Understanding Child Learning Styles: A Guide for Parents and Educators

A child's learning style determines academic success as they begin their educational journey. Each child possesses unique talents and personalities, and they use distinct learning styles to process and retain information. 

When parents and educators understand a child's learning style, they can customize their approach and create an environment that supports the child’s learning. This also builds their confidence as they mature. In this guide, we’ll explore what learning styles are and how to apply them to improve a child’s academic success.

What Is Learning?

Learning is how your children get knowledge and develop their skills. Children get information from the world around them and make sense of their experiences from infancy.

Learning is a changing, lifelong process. Both external (e.g., teaching methods and the environment) and internal factors (e.g., innate abilities and preferences) shape it. Children don’t all learn in the same way. Each child has a different preferred learning style and understanding these differences is important to effective education and development.

How Do Young Children Learn?

Young children learn best through a combination of active exploration and passive observation. Recent research shows that giving toddlers active control over their learning process, compared to passive observation, leads to improved recognition memory, demonstrating the crucial role of self-directed exploration (Li et al., 2025). At this stage (toddler), their cognitive abilities are still developing, so they learn best through interaction with their environment. Sensory experiences, touching, seeing, hearing, and moving, propel early learning (Tamblyn et al., 2023).

This explains why young children enjoy playing, experimenting, and moving around as they absorb new information. Their brains are highly plastic, meaning they rapidly form and reorganize neural connections as they engage with new information (Li et al., 2025).

Young children don’t learn alone. Social interactions with family and friends greatly influence them. They learn by observing others, participating in group projects and social activities, and reflecting on their experiences (Bierman & Heinrichs, 2023).

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Understanding Learning Styles: An Overview

Learning styles refer to how children process and retain information. The concept of learning styles was first introduced in the 1970s by educational theorists and has evolved into various models that categorize children into different types based on how they engage with the world (Fallace, 2022). The most common model is the VARK model, developed by Neil Fleming in 1987, which classifies learning into four styles: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic (often including tactile learners).

Understanding a child's learning style is necessary because it enables educators and parents to design instructional strategies that align with the child's preferred learning style, thereby supporting academic success.

The Four Primary Types of Learning Styles

Visual Learners

Visual learners are children who learn best when information is presented visually. These children prefer to see their learning material rather than hear or touch it. They respond well to diagrams, charts, infographics, and videos. 

Visual learners often benefit from visual aids such as mind maps or color-coded notes to organize information. In group settings, they may take more detailed notes and retain information better when accompanied by illustrations or pictures.

Key Traits

• Enjoys reading books or looking at visual aids, such as diagrams and charts.
• Can remember faces and places better than names or conversations.
• Prefers demonstrations or visual presentations.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners process information best through sound. They thrive in environments that provide opportunities to listen to explanations, discussions, and audio materials. These children excel in verbal exchanges but may not be as focused during silent reading or when engaging with visual materials. Auditory learners enjoy participating in group discussions, talking things through, and verbal explanations. They also excel at listening to audiobooks or podcasts.

Key Traits

• Strong listening skills and good memory for spoken information.
• Prefers verbal instructions or explanations over written ones.
• May benefit from reading aloud or discussing new concepts with other students.
• Learn best with resources like audiobooks.

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Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners absorb information best when they can physically engage with the material. These children tend to struggle to sit still for extended periods but excel in environments that allow them to move and interact. 

Activities like building, acting, or conducting experiments are suitable for kinesthetic learners. These children often excel in physical education, art, and other creative, movement-based activities. They require a hands-on approach and real-world experiences.

Key Traits

• Enjoys activities like building, acting, or experimenting.
• Prefers learning through physical movement, like walking or manipulating objects.
• May be restless in traditional classroom settings but thrives in experiential learning environments.

Reading/Writing Learners

These students learn best with the written information. They often enjoy writing, reading, and working with written materials such as textbooks, essays, and articles. Reading/writing learners are adept at taking notes, creating outlines, and summarizing information. 

They excel in environments where they can write or read to reinforce concepts, such as economics or American history, and benefit from assignments such as written essays or reports.

Key Traits

• Prefers reading and writing over verbal or visual tasks.
• Enjoys note-taking and summarizing information.
• Excels in traditional classroom settings that focus on written material.
  

Alternative Learning Style Models (Excluding VARK)

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Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory

David Kolb developed a cycle-based model, which focuses on how learners process experiences (Kolb, 1984). Learners move through four stages: 

• Concrete Experience (hands-on interaction).
• Reflective Observation (watching/reviewing).
• Abstract Conceptualization (thinking/theorizing). 
• Active Experimentation (planning/testing). 

This process creates four main styles: 

• Accommodator (the doer).
• Diverger (the observer).
• Assimilator (the thinker).
• Converger (the experimenter). 

The theory highlights transformation through real-world application.

Honey and Mumford Learning Styles

Peter Honey and Alan Mumford adapted Kolb's theory into four practical styles, proving highly useful for workplace training:

• An activist thrives on new challenges and experiences.
• Reflector prefers observing and analyzing before acting.
• Theorist needs logic, models, and integrated concepts.
• A pragmatist applies ideas immediately and efficiently.

This model prioritizes behavioral preferences over sensory modalities.

Gregorc's Mind Styles Model

Anthony Gregorc identifies four perceptual styles based on how people think (sequential/random) and what they focus on (concrete/abstract).

• The Concrete Random style favors hands-on intuition and problem-solving.
• Concrete Sequential (organized, factual).
• Abstract Sequential (analytical).
• Abstract Random (imaginative).

Felder-Silverman Learning Style Model

Richard Felder and Linda Silverman designed this model specifically for engineering education. It balances preferences for instruction design across four dimensions: Sensing/Intuitive (facts vs. concepts), Visual/Verbal (images vs. words), Active/Reflective (doing vs. thinking), and Sequential/Global (step-by-step vs. big-picture).

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner proposes 8–9 distinct intelligences. The Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence covers learning through physical movement, touch, and manipulation.

Other intelligences include Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalistic.

What Is Multimodal Learning?

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Many children exhibit strengths across multiple learning styles, a phenomenon known as multimodal learning (Fleming & Baume, 2006). Multimodal learners may excel at different types of learning depending on the situation. For example, a child might be primarily a visual learner but may also benefit from listening to explanations. These children may adjust their learning strategies to the subject or task, demonstrating flexibility in how they acquire knowledge. It’s important to offer multimodal learners a variety of learning experiences to engage their diverse preferences.

Identifying and Applying Multiple Learning Styles

Knowing Your Child's Learning Style Matters

• Matching Teaching Strategies: Knowing a child's learning style allows you to adjust teaching methods to their preferred learning style. This makes it easier for them to engage with and retain information.
• Increased Confidence and Motivation: When children learn in ways that suit them, they are more likely to feel confident and motivated.
• Support for Struggles: Knowing their style helps you identify areas where they might struggle and implement alternative strategies. For example, a child (with an auditory learning style) who struggles with reading might benefit from strategies, such as listening to audiobooks or participating in verbal discussions. Likewise, a visual learner might struggle with auditory explanations alone and would benefit from seeing diagrams and written instructions.
• Effective Learning Guiding: If you adjust your approach, you can help children guide their learning process more effectively.

How to Identify Your Child’s Learning Style

Identifying a child’s learning style is an observational process. Here are the following strategies for recognizing how your child learns:

• Observe Their Behavior: Pay attention to how your child engages with information. Do they like drawing or watching videos? Do they prefer to listen to stories or instructions? Do they enjoy hands-on activities, such as building models or conducting experiments?
• Experiment With Activities: Offer a variety of learning experiences, such as reading, listening, writing, drawing, and physical activities. Note which activities engage your child most and which ones lead to frustration or disengagement.
• Ask Your Child (Depending on Their Age): What do they prefer when learning new things? Do they find it easier to follow written directions, listen to explanations, or watch a video?

Applying Learning Styles in the Classroom

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Once you understand your child’s learning style, you can apply this knowledge to select the right teaching strategies:

• Visual Learners: Use diagrams, videos, and color-coded notes. Encourage the use of drawing or mind maps to organize ideas.
• Auditory Learners: Engage in discussions, listen to audiobooks, or use songs and rhymes to establish concepts.
• Kinesthetic Learners: Incorporate hands-on activities like building models, performing experiments, or using role-play to explore new ideas.
• Reading/Writing Learners: Provide written instructions, assign essays or reports, and encourage note-taking to reinforce information.

How to Create an Inclusive Learning Environment and Accommodate Different Styles

To accommodate diverse learning styles, an inclusive learning environment incorporates a range of teaching methods. You ensure that all children have access to the tools they need to succeed by offering diverse learning opportunities, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic modalities. Collaborative group activities, theories, real-world applications, practicals, and flexible learning methods create an environment that supports diverse learners, regardless of their learning style. Self-reflection is also a powerful tool in any inclusive environment.

Resources to Support Children’s Learning

The Tuttle Twins books are a fantastic resource for children and educators alike. With an engaging series of stories designed to teach economic and political concepts, the Tuttle Twins help children understand complex ideas in a way that resonates with their learning preferences. The series introduces children to concepts like liberty, freedom, and responsibility through stories that emphasize creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, all of which can be nurtured through diverse learning styles. 

Discover a wealth of learning resources from our preschool homeschool curriculum, as well

FAQs About Children's Learning

How Do I Describe My Child's Learning Style?

You can describe your child’s learning style based on their preferences: Are they a visual learner who enjoys pictures and diagrams? Are they an auditory learner who absorbs information through sound? Do they prefer hands-on experiences, or do they excel at reading and writing tasks?

What Are Kolb’s 4 Learning Styles?

Kolb’s learning theory identifies four styles: Diverging (feeling and watching), Assimilating (thinking and watching), Converging (thinking and doing), and Accommodating (feeling and doing). These styles reflect how individuals learn from experience and reflect upon it.

How Does Age Affect Learning Styles?

As children grow, their learning preferences may evolve. Younger children may be more kinesthetic or visual, while older children may develop a preference for auditory or reading/writing-based learning. However, many children maintain certain preferences throughout their development.

Conclusion

Recognizing and supporting a child's learning style can improve your child's education and overall learning experience. You can create a learning environment that suits your child's strengths and ensures every child learns differently in their own way by understanding how they learn best. This leads to better academic success and fosters a love of learning that will serve them well throughout their lives. We can ensure that all children have the right resources to thrive in their education and beyond by implementing diverse learning styles strategies and offering flexible learning opportunities.

References

• Bierman, K. L., & Heinrichs, B. S. (2023). Preschool programs that help families promote child social-emotional competencies. Prevention Science. 
• Fallace, T. (2022). Where did the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning style typology come from? History of Psychology, 25(1), 36-59
• Fleming, N. D. (1987). VARK: A guide to learning styles. Lincoln University.
• Fleming, N. D., & Baume, D. (2006). Learning styles again: VARKing up the right tree! Educational Developments, 7(4), 4-7.
• Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice-Hall
• Li, Y.-L., Poli, F., & Ruggeri, A. (2025). Active control over exploration improves memory in toddlers. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 292(2039), 20242555.
• Tamblyn, A., Sun, Y., May, T., Swart, E., Godsman, N., Skouteris, H., & Blewitt, C. (2023). How do physical or sensory early childhood education and care environment factors affect children's social and emotional development? A systematic review. Early Child Development and Care, 193(5), 708-724.