What is Your Child’s Learning Style?

 What is a Learning Style?

A learning style is a preferred way of absorbing, processing, understanding and interpreting information. Everyone has a learning style.  It’s important to note that one learning style isn’t better than another, but all are unique to every child and adult. 

 What are the different types of learning styles?

 I know most of you may be used to hearing about the more commonly discussed styles that include auditory, visual, verbal, and kinesthetic learning. But what I want to write about is the learning styles associated with how the brain psychologically and emotionally processes information.  

Why is it important to know my child’s learning style?

Identifying our child’s learning style will help us to better understand his or her learning needs and preferences. Then we can research and learn about the tools and strategies that will have the most success with helping them to learn. It will help with improving their grades, relationships, and their ability to live confidently and independently. My boys have completely different learning styles. Richie is an (ST) Sensing Thinking learner, while Tiki is an (NF) Intuitive Feeling learner - something we have in common! My husband is an (NT) Intuitive Thinking learner, which I later learned explains that he's not necessarily looking for a fight, but he loves to debate.   Personally, I loved learning about the learning and personality types of all our family members. It helped me to understand my husband and children better. I understand the reasoning behind their behaviors and reactions to household happenings. It doesn’t solve all our problems, but it definitely helps me to exercise better patience and most importantly, how to better craft my approach on things that need to be addressed.  

Richie is an (ST) Sensing Thinking learner.

Tiki is an (NF) Intuitive Feeling learner.

 How do I know what my child’s learning style is?

​While we all know the strategies and tricks that have worked at home or at school to help our children to perform certain tasks, there are specific methods that can be used to help our children learn with ease and confidence. 

​These are 4 learning styles we’re going to review today: 

Sensing-Thinking (ST) – The Fan of Law and Order (Paper Clip)  

The sensing thinking child is very organized and keeps their book bag, locker, or desk pretty tidy. They have a need to know exactly what’s going to happen next. This makes their day go much smoother for them.  If there are tasks to complete, these kids work better with a checklist, knowing what times everything is to be done (right down to each activity or chore). They want to know exactly what is expected of them in strict detail. Make sure to give them immediate feedback too! If they did a job well done, they need to know it right away. They work well in groups as they make good leaders for organizing and planning, but they prefer to work alone because they have their own way of doing things and it’s usually near perfection.

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 Learning preferences - 
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-          Prefers routines and advanced notices of any changes in schedules.
-          Needs detailed instructions for tasks/assignments and expected outcomes.
-          Focuses on facts, guidelines and procedures.
-          Makes decisions based on logic and rules.
-          Prefers working independently.
-          Likely to be upset if tested on something not covered in class. 

Intuitive-Thinking (NT)-  The Explorer (Magnifying Glass)  

​The explorers love to question the way things work and if they can make it work even better. These are the kids who love to challenge us and question why everything is the way it is. If you say the sky is blue they question why you think that is! They love to read and learn about new things and when they’re interested in something, they’ll work on it for long periods of time. These kids prefer to work alone but if they work with anyone else, you can count on a debate taking place!       

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Learning preferences –
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• Interested in learning how things work
• Loves opportunities to debate or challenge concepts and ideas
• Makes decisions based on logic, but is likely to challenge rules
• Likes projects that require them to compare and contrast results
• Might enjoy proof reading or editorial tasks.
• Enjoys working independently and in groups – hoping to debate any issues!

 Sensing-Feeling (SF) – The Big Heart (Teddy Bear)   

Our wonderful sensing feeling kids are all heart and are extremely sensitive children.  These are the children who wish we can all get along and that there are no losers in competition! It’s natural for our sensing feeling kids to put everyone’s feelings before their own. They’re often non-confrontational, very social and friendly.  They prefer to work in groups because it gives them the opportunity to connect and share with others. They care very deeply about those around them and they tend to sacrifice their feelings and thoughts for others. 

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Learning preferences –

• Enjoys projects that are relative to things around them.
• May like projects that require collecting, reviewing information and journaling their thoughts.
• Makes decisions based on how they feel.
• Would enjoy projects that involve imaginative writing and role playing.
• Prefers sharing their thoughts and findings with others (circle projects, group presentations, etc.).
• Prefers working in group-based activities.

Intuitive-Feeling (NF) – The Self-Expressive One (Slinky)

These creative children love to be challenged but don’t like being pressured. These kids have the most innovative and creative minds with a love for the arts. Making up a story, directing a play, or developing new materials or projects is a fun task for them. They’re very creative and they can work in a group or work independently, but they’ll need help with staying on track because they don’t do very well with meeting deadlines. These are the kids with all their assignments and other important forms outside the subject folders of their book-bag. They might not seem organized, but if you ask them for a document, they will find it in seconds! 

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Learning preferences –

• Enjoys creating and developing new ideas or concepts.
• May like creative projects that allows self-expression and personal insights.
• Likes projects that require them to hypothesize or interpret information.
• Tends to multi-task and work on many projects or assignments at the same time.
• Prefers learning without time constraints, but might need help with meeting deadlines (visual timers, reminder alarms, etc.)
• Can work independently or in a group setting.

All children and adults will have a little bit of a paper-clip, magnifying glass, teddy bear, or slinky learning style in all of them. But there will always be more prevalent personality traits and learning preferences found in one style that matches us best.

What is your child’s learning style? Were you able to identify yourself, your spouse or partner, friends or family members?
 
© 2017 Sensory Friends