Learning Styles Demystified! Let's Talk about Your Child's Blueprint
March 2025 | Education
Have you ever wondered what makes your child light up with understanding or struggle to grasp a concept, despite your best efforts? Understanding what sparks your child’s curiosity and makes learning "click" isn’t just a matter of trial and error—it’s about uncovering your child's unique learning preference or learning style. This discovery can feel like finding the missing piece to a puzzle, offering clarity and direction for your homeschooling journey. By intentionally observing how your child naturally engages with the world, you can tailor your teaching to meet his/her strengths while addressing challenges at the same time. Let’s explore how identifying these preferences can transform the learning experience for both traditional and out-of-the-box learners.
Every child is wonderfully unique, with their own way of seeing the world, processing information, and engaging with the world around them, right? Of course! As homeschooling parents, understanding your child’s learning style is like unlocking a personalized blueprint—a guide that can transform frustration into confidence and help you create a thriving educational environment.
Whether your child thrives with visuals, learns best through hands-on activities, or excels with auditory cues (or a combination of multiple modes), recognizing what works for them is the key to tailoring your teaching approach.
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For parents of children with disabilities, this understanding becomes even more vital, offering insights that bridge gaps and open doors to progress.
Let’s dive right in — are you ready to demystify the concept of learning styles and explore practical ways to identify and support your child’s unique blueprint? If so, you are in the right space.
No matter where you or your child are on your learning journey, after this discussion, hopefully, you’ll be bustling with ideas to foster growth, confidence, and a love for learning in your learning ventures.
Let's start with our visual learners!
VISUAL LEARNERS
Visual learners learn best through images, diagrams, charts, and other visual aids that help them see relationships and patterns. These learners often remember faces and visual details well and enjoy watching demonstrations. They also retain information more effectively when presented in a way that they can picture or visualize it.
Key Strategies that Work:
Using visual aids like mind maps, infographics, and videos
Highlighting or color-coding notes
Observing examples rather than hearing explanations
Practical Examples:
Reading and Writing: Written instructions, notes, and color-coded systems to organize information
Visual Aids: Charts, graphs, infographics, and flashcards to grasp concepts and retain details
Illustrations and Videos: Pictures, drawings, and educational videos to enhance comprehension
Mind Maps and Diagrams: Mind maps, graphic organizers, and diagrams to break down and organize information
Demonstrations: Performance or demonstration of a task to see an example in action to solidify understanding
Struggles Might Present As:
Struggle to follow oral instructions without visual support
Difficulty processing information in noisy or chaotic environments
Frustration with abstract or conceptual lessons
AUDITORY LEARNERS
Auditory learners best absorb information through sound, so they thrive when lessons incorporate spoken words, music, or sounds. In fact, you may even find these learners talking aloud through problems or ideas.
Key Strategies that Work:
Listening to lectures, audiobooks, or stories
Engaging in discussions
Playing music
Using rhymes or songs to memorize information
Practical Examples:
Listening to Lectures or Read-Alouds: Lectures, read-alouds, podcasts, audiobooks, or having a teacher read material aloud
Group Discussions: Group discussions, think-pair-share to think aloud
Verbal Repetition: Repeating key points, explanations, or a verbal review to help retain information
Songs, Rhythms, and Mnemonics: Songs, rhymes, or mnemonic devices to make information more memorable
Struggles Might Present As:
Difficulty with silent reading or written instructions
Easily distracted by background noise
Visible frustration with tasks that lack verbal explanation
KINESTHETIC LEARNERS
Kinesthetic learners learn best through hands-on experiences and physical movement. They thrive when they can actively engage with the material rather than passively observing or listening.
Key Strategies that Work:
Engaging in hands-on experiences and learning by doing (check out the science section)
Moving while thinking
Showing knowledge and role-playing
Using manipulatives or tactile resources like puzzles or models
Practical Examples:
Movement-Based Activities: Role-playing, building models, or conducting experiments to show knowledge
Hands-On Projects: Manipulating objects, playing games, or creating something tangible to help fully grasp concepts
Real-Life Application: Create a bridge between concepts learned in real-world contexts
Short Bursts of Focus: Frequent movement breaks to aid in time on task and focus
Struggles Might Present As:
Difficulty sitting still for extended periods
Visible frustration with purely lecture-based or passive learning
Has challenges focusing on abstract concepts without practical application
READING/WRITING LEARNERS
Read/write learners excel when information is presented through written words. They thrive on activities that involve reading, writing, and organizing ideas in textual form.
Key Strategies that Work:
Written assignments, detailed notes, and reports
Reading textbooks, handouts, and articles
Writing summaries, lists, and reflections
Learning through journaling or essays.
Practical Examples:
Reading and Note-Taking: Reading textbooks, articles, and handouts to identify key points in new information
Lists and Outlines: Structured formats like bullet points, lists, and outlines help to organize and retain information
Writing Activities: Journaling, summarizing, or essay writing helps to process and internalize learned information
Printed Handouts and Slides: Written instructions, definitions, or concepts in print to enhance comprehension.
Repetition Through Writing: Copying notes, rewriting content, or making flashcards reinforces their learning.
Struggles Might Present As:
Oral discussions or hands-on activities
Frustrations with group work that lacks written structure
Difficulty with visual-heavy or auditory-focused content
LOOKING FOR SPECIFIC RESOURCES? WE'VE GOT YOU!
When you understand how your child learns, you stop forcing them to fit the mold—
and instead, you shape the education to fit them.
Here is a collection of resources to that help tap into the different learning styles and preferences:
General Learning Style Resources
Homeschool Giveaways - Offers Strategies, printable resources, and suggestions for each style.
Time4Learning- Online curriculum with interactive lessons that cater well to different learning styles.
Teachers Pay Teachers - Search for resources that fit your child's preferred learning preference, including diagrams, charts, and even interactive notebooks.
Art of Problem Solving - Great for math-loving visual learners who benefit from step-by-step explanations.
Visual Learners
Khan Academy - Free video lessons across subjects, perfect for visual learners.
CK-12 - Free digital textbooks with interactive simulations and concept maps.
BrainPOP - Engaging animated videos & quizzes that support retention.
EdHelper - Graphic Organizers - Free printable organizers to help visually map thoughts.
Mystery Science - Hands-on and video-based science lessons and experiential learners.
Auditory Learners
Storynory - free audiobooks and stories that support auditory learning.
LibriVox - free public domain audiobooks, great for listening-based learning.
Read Aloud Revival - Encourages learning through storytelling and listening.
Homeschool Giveaways - Strategies for Teaching Auditory Learners - Offers Strategies, tools, printable resources, and curriculum suggestions to engage learners at home.
Kinesthetic (Hands-On) Learners
DIY - Hands-On projects and challenges in science, art, and engineering.
KiwiCo - Subscription-based STEM and creative kids for hands-on learners.
PBSLearningMedia - Interactive learning activities for kinesthetic and visual learners.
Tinkergarten - Outdoor learning activities for movement-based learning.
The STEM Laboratory - Engaging STEM projects that encourage hands-on exploration.
Are you looking for more community to support your homeschool journey? Consider joining our Facebook group. Connect with like-minded educators, gain encouragement, and access valuable resources—all to help the next generation thrive!