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If you have more than one child at home, you are likely more than aware of just how different kids can be. There’s the shy kid, the messy kid, the chatty kid. The kid who’s into sports, the kid who sings, the kid who draws. Each child naturally connects to the people, places, and activities they like best, and these choices present as hobbies, interests, and skills. But being aware of your child’s interests can do more than simply prepare you for which curriculum and learning resources to choose, or which summer camps to sign up for. When it comes to learning, you can channel your child’s interests for the good of their education too!
The first step is to figure out your child’s natural learning style. Knowing your child’s learning style will help you to plan activities in a way that is sure to have a meaningful, lasting effect. The idea of learning styles has been studied since the 1980s; the current VARK model stands for four types of learner: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic (VARK). In more recent years a few other learning styles have been identified including the Socio-Emotional learner. The VARK model is often used to improve lesson delivery and choose how best to teach and guide a child, as a parent, you can use them to help your child learn new things. Knowing your learning style is simply a guide to making smart choices about how your child will learn best. What methods, curriculums, and yes fun will be the best format for your child to learn! (Protip: There are actually a few more learning styles but for the sake of simplicity we will use these!) You can even plan family trips and adventures around these learning styles! Read on for tips and tricks for working with your child’s style.
So what this is an Auditory Learner?
The A in VARK stands for auditory. This means your child learns best through sound. You’ll find your child picks up information much faster when they’re hearing it than by reading or doing. Auditory learners listen to learn!
Is your kid often found in headphones belting out their favorite song? Are they your parrot, maybe picking up on things they should not have heard? These behaviors are common to auditory learners because they are wired to listen to learn! No matter what subject, your child is a sponge for sound.
Whereas some prefer a quiet space to study, your kid likely surrounds themself with sounds whenever possible. Instead of written instruction, your child may benefit even more from verbal teaching and explanations. Instead of reading a book on a certain subject, your child may prefer the audiobook, podcast, or documentary on the subject instead.
So what can you do? To start, let your child guide the way! There’s no need to fight your child’s natural interests; use them as sources of inspiration! Look for projects and activities that play to your child’s strengths. While auditory learners can certainly learn by seeing, reading, and doing, they will be most successful in situations that engage their high-powered listening skills! Try some of the suggestions below when introducing new concepts or practicing old ones so that it better suits your child’s way of learning.
To keep an auditory learner engaged, make sure to use plenty of sound! Play music or white noise during study time. (Protip: music without words is probably best.) Nowadays you can find whole playlists devoted to the science of learning through sound. When giving directions, try talking through the steps. Or use mnemonic devices to create study songs. Offer plenty of opportunities for verbal instruction, either from you or other sources such as educational videos. Talk through any task, and your auditory learner is sure to pick up the material better. Pop an educational podcast on during trips in the car, count your money out loud at the corner store, or book a listening tour at a local museum: these activities are sure to pique the interest of your auditory learner. Using such tools will be key for keeping your kid motivated to learn. You’ll be amazed at the difference in engagement when using methods and tools that best fit your child.
Supporting auditory learners in:
English Language Arts: Audiobooks are preferable for auditory learners; reading along while listening is even better. Hearing the words and tone aloud will help to build your child’s own writer’s voice as well as their vocabulary. Check your local library for audio offerings or use an app like Audible. Apps such as Read Along or Epic offer highly engaging literacy content for early readers. Flocabulary puts vocabulary and learning to music and will inspire an auditory learner! Rely on language’s more verbally pleasing aspects to engage; think rhyming, rhythm, and recitations! (Protip: Does this mean no reading? Of course not! But balance the reading with auditory input. For those with true learning disorders such as Dyslexia, consider audiobook supplementation of the written text and do BOTH.)
STEM: Imagine having Neil DeGrasse Tyson as your child’s science teacher? Thanks to the power of technology, Tyson and many others can be! Tune in with your child to talks from those in STEM careers to take your child’s interest to the next level. Include videos and podcasts whenever possible. Generation Genius (Link: Anything Academic ), Brain Pop (Link: Anything Academic ), Crash Course (Link to live LR 26693), and Blue Studios (LR 53455 )all offer STEM-related content your child can listen to. Crafting handy mnemonic devices for trickier science and math topics can also be a great way to reinforce through sound.
Social Studies: Look for experiences that include a verbal component such as a walking tour at a museum or a historical lecture series. Visit a living history museum or have your child learn songs from different eras. Small group seminar type of discussions are great for older students where they can discuss topics aloud with peers and teachers are often a good fit.
Social Activities: Auditory learners will gravitate to activities involving sounds, like a sing-along, reader’s theatre, or lively debate. Karaoke, anyone? Music lessons may also be a hit.
While your child may naturally respond best to this learning style, it certainly does not mean other styles won’t be beneficial. Your kid may have a preference for one style over another, but children are incredibly adaptable. Aim to strike a good balance between supporting this learning style, but not limiting your child to it. Learning often happens through a combination of styles and other external factors can weigh into your choices. The value of an outing with Grandma or your child’s best friend’s preference may contribute to their willingness and ability to absorb material as well. We all know our kids are complex and follow their passions! That is the beauty of individualized learning and finding the right teaching methodology for your child or student. Be their guide, and let them find their way. No matter what, listen to what your children or students feedback to you. When you find the “right way” to learn, they will certainly let you know. Having an open discussion about learning styles with children old enough to understand will also help them to guide you. Let them have a voice.
Learn more about VARK and learning styles.
Want to learn about other learning styles? Explore them here:
Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic and Socio-Emotional
Don’t forget to use this knowledge to guide you in picking the correct curriculum.
Finding the Right Curriculum for Your Child’s Learning Style
*These articles are meant as a guide and for information only, and are not professional evaluations. For further analysis of your child or student’s learning style consider an evaluation by a professional with for further testing. Anything Academic can help you find both professionals and guides to testing for academics!