Every learner learns in a unique way, no matter children or adults. While reading and writing are strengths for some individuals, others learn more efficiently via hands-on experiences. As parents, acknowledging how your child learns best is crucial to assist them in reaching their greatest potential – it all starts with determining your child’s learning style.
There are 4 learning styles that come into play: auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. Many students employ a combination of styles, but most have one that is ultimately prominent. When it comes to your child comprehending and retaining information based on a specific subject, choosing the correct learning approach is critical. Once you have identified your child’s learning style, you may effectively use learning approaches that complement rather than work against your child’s strengths.
Let us take a look at the various learning styles to help you determine which one suits your child best:
Auditory learner
When the subject content is enhanced by sound, auditory learners gain knowledge better. These students prefer to listen to lectures rather than study written notes, and they frequently utilise their voices to emphasise new ideas and concepts. Auditory learners enjoy reading aloud to themselves, are often not reluctant to speak out in classrooms, and are excellent communicators. However, they tend to read more slowly and frequently repeat what a teacher says.
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then the chances are that your child is an auditory learner:
- Does my child enjoy having conversations with others?
- Does my child do well with following verbal instructions given to them?
- Does my child often talk, hum, or sing when doing schoolwork?
Visual learner
On the other hand, individuals who favour visual learning enjoy looking at and examining items such as photos, diagrams, written instructions, and the like. These are the students who draw, write lists, and keep track of things by taking notes. Also known as the spatial learning style, those who learn by sight grasp knowledge better when it is delivered visually.
Some questions to ask yourself to determine whether your child is a visual learner are:
- Does my child do best after being shown an example of a specific task they are working on?
- Does my child prefer illustrated books with graphs, photos, and more?
- Does my child do well at visual subjects like Art?
If the answer to those questions is yes, then your child is a visual learner.
Kinesthetic learner
Often known as tactile learners, kinesthetic learners learn by doing or experiencing things. They enjoy becoming involved by touching and handling objects or acting out events to comprehend topics better. As these students may find it challenging to sit quietly, they might require more frequent rest when studying. That said, they typically thrive when playing sports or dancing.
These are the questions that you may ask yourself when deciding whether your child is a kinesthetic learner:
- Does my child prefer hands-on activities?
- Does my child struggle with sitting still while studying?
- Does my child thrive doing physical activities such as dancing or sports?
Reading/writing learner
Reading/writing learners learn most effectively through written words, according to the VARK Modalities hypothesis published by Fleming and Mills in 1992. Although there is some resemblance with visual learning, these learners are drawn to expressing themselves through writing, reading books and articles, keeping and writing in journals, looking up terms in the dictionary, and exploring the internet for almost anything.
Your child is predominantly a reading/writing learner if the answer is yes to these questions:
- Does my child excel in a task after writing down the instructions given to them?
- Does my child work best when they are in a quiet location by themselves?
- Does my child find joy in writing stories and reading books?
Conclusion
Recognising the diverse learning styles does not cease when teachers finish educating students in the classroom; it also applies to private tuition. For those looking for a Singapore private tutor for their child, determining how they learn best may have a significant impact on their ability to connect with the subjects that the tutor is teaching and how they engage themselves throughout the session. When you share your child’s learning style with their tutor, you empower your child for the future by providing them with tools and skills in their early years.
At Tuition Family Singapore, we understand and recognise the importance of identifying each student’s learning style so that we are able to provide quality education for them. Compiled with affordable tuition rates, our tuition classes are helmed by various types of professional tutors ready to give your child the best education possible. Contact us today to learn more information or get started with a tutor!
