Understanding Learning Styles and Multimodal Education

Childhood development is a continuous journey of discovery and learning. It’s a time when children begin to understand who they are and make sense of the world around them.

While there are general milestones for what children are expected to learn at various stages, it’s important to remember that not all children learn in the same way. Each child may have a unique learning style, and effective teaching requires adapting to these differences.

In this article, we delve into the various learning styles children exhibit and explore strategies to accommodate them in the classroom, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

How do young children learn?

When everything about the world is new, it’s natural for children to have a curiosity that drives their learning. They are eager to understand and interact with their environment. So, from a young age, they begin learning by observing and listening. As they grow, they will explore, experiment, play, ask questions, and read to acquire knowledge. As they learn more complex subjects and concepts, they may naturally prefer certain methods over others, which evolves into their learning style.

Types of learners

Children may favor different categories of learning methods. However, just because they may predominantly learn better with a certain style, doesn’t mean the rest should be ignored or that they can't learn effectively in different ways. Some children may be a balanced mix of multiple learning styles or strongly prefer one individually. The different types of learners are:

Visual learners 

Visual learners prefer information to be presented visually, such as pictures, infographics, and written directions so that they can see and observe things. They may often doodle and take a lot of notes. They’re also known as “spatial learners.”

Auditory learners

Auditory learners experience information through sound, such as listening to lectures and hearing things in their own voice. They prefer to read out loud to themselves, verbally explain things, and may often repeat what their teachers say.

Reading/writing learners

Reading/writing learners are similar to visual learners but are specifically drawn to reading and writing. They enjoy articles, books, dictionaries, journaling, writing notes and lists, and searching the internet for information. They learn best through engaging with written words.

Kinesthetic learners 

Kinesthetic learners prefer to get involved, do things themselves, and experience things firsthand. They may want to act out events and use their hands to touch and maneuver things. These learners often enjoy sports and dancing but may have difficulty sitting still for long periods or need to take breaks from long lessons. They are also known as “tactile learners.”

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Multimodal learning

In a classroom, you’re likely to have children with various learning styles. Appealing to only one style at a time would be challenging and inefficient for getting each child to learn the same material. The other option is to focus on multimodal learning, also known as multisensory learning, which means engaging with two or more “modalities.” Those modalities are the skills employed in each learning style.

An example of a multimodal activity would be a flashcard game where the word is repeatedly spoken aloud and acted out, engaging both the auditory and visual modalities. If the children wrote down the word and its meaning, it would also engage the reading/writing modalities. If the children themselves acted it out, then it would engage kinesthetic modalities too.

Even though it’s common for children to have one or two primary learning styles, utilizing any modalities together at once is beneficial. Multimodal learning can help the brain to engage deeply and retain more information in long-term memory. It also allows children to activate different cognitive skills at once, helping improve their abilities in each, which is especially beneficial for children experiencing developmental delays.

With a tool like brightwheel’s lesson plan feature, you can plan a well-rounded curriculum that suits the whole class and engages multiple learning styles.

Daily Lesson Plan Template

Use this template to develop effective lesson plans for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

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How to accommodate different learning styles in the classroom

In today's diverse classrooms, accommodating various learning styles is crucial for creating an inclusive and effective learning environment. Plus, understanding how to work with each style can help you create more impactful multimodal activities. Teachers can implement the following strategies to address different learning preferences and enhance child engagement:

Incorporate technology

• Use colorful, interactive tools like smartboards or tablets with preschool-friendly educational apps to engage visual learners.
• Introduce storytime with audiobooks or songs to captivate auditory learners.
• Incorporate technology like motion-based learning games or touchscreen devices to help kinesthetic learners engage through hands-on interaction.

Create a flexible classroom layout

• Arrange the classroom to include spaces for different activities, such as a cozy reading nook for visual learners and open spaces for group work and kinesthetic exercises.
• Implement a 'fluid seating' policy, allowing children to choose where they feel most comfortable learning.

Develop personalized learning plans

• Observe each child's interests and preferred ways of learning through play and interaction.
• Set up simple, age-appropriate goals for each child, such as developing fine motor skills or learning to share, and track their progress through activities and observations.

Foster growth through feedback and reflection

• Hold regular check-ins with parents/guardians to share insights about their child’s learning and progress.
• Encourage children to express their feelings about activities through drawings or simple conversations to help them develop self-awareness and communication skills.

Teaching strategies for different learning styles

To cater to the unique needs of children in early education, educators can adopt specific strategies tailored to each learning style. Here's how to best support them:

Visual learning 

• Use colorful visuals, charts, and diagrams to explain concepts. For example, use picture books and story maps to enhance comprehension.
• Incorporate visual schedules and posters to help children understand the day's structure.
• Encourage drawing or using craft materials to explore ideas, like making a fun picture timeline to tell a story.

Auditory learning 

• Read stories aloud with expressive tones and encourage listening comprehension by asking questions afterward.
• Use songs, rhymes, and chants to teach concepts like the alphabet, numbers, or days of the week.
• Facilitate group discussions and storytelling activities to help auditory learners process and share ideas through conversation.

Reading/writing learning 

• Provide access to picture books, crayons, and paper to help learners explore written material.
• Encourage activities like drawing pictures and telling stories about them to spark creativity.
• Use fun letter games or simple matching activities to make learning letters and words enjoyable.

Kinesthetic learning

• Incorporate hands-on activities like building blocks, puzzles, or role-playing to make learning more dynamic.
• Use movement-based activities like hopscotch for math or acting out stories to engage their need for physical involvement.
• Set up a sensory station with tactile materials to help them explore new ideas through touch and motion.

Multiple ways to learn 

Teaching is a dynamic process with countless strategies and approaches to explore. The key is recognizing that every child is unique, with their own way of learning.

While understanding learning styles and incorporating multimodal techniques can guide effective lesson planning, it's equally important to keep lessons engaging and enjoyable. Introducing children to new experiences and diverse teaching methods not only stimulates their curiosity but also keeps them actively engaged in the learning process.

Brightwheel is the complete solution for early education providers, enabling you to streamline your center’s operations and build a stand-out reputation. Brightwheel connects the most critical aspects of running your center—including sign in and out, parent communications, tuition billing, and licensing and compliance—in one easy-to-use tool, along with providing best-in-class customer support and coaching. Brightwheel is trusted by thousands of early education centers and millions of parents. Learn more at mybrightwheel.com.