An Important Question—Is Your Child a Visual or Auditory Learner?
“I get things done early or on time, but my daughter procrastinates and does everything last minute.”
Discussion
Learning good study skills early can really help with the “homework blues.” Believe it or not, you can teach your child time management skills. My friend, Marydee Sklar, a tutor and organizing coach, says the trick is to use strategies that match your child’s thinking.
She says, “If you’re a parent who is always on time and always plans ahead, your approach using prioritized lists and lecturing won’t work with a child who floats through time. Your message will just go in one ear and out the other. If you’re a parent who struggles with being on time and meeting deadlines and you have a child who is also challenged by these same issues, you may both have the same learning style.”
Marydee has found it useful to divide learners into visual or auditory thinkers, based upon behavioral characteristics. By looking at behavior, she has clues about how the learner’s brain works. Which type is your child? Which type are you? The learning style helps Marydee determine what kind of support to offer.
Traits of a Visual Thinker
- Big picture, creative thinking—not sequential linear thinking
- Spoken and written language lacks continuity of thought
- Usually late—NOW is important
- Last minute or late projects produce lower quality work
- Trouble planning ahead—lots of procrastination
- Distractible
- Lists and prioritizing don’t help scheduling
- Argues with or ignores verbal reminders to work
Traits of an Auditory Thinker
- Sequential details
- Organized “linear” language
- Usually on time or early
- Completes projects on time—has time for quality work
- Stays on task
- Works well with lists and reminders
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If I knew then what I know now, I would have …
Learned more about learning styles as a way to support my kids and myself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
With admiration for all you do,
Dr. Kathy
Kathy Masarie, MD
Pediatrician, Parent, and Life Coach
Author of Raising Our Daughters and Raising Our Sons
Join www.family-empower.com for on-going support in your parenting.
Hi! I’m Dr. Kathy. Welcome to my website! Although Family Empowerment Network is formally closed, we want to keep these resources available to you. Our belief is that parents are the most wise and intuitive about what is best for their children. However, parents sometimes need the support of effective, timeless, compassionate parenting information and strategies. On this website you will find our three parenting books on boys, girls, and kids’ social lives and ten years of monthly newsletter articles. In addition, a powerful, under-recognized resource is the support of other parents. Here you will find how to use our books as discussion guides for monthly self-led parenting groups. One last resource: I am still available to give talks and workshops.
