared to inherent intellectual abilities which is covered by the multiple intelligences. This can be quite useful to know for your late preteens/teenagers.
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