Just as we all see the world differently, we also learn differently. How we learn depends on what our learning style is.
Learning style is a preferential way in which an individual absorbs, processes, comprehends and retains information. Some people have one dominant style of learning, but they may use different styles in different circumstances. As learning style influences learning capabilities, it is important to identify and enhance the existing learning style of a child as well as encourage other learning styles to ensure the child’s academic and overall progress.
The three types of learners:
Lookers: Visual learners who prefer the use of images or maps to understand information.
Listeners: Auditory learners who best understand through listening and speaking.
Movers: Kinesthetic learners who best understand information through tactile representation of information; they are more connected to the sense of touch.
Enhancing existing lookers skills in lookers:
Puzzles, Games of sorting things can help a looker to further enhance their existing skills.
Encouraging listening skills in lookers:
Introducing new words everyday and listening to audio books are good ways in which listening skills of a looker can be encouraged.
Encouraging movers skills in lookers:
Movers’ skills are important for the gross motor development of a child. Dancing, exercising and making him/her practice running or jumping are fun ways to encourage this.
Enhancing listening skills in listeners:
Regularly narrating stories to a listener and encouraging him/her to ask more questions help
Encouraging lookers skills in listeners:
It is important for a listener to develop hand-eye co-ordination. Beading using colourful beads and drawing using crayons can help a listener develop his/her lookers’ skills
Encouraging movers skill in listeners:
Dancing and exercising to his/her favourite music can be an engaging activity for a listener to develop movers’ skills.
Enhancing movers skills in movers:
Encouraging movers to participate in their favourite sports, to run, walk or jump are important to further enhance their skills.
Encouraging lookers skill in movers:
Taking the child for a walk and later asking what are the things he/she saw helps in visual recalling. Clay modelling and finger painting are other effective ways to encourage lookers’ skills.
Encouraging listening skills in movers:
Narrating stories about things that move and embellishing nursery rhymes with movement are effective ways to develop listening skills in a mover.
To Sum up-
The goal is to enhance a child’s visual, auditory and tactile stimuli while not trying to intervene the natural process of learning. It is important to keep in mind that all these strategies should be presented as play and not as a prescription for academic success. Furthermore, being liberal enough not to impose the parental learning style on the child and yet, determined enough to make him/her comfortable with all three learning styles can make a child a confident person.