What is your child's learning style?

Read the following questions and choose the best answer in your opinion by circling the appropriate letter. There is no right or wrong answer to this quiz. Just circle what your child usually prefers.

1. When learning a concept your child prefers to:

A. Read the text book

B. Have someone explain it to him

C. Do a practical demonstration

2. When getting directions to a new location, your child finds it easier to:

A. Look at a map or a diagram giving directions

B. Have someone tell him how to get there

C. Follow someone or have someone take him there

3. To remember a math table, your child has to:

A. Look at the table several times

B. Repeat it silently or out loud to herself several times

C. Write the down the table to memorize it

4. Your child is better at:

A. Reading

B. Talking

C. Physical activities

5. At school, your child learns best by:

A. Reading

B. Listening

C. Hands-on activities

6. When studying for a test, your child works best by:

A. Reading and picturing the information in her head

B. Reading and saying the ideas out loud or silently

C. Highlighting, writing notes and outlines

7. Your child finds it is easier to remember:

A. Faces

B. Names

C. Events

8. In class, your child prefers to have:

A. A good textbook with pictures, graphs and diagrams

B. A good teacher who explains concepts and gives interesting lectures

C. Hands-on activities

9. For a school project your child often:

A. Looks up the Internet to research new ideas

B. Talks to others to get new ideas

C. Explores and tries out new things till they work out

10. When assembling a new toy, your child usually:

A. Reads the instructions first

B. Talks through each step as he progresses

C. Starts putting the toy together and reads the instructions if he gets stuck

11. During her free time your child prefers to:

A. Read, take photos or draw

B. Talk to someone or listen to music

C. Play outdoors or do hands-on crafts

12. When expressing himself, your child:

A. Leans back, tilts head upwards and gives out shallow breaths

B. Uses a fluctuating tone and tempo

C. Uses gestures below the neck

Score Your Quiz:

Visual Learners - Count number of A's above

Auditory Learners - Count number of B's above

Kinesthetic/Tactile Learners - Count number of C's above

I. Understand the three main learning styles

a. Auditory or language learners

These learners learn by listening to what others have to say and talking about what they're learning.

Note: Auditory learners might look like they are not paying attention when you talk to them, but their listening skills are more developed than their visual skills.

These type of learners will be happiest communicating their ideas verbally.

b. Visual learners

As their name suggests, these learners learn by watching. It is believed to be the most dominant learning style and many traditional classrooms are geared towards the visual learner. For their learning to make sense they need to be able to see, visualize and illustrate their knowledge, skills and concepts.

Visual learning characteristics include remembering visual details.

Note: Telling these learners how to do something may not make sense to them at all - they need to see it.

c. Kinaesthetic/tactile learners

These learners like to be actively involved in the learning process, and learn best through hands-on activities and movement.

Note: These types of learners can be misdiagnosed as ADHD or trouble-makers because the more traditional visual or auditory learning styles just do not work for them.

Children with this learning style enjoy working in groups and also enjoy a range of hands-on or practical activities. For example, they may enjoy acting out a story before they begin the process of writing their story down. Kinaesthetic learners can also be supported by allowing them to use models and objects to describe their ideas.

II.Observe your child.

1. How does your child express himself?

a. Visual learners express themselves through facial expression.

b. Auditory learners express themselves through their words.

c. Kinesthetic learners express themselves through their body language.

2. What are his or her interests?

a. Visual learners are typically interested in videos and images.

b. Auditory learners enjoy sound and music.

c. Kinesthetic learners are generally interested in physical activities.

3. How does your child solve problems?

a. Visual learners may read and research to find solutions

b. Auditory learners may want to discuss the possible solutions.

c. Kinesthetic learners will find a solution by experimenting.

III. Teach to your child's strengths.

1. Teach your child how to study in a way that makes the most of his or her dominant learning style.

a. Auditory learners like reading aloud, engaging in conversation, listening to music, and performing oral drills.

b. Visual learners like reading, writing, and making charts, graphs, and diagrams.

c. Kinesthetic/Tactile learners thrive on touch, large or small muscle movements, and hands-on projects.

2. Find ways to help your child develop skills in his or her weaker learning modalities by introducing other forms of learning.

Dr S Jayanti is a psychologist, psychotherapist and parenting expert at Roshni Counselling Centre, Begumpet, Hyderabad

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