As a child I had a constant need to move, to fidget, to always be playing with something and my mother would constantly worry about how to reign in my athleticism and propensity for tom boy activities. If only I had been born later , and she had the benefit of modern psychoanalytic methods she would have known that I was showing the learning traits of an athlete , an actor or a surgeon.
Studies show that children who are fidgety, love the crash and bang of exuberant play, speak animatedly and are full of energy, uses expansive gestures and are interested in everything around exhibit the learning styles of future Athelete/Actor/Surgeons. They are skilled at controlling their body movements and tend to learn best by doing, touching and manipulating objects to facilitate understanding. Like me, they might fidget and be continuously feeling and tinkering with objects but that is how they learn and we would do well not to label them attention deficient. They tend to learn best by doing, such as building or constructing projects. The Athelete/Actor/Surgeon learners as they manipulate objects are understanding precise movements and how to utilize objects with skill and precision.
If your child loves books, and creating characters and scenarios during play, has a bigger vocabulary and uses more feeling words than other children in the same age group, and is able to imagine and act out these imaginings; then your child fits many of the traits of a Writer/Storyteller. Children with this learning style may be avid storytellers, have a strong vocabulary, and may be good at formulating verbal arguments. They learn best through reading, taking notes, listening to information, and engaging in active discussions. Writer/storyteller children often read books as a source of both comfort and entertainment. Your child may use books and stories as a means to socialize or make connections with adults or other children.
If your child loves the puzzle tray during play, can understand and follow instruction easily, is more engaged with the order and pattern of things, is quick to grasp numerical concepts and exhibits an interest in the logical aspect of play rather than the whimsy; then your child is likely a Scientist/Mathematician. These children tend to be strong in reasoning, number, and critical thinking and may be naturally able to recognize patterns. They excel in classifying and grouping information and enjoy building and ordering objects. They enjoy helping in the kitchen where they can help to measure, pour and mix.
While playing if your child is usually dabbling with colors and paint, and learns well with visual inputs, spends a lot of time and effort to present work in which the joy in the creation is evident; then your child probably learns in ways similar to the Architect/Artist. Learning is easiest for these children when it involves working with pictures, drawing, or imagery. Being visual learners they benefit from organizing things visually, such as through a mind map, or chart. Learning is easiest for Architects/Artists when it involves working with pictures, drawing, or imagery. They demonstarte great pride in their artwork and have very good fine motor skills for their age.
Parents and teachers are privileged nowadays to have the insight of the best psychologists and read the wealth of information available online about various studies done in early learning and child development. Knowing the way your child learns allows you to give them the freedom to learn the best way they can, without labeling them as attention deficit, or bookish or untidy or a dreamer. Even from very young ages, children learn in different ways. By becoming more familiar with your child’s learning profile—the dominant way your child can most easily absorb and understand information—you can best support and facilitate your child's development.
