How do children learn?

Katie in her little apron ready to make cupcakes with mom.

What is your child's learning style?

This is an important question for any parent, but even more so for any parent who plans to homeschool. If you don't know how your child learns it will be a much more frustrating experience for everyone involved. There are many learning styles. I have not covered them all here. Hopefully this can help you figure it out.

Mom's Adventure in Sewing and Baking

In the last few years I have learned some new skills. Sewing was a huge step of faith for me. I have always admired people who could sew and figured that it couldn't be that hard. After I purchased a basic Singer machine I started getting to know her. We haven't always been friends, but once we got to know each other we've become the best of pals. Sewing has certainly been a trial and error learning experience for me.

Another skill I learned last summer was cake decorating. My sister-in-law and I went together to the Wilton classes. Cake making stresses me out because I want it to be perfect. By the way no cake is ever perfect (not even mine). But I still love making cakes and cookies for casual social events.

Learning Styles

You may have guessed that I am a hands on learner. This is very important to know about your child. I am not sure about Katie yet, because she is only 2, but I would say that she is a lot like me so far. By the age of 5 or 6 (or when they start reading) you will be able to tell how your child learns best. Once you know that, teaching them will be a whole lot easier. Until you know for sure use a lot of visual and hands on approaches.

In my classroom when I had 18 -24 students with several learning styles I had to keep my lessons loose. There had to be 2 or 3 approaches in my lesson to get the skill across. Some kids are auditory, which means they learn by hearing. Others, who were hands on or visual learners would be staring out the window missing every word. Fortunately for us, we know our kids very well. We may have a variety of learning styles in our homes, but we don't have 18 more kids to worry about. Well, unless you are in the Duggar's family.

In August when Katie and I start our homemade preschool we will do a different style of activity each day.

Monday: Recipe (cooking) This is a hands-on experience.

Tuesday: Art, This too is a hands-on activity. Library storytelling, auditory lesson.

Wednesday: Bible, This will be an auditory lesson. It will have some visual aspects as well.

Thursday: Reading, This day will incorporate all three learning styles. She will be listening, actively writing or tracing, and (visual) seeing letters/words. (This is our most intense day.)

Friday: Science, Katie will be exploring and discovery learning (including field trips).

**There is a book titled Science Play in my list of preschool resources. I will use this as a guide for ideas. There are hundreds of everyday simple activities we can pull from.

Once you discover how your child learns best it is important to teach using those learning styles. However, it is also good to stretch your little one. If they are not auditory, like myself, give them a more simplified version of the auditory learning style. They will always have a dominant learning style, but this will helps strengthen weak areas.

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule, He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame, He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, He learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise, He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness, He learns justice.

If a child lives with security, He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval, He learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, He learns to find love in the world.
-Dorothy Law Nolte-