How Can I Find Out My Child’s Learning Style?

To discover your child's learning style you may observe what your child likes and enjoys doing most while he/she is playing, interacting or learning.  One thing will become quite obvious – certain kids like to learn things in a certain way while others are more comfortable learning the same thing in another way. The way each individual child prefers to learn, is essentially, that child's learning style. For example, children who love to have stories read to them may differ in their learning style from those who prefer to play with blocks, sing songs, or role-play with other children.

The following is based on Gardner's Multiple Intelligences and will help you to access your child's learning style. Check the statements that apply to your child in each intelligence category.

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

Does your child:

• Enjoy math class?
• Enjoy solving math problems or adding numbers in his/her head?
• Like to work with computers?
• Ask questions about how things work?
• Enjoy strategy games, logic puzzles or brainteasers?
• Like playing chess or checkers?
• Enjoy doing science experiments?

Linguistic Intelligence

Does your child:

• Enjoy reading books?
• Like to learn new words and use them when talking or writing?
• Like to tell and listen to stories?
• Have a good memory for people, places, names, and dates?
• Get irritated when someone uses language that is grammatically incorrect?

Spatial intelligence

Does your child:

• Like to draw pictures or;
• Doodles a lot on notebooks?
• Daydream a lot?
• Read maps, charts, or diagrams more easily than text?
• Find his/her way around a new place without any direction?
• Enjoy taking things apart and then putting them back together?
• Enjoy building three-dimensional objects, (example: LEGO)?

Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence

Does your child:

• Move around or tap when sitting somewhere for a long time?
• Enjoy activities like swimming, running, riding a bicycle or skating?
• Use body movement and hand gestures when talking to people?
• Like to touch something that is new to him/her?
• Learn to play new sports easily and exercise without getting tired?
• Show different physical sensations while thinking or working?
• Imitate other people’s gestures?  

Musical Intelligence

Does your child:

• Enjoy listening to music?
• Like to sing or hum?
• Get annoyed when music sounds off-key?
• Enjoy playing a musical instrument?
• Easily remember the melodies of songs after listening only once?
• Have a good voice to sing? 

Interpersonal Intelligence

Does your child:

• Have two or more close friends?
• Understand their friends’ feelings from their facial expressions, gestures and voice.
• Care about their friends’ feelings?
• Approach others with empathy?
• Help friends to solve their problems?
• Seem to be street smart?
• Take place in school organizations and clubs?
• Seem to be a natural leader? 

Intrapersonal Intelligence

Does your child:

• Like to be alone?
• Need a quiet place to work by himself/herself?
• Accurately expresses how he/she is feeling?
• Have an interest or hobby that he/she does not like to talk about?
• Display a sense of independence or strong will?
• Possess the ability to be aware of his/her strengths and weaknesses

Does My Child Possess More Than One Learning Style?

Yes. The theory of multiple intelligence claims that human beings possess at least seven types of mental functioning or intelligence, therefore, every individual has the ability to use every learning style. However, everybody has one or two styles that work better for him or her when they learn.