Maybe you have heard of the different learning styles or maybe you haven’t. There are three main categories: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. And while the average person utilizes all three, we also all typically have one that is more prevalent than the other two. Therefore, training our ears and eyes to observe and detect the learning styles of our children, our spouses, and our co-workers can help us better communicate with them and more meaningfully engage them.
At first it seems like a daunting task to be able to figure out another person’s learning style without asking or if they themselves don’t know (like in the case of children). But over time this becomes easier.
I started observing speech patterns in my teenage students when I still taught high school. And I started seeing patterns in the way that they spoke and interacted with me. I also observed their extra-curricular activities, interests, and talents and started picking up on ways to identify their learning styles and ultimately their “learning language”. This allowed me to teach each of them more effectively and now it is something I use when talking with others as well.
Now as a parent of a toddler, I have been instituting these principles into our home to engage with my daughter more effectively.
“Show me your eyes”
“Listen to my words”
“Turn towards me”
All three of these statements are asking for someone to engage with you. The first one engages the visual learner. The second captures the attention of an auditory learner. And the last elicits a notable action that relates to kinesthetic learning.
For anyone, including toddler, we can tailor our words and phrases once when we have listened to those around us and the speech patterns that they use. So maybe “Turn towards me” will work for one of your children, but “show me your eyes” is better for another. It’s all based on individual personality.
How can I detect a toddler’s learning style?
Visual Learners:
Visual learners are going to be people that tend to like things that are bold, flashy, and in-your-face. In fact, their personalities may also reflect that. The may be great at have great ideas and big emotions but have a hard time expressing them how they actually see or feel them. Their compliments to others might be about how great something looks or about how easy it was to navigate or understand. They can get overwhelmed in clutter (whether literal clutter, fast talking, or difficult dance moves. They like to watch, study, and observe all things to understand them.
If someone is in conversation with you and understand something, you might hear some of the following phrases:
“I see what you mean” | “I am aware of that” | “That’s so clear to me” | “I can visualize that”
Auditory Learners:
Auditory learners are going to be the type of person who needs to cut down on distractions. They can sometimes over-focus, but have a keen attention to detail even in the tone of one’s voice and to someone’s emotional state. (So they may be more aware of how you said something vs. what you said). They typically have a good memory and follow directions well. They enjoy music and rarely like complete silence. This type of learn also has a tendency to repeat information back to you while you’re talking and need time to have input and process.
If someone is in conversation with you and understand something, you might hear some of the following phrases:
“I hear you” | “I discerned that” | “That explanation helps” | “That sounds familiar”
Kinesthetic Learners:
This type of learner is going to be an active person who has to get “hands-on” in all situations. They are typically athletic, need lots of excitement to stay engaged, and like a bit of chaos in their lives. The tactile learner may talk with their hands or even have the inability to not fidget while listening.
If someone is in conversation with you and understand something, you might hear some of the following phrases:
“That makes sense” | “I get it” | “I am tracking with you” | “I catch what you’re saying”
So why is it important to know the learning styles toddlers exhibit as a parenting tool?
In short, because when we speak to them in their learning style, we can more effectively communicate.
There have been times when my husband and I are fighting and we have come to discover we are saying the exact same thing in a different way. It’s difficult to learn to take that step back and evaluate the situation, but applying our language and our actions in a way that benefits who we are talking too can save so much frustration! This is the same with out children, but toddlers typically just get upset and defeated; whereas, knowing how to communicate effectively can help calm the situation more easily.
Being mindful of how we communicate others can help them hear us better and can help us relate more effectively. And when a child is too young to understand or know their learning style, being an observant and mindful parent can be the missing piece to help solve the puzzle of the outburst, tantrum, or misunderstanding.
More on Raising Toddlers:
Teaching Toddlers Consequences
Parenting without Saying No
Raising Toddlers to Problem Solve
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Kara is an author and advocate for positive, grace-filled parenting. She is homeschooler to her 5 children living on a farm in New England. She believes in creative educational approaches to help kids dive deeper into a rich learning experience and has her degree in Secondary Education & Adolescent Childhood Development. She is passionate about connecting with and helping other parents on their journey to raise awesome kids!
[…] Oberve your child- watch your child’s Learning techniques, and teach them using those learning techniques. For instance if your child learns how to put the blocks in the correct holes by listening to you then their learning technique is Auditory. If they learn by watching you do it then they repeat it themselves then their learning technique is hands-on. It helps speed up their learning process. You can learn about learning styles from Kara Carrero at: https://karacarrero.com/communicating-learning-styles-toddlers/ […]