How to Find Your Child’s Learning Style
One of the biggest advantages of homeschooling is the ability to tailor education to your child’s unique way of learning. But how do you figure out what works best for them? Understanding your child’s “learning style” can help make lessons more engaging, reduce frustration, and foster a lifelong love for learning. (Always remember some children may have more than one, or a style that they prefer the most in comparison to others)
Let’s explore different learning styles, how to identify your child’s preferred way of learning, and how to use this knowledge in your homeschool.
The 4 Main Learning Styles
While every child is unique, most children fall into one (or a mix) of these four learning styles:
1. Visual Learners (Learn by Seeing 👀🎨) (This is my daughter’s learning style)
Visual learners absorb information best through pictures, diagrams, charts, and written words. They often:
✔️ Love books with pictures, graphs, or infographics
✔️ Prefer watching videos or demonstrations over listening to instructions
✔️ Easily remember faces and details from images
✔️ Enjoy doodling, drawing, or using color-coded notes
How to Teach a Visual Learner:
- Use colorful worksheets and flashcards
- Incorporate diagrams, charts, and mind maps
- Let them watch educational videos or use picture-based learning apps
- Encourage drawing or visualizing concepts
2. Auditory Learners (Learn by Hearing 🎧🎶) (This is my son’s learning style)
Auditory learners process information best through listening and speaking. They often:
✔️ Remember things better when hearing them aloud
✔️ Love music, rhymes, and verbal storytelling
✔️ Enjoy discussing topics and explaining ideas out loud
✔️ Struggle with silent reading but excel in listening activities
How to Teach an Auditory Learner:
- Read books aloud and discuss them together
- Use audiobooks, songs, and educational podcasts
- Have them repeat or summarize lessons verbally
- Encourage conversations, debates, and storytelling
3. Kinesthetic Learners (Learn by Doing 🏃♂️👐)
Kinesthetic (or tactile) learners absorb information through movement and hands-on activities. They often:
✔️ Have high energy and struggle to sit still for long periods
✔️ Learn best through hands-on experiences and physical activity
✔️ Enjoy building, crafting, or acting things out
✔️ Need to physically engage with learning materials
How to Teach a Kinesthetic Learner:
- Use hands-on projects like science experiments and crafts
- Incorporate movement (e.g., jumping while spelling words, acting out historical events)
- Let them use manipulatives (Legos, counting beads, clay)
- Take learning outside with nature walks and real-world exploration
4. Reading/Writing Learners (Learn by Words 📖✍️) (this is MY learning style)
These learners thrive on written information and enjoy traditional reading and writing activities. They often:
✔️ Love books, journals, and word-based puzzles
✔️ Prefer writing things down to process information
✔️ Enjoy independent reading and research
✔️ Excel in traditional worksheet-based learning
**How to Teach a Reading/Writing Learner:**
- Provide books, articles, and written instructions
- Encourage journaling, note-taking, and creative writing
- Let them research topics and write reports or summaries
- Use workbooks, printable worksheets, and written exercises
How to Identify Your Child’s Learning Style
1️⃣ Observe Their Natural Preferences
Watch how your child engages with the world. Do they constantly doodle? Do they love listening to stories? Are they always moving? These clues can reveal their learning style.
2️⃣ Try Different Teaching Methods
Introduce a mix of visual, auditory, hands-on, and reading/writing activities and see which ones your child enjoys the most.
3️⃣ Take a Learning Style Quiz
There are many free online quizzes designed to help pinpoint learning preferences. Once they are old enough try taking one with your child!
4️⃣ Listen to Their Feedback
Ask your child how they best understand and remember new information. Their responses can provide valuable insight.
Using Learning Styles in Your Homeschool
Once you understand your child’s learning style, you can tailor lessons to fit their needs while keeping a balanced approach. Most kids benefit from a mix of styles, so don’t be afraid to experiment!
For example, my daughter your child is a visual AND kinesthetic learner, so we do things such as using colorful charts and hands-on projects together. Whereas my son is an auditory learner, so as he learns to write we will mix audiobooks with journaling assignments.
The goal is to make learning engaging and effective in a way that feels natural for your child.
Finding your child’s learning style is one of the most rewarding parts of homeschooling. It allows you to teach in a way that respects their strengths, supports their challenges, and nurtures their love for learning.
Remember, learning styles aren’t rigid labels—kids evolve, and their preferences may change over time.
Stay flexible, observe what works best, and most importantly, enjoy the journey!
✨ Have you discovered your child’s learning style? Which methods have worked best in your homeschool? Let me know in the comments! ✨