Have you ever watched your child struggle with a concept and thought, “They’re trying so hard—why isn’t it clicking?” You’re not alone. The truth is, every child learns differently, and when we teach them in the way they understand best, something amazing happens: learning becomes easier, smoother, and even—dare we say—fun.
At LearnEasy Academy, an online tutoring service based in Calgary, Alberta, we believe in meeting each child where they are. We’ve seen firsthand how understanding a child’s learning style can be the key that unlocks their academic potential—and their confidence.
So let’s dive in. Here’s how to identify your child’s unique learning style and support them with strategies that actually work.
What Are the VARK Learning Styles?
The VARK model breaks learning down into four main styles: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic. Each child naturally gravitates toward one (or sometimes a blend), and recognizing this can make all the difference.
- Visual Learners 👀
These kids think in pictures. They absorb information best through diagrams, charts, color-coding, and visual storytelling.
Look for signs like:
- Loving to draw or doodle
- Using gestures when they talk
- Saying “I need to see it to get it”
Try this at home:
- Mind maps, color-coded notes, and visual flashcards
- Educational videos or animations
- Post-it note reminders or timelines on the wall
- Auditory Learners 👂
These learners thrive on sound. They remember what they hear and benefit from discussions, read-alouds, and even music.
You might notice:
- They talk things out when solving problems
- They enjoy audiobooks or storytelling
- They often repeat information aloud
Home hacks that help:
- Read instructions out loud
- Use rhymes or songs to remember facts
- Encourage them to explain what they’ve learned—out loud!
- Reading/Writing Learners 📖✍️
These kids love the written word—reading it, writing it, processing it.
They may:
- Prefer written instructions
- Keep a journal or write stories
- Take tons of notes (even if they never look at them again!)
Support strategies:
- Encourage rewriting notes in their own words
- Use worksheets, quizzes, and written summaries
- Help them keep a study journal for reflection and recall
- Kinesthetic Learners 🤸
These are your movers and shakers. They need to do to learn. Sitting still can feel like a prison sentence.
You’ll spot them when:
- They fidget or pace while thinking
- They love building, roleplaying, or experimenting
- They struggle with traditional desk learning
Candid tip: If your child is bouncing off the walls during lessons, it’s not defiance. it’s their brain begging for movement.
Best ways to support:
- Turn lessons into hands-on projects
- Use manipulatives, games, or role-play
- Let them stand or move while learning (hello, wall push-ups during math!)
So… How Do You Figure Out Your Child’s Learning Style?
Start by observing. Watch how they naturally approach tasks. Do they want to draw it out, talk it through, act it out, or write it down?
Then, try different techniques and see what sticks. And remember: learning styles aren’t rigid boxes. Many kids are hybrids, what matters is discovering what helps them feel capable.
Teaching According to Their Style: Why It Matters
When we tailor learning to a child’s natural style, they don’t just learn better—they believe in themselves. They stop seeing school as a battlefield and start seeing it as a playground for their mind.
Whether your child is a visual dreamer, an auditory thinker, a kinesthetic explorer, or a book-loving note-taker, there should be a tailored learning plan. Because that’s what personalized tutoring should be.
Let’s Take the Guesswork Out of Learning
✨ Your child isn’t struggling—they’re learning differently. Let’s teach them accordingly. ✨