What Is Your Childs Learning Style?

experiential learner: Adhd therapy in philadelphia, mechanicsville, ocean city, santa fe image

Understanding your child’s learning style is an essential step in assessing which school setting is the best fit for your child. As parents, you have the power to send your child to a school that suits your child’s learning needs. Properly assessing the schools that are in your neighborhood or in other school districts will take more effort on your part, but the results could be the difference from your child being taught to just get by in school or to be challenged and thrive. Some of you have the ability to choose the neighborhood in which you live. With that in mind, the process of learning about the school districts before you move to a particular neighborhood could be worth the investigation. For those parents who don’t have as much flexibility to choose the neighborhood you want your child to grow up in, it may be worth it to investigate charter schools or public schools that offer learning programs conducive for your child’s learning style. The other option for any parent is to research private schools. Some private schools offer scholarships for children that come from families that are not able to afford the full payment. Even though most schools have similar missions to ‘educate children’, each school has a different method that affects the overall teaching styles utilized by the teachers.

Your child will not only have the opportunity to thrive in the right school setting, but they can also do so at home with your help. There are many steps you can take at home to support your child’s learning at school. Below is a list of 8 Learning Styles developed by Howard Gardner (theorist of Multiple Intelligences developed from cognitive and developmental psychologies, anthropology and sociality concepts to understand human intelligence [Gardner, H. (1983) Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic Books]). As you read about the 8 Learning Styles, ask yourself which learning style(s) best describe your child:

1. Linguistic (Verbal) Learning Style – this style of learning deals with sensitivity to meanings and order of words. This type of learner easily communicates his or her thoughts and feelings using words. These children are often early talkers, use complex sentence structures at an early age and are able to use words to share their experiences with others. Linguistic learners often:

Use extensive vocabulary words
Easily learn how to read and enjoy reading
Enjoy saying tongue twisters
Tell jokes
Tell puns
Make riddles
Write their own songs
Create limericks (humorous rhythmic 5 line poem)
Enjoy telling stories
Enjoy playing word games
Make strong arguments and can convince others of their point of view

2. Intrapersonal Learning Style – this learner uses introspective means to understand oneself and others. They can analyze the different ways they think and feel and have the ability to control their feelings and moods and oftentimes observe and listen to others. This learner often:

Spends time self analyzing and thinking about past events and how they approached them
Works best alone
Enjoys being on a vacation in a remote place far from crowds of people
Making plans and setting goals (ex. Getting all A’s in school for the whole year)
Spend a lot of time trying to figure out problems rather than asking others to help them solve it

3. Interpersonal/Social Learning Style – this type of learner has the ability to understand people and relationships and is able to communicate well with others verbally and non-verbally. This learner often:

Makes a lot of friends and keep the peace between them
Is usually sensitive to moods, feelings, behaviors and motivations
Enjoys learning through a group process that involves them giving ideas and listening to other people’s ideas
Tends to learn from others
Learns well in group settings
Enjoys one on one learning with teachers or instructors
Prefers social activities rather than doing activities alone
Like games that are played with others as well as sports

4. Naturalist Learning Style – This type of learner enjoys the great outdoors. They are nurturers of the environment around them and are able to recognize and classify different types of species in various environments. They have the ability to recognize subtle changes in their environment. These learners:

Enjoy collecting rocks
Enjoy observing plants and birds
Enjoy catching insects
Enjoy camping
Enjoy nature walks
Enjoy hiking
Enjoy gardening
Have a natural attunement to the relationships in nature
Are good at categorizing and cataloguing information

5. Visual/Spatial Learning Style – this type of learner has the ability to see the world in an accurate lens as well as visualize objects, plans and outcomes in their minds. This learner:

Prefers to use images, pictures, maps and colors to organize information
Tends to play with puzzles, mazes and building blocks
Has the ability to take things apart and put them back together
Has a good sense of direction and rarely gets lost
Enjoys doodling and drawing to make their point or help them through their thought process

6. Musical Learning Style – your child is a musical learner if they have a sensitivity to sound (pitch, melody, rhythm and tone). This learner is able to:

Sing and/or play music
Identify different sounds from instruments
Replicate music with little effort
Pick up on the background music in movies, songs and other media
Enjoy listening to music often
Hum, tap rhythms, move in rhythmic body movements

7. Kinesthetic Learning Style – this type of learner processes information through hand and body movement, expression and control. This learner has the ability to use the body and objects skillfully. They tend to enjoy:

Sports
Physical activities
Dance
Acting
Miming
Drafting
Shop class
Drawing

8. Logical/Mathematical Learning Style – this type of learner is quick to recognize patterns and think logically. Having lists and thinking through problems are ideal for this learner. This learner:

Enjoys working with numbers
Wants to understand how things work
Asks a lot of questions
Codes emotions, thoughts and experiences logically
Classifies and groups connections
Uses logical/mathematical symbol systems to communicate logic
Uses mathematical means to aid memory (writes notes to self in formulas)
Calculates in their head
Works through problems in a systematic way
Picks up flaws in other people’s writing, words or actions
Plays thinking games (ex. Chess, backgammon, brain teasers, etc.)
Enjoys hands on science

Now that you are familiar with the 8 different Learning Styles, take note that your child may be a hybrid of the different styles mentioned. Now I would like to focus your attention on ways that your learner is most easily taught and what the strategies to implement them look like. These tips will assist you to help support your child at home.

Tips for helping your linguistic learner with assignments:

Encourage your child to describe and write what they are learning. For instance, if your child is having a tough time with remembering events in history, have them make up mnemonics to help them remember. Also, if your child is having trouble learning math, have them make up a story where the characters take on the characteristics of the math problems (ex. Have a character count many items).
Have your child write or record what they are learning for later review.
Engage in a role play of learning concepts with your child and make it dramatic.

Tips for help your logical/mathematical learner with assignments:

Create bullet points of specific important concepts
Use an outline to aid in summarizing major points
Classify and categorize information learned
Create flow charts with your child
Help your learner understand the reasoning behind content (ex. What part of the brain allows for logical/mathematical thinking)
Help them learn to move on and not overanalyze (to prevent them from getting stuck on a problem and not finish it due to their over analytical thought process)
Make sure their home learning environment is structured and organized environments

Tips for helping your kinesthetic learner with assignments:

Use tactile senses and fine gross motor movements
Use objects for child to count or give a characteristic to
Have your child interact with their learning space to act out a concept
Make a diagram using noodles, beads, beans, etc. to create a concept
Have you child experience what fizz feels like on their nose or have them experience a small shock from a science project to help them understand using their senses

Tips for helping your musical learner with assignments:

Making a song out of a lesson (ex. The ABC song; Doe a Deer song; etc.)
Have audio playing in the background when your child learns about concepts (ex. Sounds of a battlefield battle when learning about history; wind and birds when your child is learning about airplanes or bird species)
Learning math techniques by counting drum beats or making musical patterns with an instrument (ex. Xylophone, kitchen utensils, chair, etc.)

Tips for helping your visual/spatial learner with assignments:

Help your child create a color layout when making an outline or doing projects
Show your child how to use color and pictures to help them memorize concepts (ex. Show pictures of astronaut when your child is reading about outer space concepts)
Teach your child how to visualize the content to make a story in their mind about what they are reading or learning

Tips for helping your naturalist learner with assignments:

Use photos and books about animals of the natural world when explaining topics
Observe cause and effect concepts outdoors in the natural environment
Use a terrarium, microscope or bird feeder to help your child learn about concepts of nature
Use a hand-on approach when teaching concepts (ex. Have your child physically count blocks for math or physically learn about fractions using four leaf flowers)

Tips for helping your interpersonal/social learner with assignments:

Studying group
Group games to learn different concepts
Group discussions
Have your child share their thoughts about an assignment and bounce off other ideas about new ways to think about the concept
Have your child visualize how a character in a book or person in history could have been feeling throughout the experience notated in a book or film

Tips for helping your intrapersonal learner with assignments:

When you child is learning about a concept have them visualize how they would feel experiencing the concept (ex. Your child’s feelings if they were Harriett Tubman helping slave escape through the underground railroad)
Help your child create a personal interest in the topic they are learning about by giving them questions such as “Why do you think people are interested in learning chemistry?”; “Why do chemists work in their field?”; “What keeps them motivated?”
Have a note pad/journal, camera or drawing pad available to help your child track how they feel and think about their observations
Allow your child to learn how to experience different experiences or emotions that others may experience

Now that you have an idea of what type of learner your child is and how you can assist them with their learning, it will be helpful for you to observe where your learner struggles when completing homework/work tasks. When you identify those areas, you will need to focus on using flexible strategies (for example, using the strategies from another learning style that is best suited for your child; coming up with an idiosyncratic technique that identifies with your child’s understanding) so that your child can continue to strengthen their limitations while concurrently grasping the material. I would lastly like to discuss the many types of career options that can emphasize your learner’s certain skill sets. Here is a list of careers that play to your learner’s strengths:

Careers that emphasize your linguistic learner’s skills:

Teacher
Public speaker
Lawyer
Politician
Translator
Poet
Writer
Journalist
Speech/Language Pathologist
Spiritual Leader
Sales Manager
Stock Broker

Careers that emphasize your logical/mathematical learner’s skills:

Stock Broker
Financial Planner
Auditor
Accountant
Scientist
Purchasing agent
Underwriter
Mathematician
Economist
Statistician
Actuary
Computer analyst
Computer programming and design
Chemical engineer
Architecture
Technician
Glazier
Bookkeeper
Science teacher
Mortgage Broker

Careers that emphasize your kinesthetic learner’s skills:

Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Dancer, Martial Artist, Athletic coach or Trainer
Carpenter, Landscaper or Painter
Artist Work: Metal Worker, Wood Craftsman, Potter, Clothing Designer
Emergency Rescue Worker
Fire fighter
Police officer
Military
Surgeon
Mechanic
Construction Worker
Hair Dresser

Careers that emphasize your musical learner’s skills:

Speech Pathologist
Musician
Composer
Music conductor
Music composer
Music technician (plays, movies, etc.)
DJ
Music teacher

Careers that emphasize your visual/spatial learner’s skills:

Photographer
Art director
Architecture
Designer
Planner
Careers in navigation
Film director
Event Planner
Hair Dresser
Mortgage Broker
Glazier

Careers that emphasize your naturalist learner’s skills:

Conservationalist
Landscaper
Master Gardener
Nutritionalist
Archeologist
Farmer
Animal trainer
Botanist
Biologist
Chef
Zoologist
Fisherman
Travel Agent

Careers that emphasize your interpersonal/social learner’s skills:

Teacher
Therapist
Psychiatrist
Police Officer
Criminologist
Interviewer
Human Resource professional
Sociologist
Travel agent
Concierge
Coach
Doctor
Nurse
Event Planner
Entrepreneur
Real Estate Agent
Travel Agent
Hotel Management
Hospitality Services

Careers that emphasize your intrapersonal learner’s skills:

Actor
Author
Detective
Film director
Counselor
Entrepreneur
Social worker
Theorist
Personal trainer
Biographer
Researcher

As a parent you have the ability to choose the best learning setting for your child whether it be a public, private or charter school. Now that you have knowledge of the different learning styles, you don’t have to rely only on your child’s teachers to help your child thrive…you can assist in your child’s learning process too. Your child is an individual and may not fit into one category of learning style and it would be beneficial to have flexibility when helping your child learn. By observing your child’s strengths and areas of growth, you will be able to choose the best learning technique and school setting to help them thrive. If you need assistance with helping your child, we here at The Center for Growth can help. We are only a phone call away.

You can self schedule an in-person or virtual therapy session at the Center for Growth by calling (215) 922- LOVE (5683) x 100.

Our Guarantee: If after your first session you are not sold that you are working with the right therapist, do not hesitate to call our intake line at 215 922 5683 x 100 or Alex at (267) 324-9564 and ask to be rescheduled with another therapist. The choice of how you want to proceed is yours. Our only goal is to support you in becoming the best you possible.

For your convenience, we have brick and mortar offices and work with clients virtually in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Physical Therapy Office Locations:

Ocean City Therapy Office 360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226
Mechanicsville Therapy Office 9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116
Society Hill Therapy Office 233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106
Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office 2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130
Providence Therapy Office 173 Waterman St. Providence, RI 02906
Fayetteville Therapy Office 101 Devant Street #606, Fayetteville GA 30214
Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505
Telemedicine Therapy Locations: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia and Pennsylvania