Understanding the Idea of Learning Styles Every child enters this world with a different way of understanding and relating to the world around them. In education, this differences of learning will exist as the child's way of learning. A learning style is basically how someone can explain how they process, understand, and retain different types of information. Very broadly speaking, a child can be recognized as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. Noticing these differences early on will help you understand how well your child will adapt to school as well as how confident they will be in processing the learning material. Learning Styles Visual learners absorb information so long as they can see and manipulate the information first. They use charts, graphs, videos, illustrations, as well as written notes to draw conclusions. Students who learn visually usually represent content best when it conforms to maps and illustrations, most notable examples include geographical studies or science. Auditory learners are students who can better grasp learning when hearing the content. These students often learn well from verbal instruction, participating in group conversations discussing the assignments, hearing activities read aloud for discussion, etc. Auditory learners often have superior verbal skills, and success when it comes to remembering content presented verbally. Kinesthetic learners learn best through physical movement and experiential learning experiences. Kinesthetic learners often prefer doing to observing the content, and can often struggle to stay seated for long periods. Kinesthetic learners benefit from lessons that rely on experiments, role os opinions or facts and findings coupled with experiential elements of fieldwork. How Parents Can Recognize Their Child's Learning Style Parents can recognize their child's preferred learning style by watching their child and how they learn in a variety of instructional formats. For example, does your child draw pictures in their notes? Does your child prefer or enjoy listening to stories instead of reading them? Is your child learning while moving, or building? These are all common habits that can be strong clues to a child's preferred learning style. At SFS Guwahati, teachers are also trained to recognize these patterns and they try to communicate this back to parents during PTMs or personal conversations, allowing parents to make a connection between what their children are learning at school and what they are learning at home. Supporting Various Learning Styles at Home Once you have determined your child's learning style, a few minor adjustments at home can go a long way. Visual learners can be provided with colourful charts, post-it notes, and visuals. Auditory learners can be supported through audiobooks, podcasts, and verbal discussion. Kinesthetic learners can be supported through movement learning experiences (i.e. spelling while jumping, using a prop for a maths problem). Creating a space that acknowledges and takes into consideration how your child learns can minimize some of the study stress and will also likely boost their motivation to learn overall.   Creating A Partnership Between School and Home At SFS Guwahati we value the idea of personalized learning as the foundation for student and academic success. We design our instruction for all students through a range of strategies to meet their individual needs. When parents compliment this approach at home, personalized learning multiplies and supports the students as they learn. When schools and parents communicate well together, the child’s need is personally dealt with by considering their learning style, therefore, learning can be a holistic and balanced experience. Recognizing the Learning Journey of Every Child Understanding and supporting your child’s style of learning is never about putting a label on them, it is about empowering them. When we adjust our teaching to fit the way a child learns best, we allow them to develop confidence as a learner and equip them with a desire to learn. In the world we live in today, educational success is often dictated by how learners manage their emotional states, as much as their academic results, which reinforces the importance of recognizing our child's learning preferences, whether through tapping into their strengths or addressing their weaknesses. Let’s nurture every learner as best we can, one strength at a time, as every child and every parent wants the best for their child.