Nicole Taylor

How many times have you wondered why when trying to explain something to your child they just ignore you or simply find it hard to understand a process?When children are very young there is a great emphasis on learning through play but as they get older and go through the schooling system, learning becomes more structured with less chance to fully explore their individual learning styles.As a parent when my children needed to revise or do homework it had previously been by sitting down with books or at the computer for a certain amount of time – even when it came to me helping them I was more focused on the end result i.e. getting the required work done by the required time.  I didn’t truly appreciate that their frustration and lack of enthusiasm may be partly down to the fact that that just wasn’t the way they took information in.According to Professor American Psychologist Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, there are eight main learning styles:1.    Linguistic – Speaking reading and writing, use of language2.    Logical-Mathematical  - problem solving3.    Spatial  - Awareness of space and distance4.    Musical  - Sounds and rhyme, auditory information5.    Kinesthetic – Touch and handling6.    Interpersonal – Understanding of people and social situations7.    Intrapersonal – Relating to self8.    Naturalist – Understanding of the natural worldLike adults, children are likely to predominate in one or two particular styles but that does not mean that they wouldn’t use any of the other styles at a particular time depending on the situation. One style is not better than the another -  knowing how you child naturally takes in information can go a long way to supporting and understanding their learning needs and why they may be finding some tasks difficult.  Schools work hard to try to accommodate the different learning styles but we can really support children’s development with concentrated learning that suits them as well as helping them to understand how they learn best. Too many children (and adults) are left with the impression that they are not ‘smart enough’ simply because the work was not presented in a way they could naturally understand.So how can we help practically? There are many practical things we can do as parents:•    The Internet offer information and basic tests on learning styles.•    Once we know our child’s preferred learning style we can explain or reformat homework exercises to a way they will be easier for them to connect with.•    Not think it odd or assume they are not doing their work if they have music on in the background – this may be necessary for them if their style is musical.•    Speak to the school about their strengths and weaknesses.There are many other ways to support your children’s learning styles suitable for their age group. As children of the digital age, there is more scope for interactive learning that suits a range of learning styles than ever before.