Learning Styles
Learning styles are different approaches or ways of learning. As there are a
variety of learning styles, it is helpful for parents to identify their
child’s style. Children can use a combination of learning styles or have one
or two dominant styles. A child with diverse learning styles is usually a
more flexible learner.
Remember all children work well with hands-on activities and manipulatives.
The younger the child, the more you will see a combination of styles being
utilized. However, as they get older, one or two learning styles will appear
dominant.
Learning Styles:
Visual learners learn through seeing. These learners visualize things by
thinking in pictures. They enjoy art and drawing and are captivated by
puzzles and mazes. Board games, picture books and memory games are great
ways to teach a visual learner. Writing things down, demonstrating how to do
things, limiting multiple spoken directions, and using color to organize
information can be beneficial to the visual learner as well.
Auditory learners learn through listening. These children learn best by
talking and listening. They are usually good spellers and readers. Auditory
learners enjoy listening to tone of voice and pitch, and are often musically
talented. Reading text aloud or whisper reading, studying aloud, playing
word games and using a tape recorder can benefit the auditory learner.
Often, these learners are good at memorizing things. For the auditory
learner spelling words are taught easiest by using the “say-spell-say”
method. Example: Baby - B-a-b-y – Baby.
Tactile/Kinesthetic learners learn through moving, doing, and touching. These
children learn best through a hands-on approach. Tactile/Kinesthetic learners
enjoy exploring the physical world and taking things apart and putting them
back together again. They communicate with body gestures and would rather
show you than tell you. A key to stimulating kinesthetic learners is
physical action/movement. Using a clock or timer to cue this learner on how
long a task should take helps keep them focused. Follow an active time with
a calming down period before attempting another task to get refocused.
Logical/Analytical learners learn through exploring patterns and
relationships. These learners enjoy puzzles, seeing how things work and
making their own creation with legos or blocks. Strategy and computer games
are also of interest. These children ask questions and begin abstract logical
thinking at an early age. Logical/Analytical learners would benefit from
experiments, computer learning games and word puzzles.
Resources:
A to Z Phonics.com
Landy, Lois J., ED.S., Developing Children’s coping Skills, Second Edition
How Does Your Friendship Grow?
A normal stage of development for young children is a self-centered view of
the world. Another characteristic that young children have is the belief that
they can only have one friend at a time and they may exclude a third party.
Children may also exclude others as a way to explore power, ownership and/or
control. In spite of their self-centered outlook, young children can develop
meaningful friendships with a lot of help, understanding and encouragement.
Learning about friendships begins at an early age when children advance from
playing side by side with little interaction to actually playing with one
another. There is much to learn about sharing, fairness, taking turns,
following rules, cooperating, etc. Children begin to realize that they are
not the only one who wants the biggest piece or the first turn. When
children play with children their own age, they have the greatest opportunity
to develop these skills.
Adults Role
Notice Good Friendship Behavior
Look for and praise the following behaviors: sharing, talking kindly, and
showing appropriate friendship skills. When positive behaviors are observed,
parents should make encouraging statements such as: “You are really working
together”, “That’s what I call team work!”
Intervene ONLY When Necessary
Offer a snack or new game when things are not going well to redirect play.
Sit down together and review the rule that people are “not for hurting”.
Suggest or discuss together a different way to play, so no one feels hurt,
sad, or left out.
Be prepared to hear children barter for friends: “If you do this or give me
that I’ll be your friend”. Sometimes when things are not going just the way
a child would like, he/she may say “I don’t want to be your friend” or “You
are not my friend anymore”. Although hurtful, this is a normal part of
growing up due partly to the lack of language needed to express feelings and
desires. By helping children identify and talk about conflicts they can gain
a better understanding of feelings that occur during difficult times. Such
discussions give children the vocabulary needed to express their point of
view as well as begin to understand others point of view. Always
acknowledge and accept your child’s feelings with out judging. Remember,
feelings are not right or wrong. However, the way we respond to our feelings
can cause a problem.
Are You Listening?
Many times, as parents, we wonder why our child is not listening! There are
many reasons why young children may not be listening. It could be that they
are easily distracted. Some children may have trouble shifting their focus
from what they are doing to what someone is saying. Finally, a child may
not even notice that someone is speaking to them. Although these attributes
may pass with age, it is important to help children develop good listening
skills early. Good listening skills are the key to success in school,
relationships and employment. There is no magic answer to make a child
listen, but parents can help their child strengthen his or her listening
skills.
Tips to Improve Listening:
1. When you tell your child something, ask him or her to repeat what you
said.
2. Encourage your child to maintain eye contact when talking and listening
to someone.
3. Vary your tone of voice. Practice using a quiet voice so your child will
instinctively want to know what you are saying.
4. Gently touch your child when telling him or her something important or
to help calm them down. This method helps them focus their attention on
listening.
5. Model good listening skills. Remember, children learn by example. A
parent can show the value and importance of paying attention and utilizing
good listening skills. Good skills include the ability to: a) Maintain eye
contact, b) avoid interrupting the speaker, c) sitting still/being
attentive, d) nod your head, e) lean toward the speaker.
6. Read to your child and then talk about what you have read and/or retell
the story.
7. Play listening games. Examples: close your eyes for a few seconds and
just listen. Name the things you heard. Play “Simon Says”. Search the web
for other listening games.
Holiday Stress and Children
Holidays can be stressful for adults as well as children. In fact, it can
even be more stressful for children than adults. Not only do children pick
up on their parents stress, they are less able to cope with the excitement.
Children deal with emotions and excitement differently than adults.
Children can become extremely tired from excitement. While, excitement is
wonderful, the anticipation, gifts, and parties are also over stimulating
and tiring. Try to keep things simple and in routine as much as possible.
Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress for Your Child
Decide on family priorities:
How do you want to spend your time? Typically, after the holiday season has
ended, you do not remember if the house was spotless or that you got every
single present on your list. Think back to what you remember about the
holidays. It could be decorating cookies, chopping down the tree, visiting
with family members, visiting someone in the nursing home or playing games.
As a family, choose several activities you really want to do. Do the things
that you all will enjoy the most and then say “no” to extra activities.
Tips to help your child reduce stress:
Try to keep regular meal and bed times, even if away from home. Hungry or
sleep deprived kids become cranky kids. Some children have a difficult time
with changes in routine. Keep focused on your child’s personality and
limits.
Talk to your child about schedules and expectations:
Don’t force your child to sit on Santa’s lap if they’re afraid. You might
stand next to Santa with your child and/or write a letter.
Ask your child what makes them feel better. Do they wind down to music,
reading, or spending time with you, etc? Encourage your child to do the
things they enjoy the most.
Do what you can:
Do your best to limit your own stress. Don’t expect everything to go as
planned and don’t let unexpected events ruin the holidays for you and your
family. Be adaptable and flexible. Enjoy this magical time of year with
your child. These precious moments will be over before you can imagine.
May your holiday be a time of joy, celebration, and peace with family and
friends.
Relationships and Acceptance
As children develop a good self-esteem, it enables them to build positive
relationships and acceptance of others. Children must care about and value
themselves if we want them to care about and value others. Interacting
positively with others is not only a key to success, but is a life skill.
Below are some suggestions on how your child’s ability to interact and accept
others can be strengthened. Remember that young children have a difficult
time seeing things from someone else’s point of view.
•Treating children with respect at home and school teaches them how to treat
others respectfully.
•Talking about feelings can help children become aware that others have
feelings too. Give examples: How would you feel if someone took your toy
away? How do you think your friend would feel if someone took his toy away?
•Parents are a child’s best and most important teacher, so set a good
example. It is so true that actions speak louder than words.
•Try to be caring and considerate in your relationships. Eyes are watching
and ears are open when least expected.
One last thought, “feelings are a common bond that all of us share.
Feelings link us together as a human family”.
Peace Education Foundation
Self-esteem
Did you know that a vital component of an individual’s personal make-up is
self-esteem? Self-esteem is defined as the way a person feels about himself
or herself. A positive self-esteem increases a child’s ability to be happy,
healthy and well adjusted. Below are some ways to boost your child’s self-
esteem.
•Catch your child in the act of a good deed and compliment him or her.
•Point out your child’s strengths in terms of what they enjoy doing
or like to do. Try not to focus on external abilities, qualities or
performances. It is the person that is valued not what they are “good at”.
•Provide opportunities for your child to make choices and decisions.
If your child makes a bad choice and/or decision focus on the consequence of
the choice.
Enjoy your child; he or she is a precious gift. Each child has unique
characteristics which makes your family, Prattville Kindergarten and the
world more interesting!
