Helping Your Child Thrive: A Practical Guide to Understanding How They Learn Best

Many mums often ask: How can I tell what kind of learner my child is?Why does my child struggle with certain teaching styles?How can I support their learning at home? Understanding your child’s individual learning preferences can be a game-changer. With the right approach, your child can build confidence, enjoy school more, and progress steadily. This article offers a clear, practical guide for recognising different learning styles and supporting your child in a way that genuinely helps them succeed.

What Are the Common Learning Styles in Children?

Children absorb information differently, and understanding these differences is key to supporting their education. The three most common learning styles are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Visual learners prefer images, charts, and diagrams. They remember what they see and enjoy drawing, reading maps, or watching videos. Auditory learners respond best to spoken information and often learn well through discussions, music, or rhymes. Kinesthetic learners, on the other hand, thrive when they can move, touch, and explore during learning.

It’s important to remember that most children don’t fit neatly into just one category. Many show a mix of preferences depending on the subject or situation. Recognising these patterns can help you adapt your support at home or communicate more effectively with their teachers.

A 2017 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that while 90% of UK academics believed there are flaws in the learning styles theory, 58% still felt students learn better when taught according to their preferred style, and 33% admitted to using learning styles in their teaching practice. Although the concept has its critics, many parents and teachers continue to find value in recognising patterns in how children absorb information. When applied thoughtfully, this approach can make homework sessions more effective and reduce daily stress for both parent and child.

How to Spot Your Child’s Learning Style

Observing your child during everyday activities can reveal much about their learning. If your child enjoys watching videos, reading books with pictures, or drawing, they may be visual learners. You might notice they remember where things are on a page or how someone looked during a conversation.

Auditory learners often talk through problems aloud, remember song lyrics quickly, and may ask to be read to, even if they can read themselves. They benefit from verbal explanations and might prefer listening over reading instructions.

If your child loves to build things, play with their hands, or has trouble sitting still for long periods, they may have a kinesthetic preference. They might learn best by acting out, using objects to count or measure, or taking breaks during study sessions to stay focused.

No sign confirms a learning style, but patterns will emerge over time. For a more structured approach, the kids’ learning style guide from Thrive Childcare and Education offers a helpful breakdown of how to spot and support each type of learner at home.

Supporting Different Learning Styles at Home

Once you’ve identified how your child prefers to learn, small changes at home can make a big difference. Visual learners can use colour-coded notes, mind maps, or flashcards. Encourage them to draw out ideas or use visual aids like posters. Having quiet time in a well-organised, visually pleasing workspace can help them concentrate.

Auditory learners might benefit from reading aloud, using audiobooks, or discussing their schoolwork with you. Repetition through speech or song can also help them remember key facts. You can also try letting them explain what they’ve learned in their own words. It strengthens their memory and boosts confidence.

Practical activities work best for kinesthetic learners. Use movement to reinforce lessons, like acting out stories, using physical objects in maths, or encouraging short, hands-on experiments in science. Let them take regular movement breaks when studying and give them space to learn in a less structured, more active way.

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) reports that effective parental engagement can lead to an average of four months’ additional progress over the course of a year (source). This highlights the significant impact parents can have on their children’s academic achievement when actively involved in learning activities at home. Parents can create a more conducive learning environment by understanding and supporting their child’s learning preferences, making study time more productive and less stressful.

When to Seek Extra Support and How to Work with Schools

While understanding learning styles is helpful, knowing when your child might need additional support is vital. If your child consistently falls behind or becomes frustrated with schoolwork, speak to their teacher. Teachers can provide insights into your child’s classroom behaviour and might suggest adjustments to teaching approaches or extra help.

Don’t hesitate to share your observations about your child’s learning style. Many schools value this input, and it helps them tailor their support more effectively. You can ask about differentiated learning in the classroom, whether your child can use learning tools that align with their preferences, or if additional resources are available.

You can also explore tutoring or specialist support outside of school. But start with simple, practical steps at home. Boosting your child’s confidence in their learning ability can make a big impact, even before formal interventions are considered.

Remember that learning styles are just one piece of the puzzle. Factors like emotional well-being, routine, sleep, and nutrition affect children’s learning and development. But your support becomes much more effective when combined with understanding learning preferences.

Conclusion

Every child learns differently. Taking time to understand your child’s learning preferences helps them succeed at school and strengthens your connection with them. You don’t need to be an expert; you just need to be a caring and observant parent willing to try new ways of supporting your child’s development. Whether your child is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner, identifying their style can help you make small changes that lead to meaningful progress.