How recognizing your child's learning style can build confidence, emotional growth, and a love of learning.
At Lekker Land, we believe that every child is beautifully unique — and that includes how they learn. Some children light up when they hear a song. Others need to touch, build, or draw to really understand a concept. Recognizing your child’s learning style isn't about labeling them — it’s about opening doors to their best possible growth: emotionally, socially, and academically.
The more we understand how young children naturally engage with the world, the better we can guide them through these precious early years.
Let’s explore the different learning styles — and how you can spot, support, and celebrate your child's unique way of learning.
🎨 1. Visual (Spatial) Learners
"I see it, I understand it!"
Visual learners process information best through images, diagrams, colours, and observation.
Common Traits:
- They enjoy drawing, doodling, painting, and building with blocks.
- They remember faces, landmarks, and visual details easily.
- They might prefer watching demonstrations instead of listening to instructions.
How Visual Learning Helps Preschoolers:
At this age, using visual cues strengthens memory and boosts understanding. A preschooler who sees a chart of daily routines will feel more secure and independent than one who only hears verbal reminders.
How to Support at Home:
- Create simple visual schedules for morning and bedtime routines.
- Use picture books richly illustrated with detailed scenes.
- Let them draw their feelings or experiences instead of only talking about them.
- Offer visual pattern activities like matching games, shape sorters, or puzzles.
🎵 2. Aural (Auditory-Musical) Learners
"I hear it, I learn it!"
Aural learners thrive through sounds, rhythms, and music.
Common Traits:
- They enjoy singing, humming, or tapping out rhythms.
- They are attentive to the tone of voice, melodies, or background sounds.
- They remember things better when they are put to music or rhyme.
Why Aural Learning Matters in Early Childhood:
Music and sound not only improve memory but also strengthen listening skills, emotional regulation, and language development.
How to Support at Home:
- Sing instructions or routines ("Brush your teeth, wash your face" in a fun melody).
- Play musical games like "freeze dance" or "marching parades."
- Use audiobooks during car rides or quiet times.
- Allow background soft music during free play or art activities.
🗣️ 3. Verbal (Linguistic) Learners
"Words are my world!"
Verbal learners love language — both spoken and written.
Common Traits:
- They enjoy storytelling, word games, and making up rhymes.
- They ask lots of "why" and "how" questions.
- They are early talkers or show a fascination with books and reading.
Why Verbal Learning Boosts Confidence:
Mastery of language gives children tools to express emotions, negotiate, ask questions, and describe the world — a huge boost to social skills and problem-solving.
How to Support at Home:
- Read aloud daily with lots of discussion about the story.
- Create storytelling sessions where your child invents characters and adventures.
- Play games like "I Spy" using descriptive words ("I spy something tiny and shiny!").
- Encourage keeping a simple “picture journal” — drawing and dictating sentences.
🏃♂️ 4. Physical (Kinaesthetic) Learners
"Let me move it, and I’ll get it!"
Kinaesthetic learners absorb information best through movement, touch, and doing.
Common Traits:
- They learn by handling materials: building, touching, feeling textures.
- They find it difficult to sit still for long periods.
- They enjoy physical activities like running, jumping, dancing, or acting out stories.
Why Movement is Essential for Preschool Learning:
Physical exploration strengthens brain connections, body awareness, and even emotional regulation. These children literally think with their hands and feet!
How to Support at Home:
- Incorporate movement breaks into learning — jumping while counting, crawling through obstacle courses while naming colours.
- Use textured letters or numbers they can trace with their fingers.
- Let them build models, sculpt playdough, or explore nature with hands-on adventures.
- Accept that "wiggling while learning" IS learning for them.
🧠 5. Logical (Mathematical) Learners
"Patterns and puzzles make sense!"
Logical learners use reasoning, patterns, and problem-solving to learn.
Common Traits:
- They enjoy sorting, categorising, counting, and noticing how things fit together.
- They ask "how does it work?" about everything.
- They might enjoy strategy games, sequencing activities, or simple science experiments.
Why Logic is Important in Early Learning:
Problem-solving lays the foundation for maths, science, and critical thinking skills later in school.
How to Support at Home:
- Play games that involve sequencing (like putting story cards in order).
- Use construction toys that require planning (like blocks or magnetic tiles).
- Encourage sorting and grouping (shells, buttons, toy animals) by size, colour, or type.
- Set up simple cause-and-effect experiments (melting ice, mixing colours).
🧑🤝🧑 6. Social (Interpersonal) Learners
"Let’s learn together!"
Social learners thrive through group interaction and cooperative play.
Common Traits:
- They enjoy teamwork, sharing ideas, and group storytelling.
- They often naturally lead or organise others during play.
- They learn by discussing and role-playing.
Why Social Interaction Boosts Learning:
Interpersonal communication strengthens emotional intelligence, leadership, and problem-solving — all critical life skills.
How to Support at Home:
- Arrange small play dates where children solve tasks or play games together.
- Use puppets or dolls for cooperative storytelling.
- Play "build a story" — one person starts, the next adds, and so on.
- Celebrate teamwork at home ("Let’s bake cookies together — you stir, I pour!").
🤔 7. Solitary (Intrapersonal) Learners
"I need time to think and create."
Solitary learners prefer working alone, reflecting, and self-paced exploration.
Common Traits:
- They enjoy solo activities like puzzles, drawing, or imaginative play.
- They often need breaks from social settings to recharge.
- They are introspective and have strong internal motivation.
Why Supporting Solitary Learners Matters:
Children who are confident working independently build resilience, creativity, and deep self-awareness.
How to Support at Home:
- Provide quiet time with books, puzzles, or creative art supplies.
- Respect and encourage independent play without forcing social interaction.
- Offer private spaces (a reading nook, a tent corner) for solo exploration.
- Celebrate small independent achievements ("You built that tower all by yourself!").
🌟 Final Thought: Every Child Is a Blend
It’s important to remember that most children use a combination of learning styles — and that these can shift depending on the activity, their developmental stage, or even their mood that day.
At Lekker Land, we honour the whole child.
We believe learning should feel natural, playful, and joyful — and that means adapting our activities, classrooms, and teaching approaches to match the beautiful variety of ways children learn best.
When we meet children where they are, they feel seen, safe, and celebrated — and that's when the magic of learning truly happens. 🌈✨