Helping Children Discover How They Learn Best

If you had to learn something new tomorrow; say, how to fix a leaky tap or speak a few phrases in another language, how would you go about it?Would you look up a video tutorial? Read a step-by-step guide? Ask a friend to talk you through it? Or would you just dive in and have a go?

However you answered, you’ve already uncovered something about your own learning style. The same is true for our children; each one has their own unique way of making sense of the world.

The different ways we learn

There are lots of ways to think about learning styles, but one simple and familiar framework looks at three broad types (although this isn't a definitive list of learning styles):

• Visual learners understand things best when they can see them. They might love diagrams, mind maps, and colour-coded notes, or find it easier to remember information if it’s written down or illustrated.

  
  

  Hint: if your child often says “I need to see it” or likes to draw or doodle while thinking, they may lean towards visual learning.

  
  

• Auditory learners absorb information by hearing it. They might enjoy listening to stories, talking ideas through, or remembering songs and rhymes with ease.

  
  

  Hint: if your child asks you to explain something rather than show them, or picks up lyrics faster than spellings, sound might be their gateway to understanding.

  
  

• Kinaesthetic learners learn best by doing. They may need to move around, handle materials, or act things out to make sense of them.

  
  

  Hint: if your child finds it hard to sit still but loves building, experimenting, or demonstrating, movement might be a key part of their learning process.

  
  

Most children (and adults!) aren’t just one type. We all draw on a mix of styles; sometimes without realising it.

The best learners use a toolkit

In reality, the most effective learners use all of these approaches at different times. They might watch a demonstration (visual), discuss it with a friend (auditory), and then try it themselves (kinaesthetic). The difference is that they’ve learned to recognise what works best for them in different situations.

Helping children become aware of their learning preferences isn’t about putting them in a box; it’s about giving them tools. When they can say, “I understand this better if I draw it out,” or “Can I talk this through?”, they’re taking ownership of their learning.

Supporting your child’s learning style at home

You don’t need to redesign your home into a classroom to make this work. Small, thoughtful changes can make a real impact:

• Offer choices — let your child decide how they’d like to tackle a task.

  
  

• Encourage them to explain what helps them learn best.

  
  

• Mix things up — try videos, movement breaks, talking, or drawing to see what clicks.

  
  

• Celebrate curiosity, not just correct answers.

  
  

When children start to see that there’s more than one way to learn — and that their way matters — they often become more confident, independent learners. And that’s a skill that lasts far beyond the classroom.

A final thought

The next time you’re learning something new yourself, take a moment to notice how you do it. Do you reach for a notebook, look for a video, or jump straight in? Then share that with your child — let them see that learning is something we all do, and that there are lots of ways to do it well.

Understanding our own learning styles is a lifelong skill, and helping children explore theirs is one of the most powerful gifts we can give them.