Once there were two small boys, John and Jim, who were friends. Jim had a dog. One day they were taking the dog for a walk and Jim said proudly: "I've taught the dog to whistle".

"What do you mean?", said John, "He's not whistling".

"I know", said Jim, "But I said I'd taught him; I didn't say he'd learned".

That’s exactly the case with children as well.

Every child is different and discovers the world around them in their own way and at their own pace. As rightly put in the words of Magda Gerber – “Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write or count. It is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace that is right for the child. Earlier does not equal better…”

As a parent, it is natural to be anxious about your child’s learning. At an early stage, knowing whether your child learns faster by touching, looking or listening, can help you advocate their learning better. Some children love to play with cars, others like to colour, and there are yet others who love to read and write. If you are a parent with more than one child, you know that each of them has different individual bents, and no two will be the same!

Therefore, knowing how your child learns best can dramatically affect their ability to connect with what you are teaching. Guide your observations by spending time with your child, watch them play as per their choices, engage and follow them as per their interests. You can also take notes on their learning patterns. You’ll be amazed to know the insights you get.

There are many learning styles and not all children fit into one category. Dr. Seuss, famous American children’s author and filmmaker used to say – “Why fit in, when I was born to stand out?” After all, learning is not one-size fits all! Experts in this context have identified three basic learning styles into which most children fall:

Kinaesthetic Learning (Do it): Kinaesthetic learners are inclined towards experimenting and practical exposure rather than simple textbook reading and memorizing. They love learning by touching, feeling and physical activity which makes them naturally great in sports and dance that require body movements. They often have sharp hand-eye movements. They get annoyed sitting at one place. They express themselves through body language, like hand gestures and walking, at times.

Visual Learning (See it): Visual learners are keen observers and love art. They love reading and are drawn towards pictures, bright colours and photographs. They have vivid imagination and they enjoy watching movies and videos on TV and Computers. Watching visuals on screen makes them learn and retain information faster. Teaching through worksheets, smart boards, projectors help these learners stay interested. Parents can use movie characters or cartoons while teaching them.

Auditory Learning (Hear it, Say it): Auditory learners are great in understanding and following instructions, when given orally. They have an aptitude for music and are more interested in learning through stories and rhymes. They may learn and sing the entire song but struggle to remember what they just read in a book. They are easily distracted by noises and sounds. They have a sharp ear and seem to be attracted towards the sound of a language, which makes them easily repeat recently heard words and phrases. They also like to read out loud while learning or writing. Parents can teach such learners by simply talking to them about it.

Children have different interests and choices, based on which their primary learning style could be any one or a mix of them. As Ignacio Estrada aptly said –”If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach them the way they learn.” One should keep exploring different ways to make a child learn until they find the technique that suits the child’s interest. Initially, children show a balance among the learning styles but as they grow, they tend to develop their own preferential pattern of learning that makes them thrive.

The diversity in a child’s learning style is beautifully quoted below by Confucius, –

“Tell me, and I will forget... Show me, and I may remember… Involve me and I will understand.”

This tells us that by identifying your child’s primary learning style, you can shape their educational experiences into a journey of memorable wonders. Remember, in the eyes of a child, there are no seven wonders in the world, there are seven million!

Story reference:
http://novevrema.com/journal/Knowledge-jokes-in-English-2812ec