Understanding Your Child's Learning Style: Are They a See-it, Hear-it, or Do-it Kiddo?

Let's talk about something that might help explain why your little one is constantly climbing the furniture (no judgment - we get it!), or why they can recite entire
episodes of Bluey, or why they're absolutely mesmerized by those sensory bottles in our toddler room.

Every child has their own unique way of making sense of the world, and
understanding their learning style can help us better support their
natural curiosity and development. So, let's break this down in a way
that's actually useful for real parents dealing with real toddlers who
may or may not be wearing pants right now.

Visual Learners (The "Show Me!" Squad)
These are your little ones who:
- Could spot their favorite toy in a cluttered room faster than you
can find your keys
- Learn better when you draw pictures or use hand gestures
- Remember faces better than names
- Love looking at books, even if they're "reading" them upside down

Supporting your visual learner:
- Use color-coding for cleanup time (yes, even if everything ends up
in the same bin anyway)
- Create picture schedules for daily routines
- Play "I Spy" during diaper changes to make them slightly less
wrestling-match-like

Auditory Learners (The "Tell Me Again!" Crew)
These kiddos:
- Pick up song lyrics like tiny jukeboxes
- Love when you make different voices during storytime
- Remember what you said verbatim (especially when it's something you
wish they hadn't heard)
- Process information better when they can talk it out

Supporting your auditory learner:
- Sing everything (yes, even the "please put your shoes on" requests)
- Play sound matching games
- Have conversations about everything, even if they're mostly
responding with "why?"

Kinesthetic Learners (The "Let Me Do It!" Gang)
These are your movers and shakers who:
- Learn best by doing (and sometimes destroying)
- Need to touch EVERYTHING in sight
- Have trouble sitting still during circle time
- Remember things better when they've acted them out

Supporting your kinesthetic learner:
- Embrace movement-based learning (even if it means your living room
looks like an obstacle course)
- Use hands-on materials for counting and letter recognition
- Take learning outside whenever possible
- Remember that fidgeting is their way of focusing

Here's the Plot Twist:
Most children (and adults) actually learn through a combination of
these styles, and that's perfectly okay! The key is to notice what
makes your child's eyes light up and lean into those moments. At
Encounter Learning Center, we design our spaces and activities to
support all these learning styles because we believe in meeting
children where they are.

Remember:
- There's no "better" learning style
- Your child's preferred style might change as they grow
- Following their lead often leads to the best learning moments
- Sometimes the messiest activities create the strongest connections

Quick Tips for All Learning Styles:
1. Observe without judgment (yes, even when they're using the couch as
a trampoline)
2. Provide varied experiences
3. Follow their interests
4. Remember that play is learning
5. Take deep breaths when they decide to "help" with the laundry

At Encounter Learning Center, we celebrate these different learning
styles through our play-based curriculum and open-ended materials. We
create environments where visual learners can observe, auditory
learners can engage in rich language experiences, and kinesthetic
learners can move and explore safely.

The Bottom Line:
Your child's learning style isn't just about how they learn ABCs and
123s - it's about how they experience and make sense of their world.
Understanding and supporting their natural tendencies helps build
confidence, curiosity, and a love for learning that will last well
beyond their preschool years.

And remember, whether your child is a see-it, hear-it, or do-it
learner (or most likely, a wonderful mix of all three), they're
perfectly designed to learn in their own unique way. Our job is simply
to provide the opportunities, support, and occasionally, clean clothes
when the sensory play gets a little too exciting.

Want to learn more about how we support different learning styles at
Encounter Learning Center? Schedule a tour and come see it for yourself!