How to Teach and Reach Children with a Kinesthetic Learning Style?

Children who have a kinesthetic learning style are usually easy to spot. They're the kids who can't seem to sit still. They use their senses to help them learn. Teaching reading to a kinesthetic learner is a much easier if you understand the best way to communicate with them.

Teaching phonics...Read More...

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Preschool reading...Read More...

Do any of the below characteristics sound familiar?
Maybe A Kinesthetic Learning Style May Suit ?

Very active – like to move around while listening or talking

Often talk with their hands

Touch things in order to learn about them

Remember things by recalling who did what rather than who said what

Touch and feel everything – rub hands on walls, furniture, halls as they move

Like to find out how things work

Their lips move when they read

Learn best through movement

Communicate through body language and movement

Shows you rather than tells you

Responds to physical rewards and touching

Often move and talk slowly

Fidgets a lot

May stand closer than a visual child

Needs to explore their environment more than other kids

Is often unaware of their own movement and distracted by movement of others

Kinesthetic learners are good at the following:

Have Natural athletic ability
Good at dramatic arts
Being creative and using their imagination
Good at taking things apart and putting them back together

Kinesthetic learners face challenges with the following:

May need to be moving in order to learn (makes classroom learning a challenge)

Often labeled with ADD or hyperactivity because they have trouble learning in a traditional classroom setting (but more and more schools are changing to address the needs of tactile learners)

Older kinesthetic or tactile learners (6+) are often classified as underachievers in school

Doesn't usually enjoy reading or spelling

How to help your kinesthetic learner:

Allow them to be active while you read to them

Let them participate in drama

Encourage them to participate in science or lab experiments

Go on field trips

Have them move their fingers under words as they read

Watch them perform skits and dances

Have them make models

Utilize lots of “hands on” activities to perform learning (i.e., learn how to count while cooking or playing hopscotch)

Provide quiet time after physical activities

Task rewards may work well

Play board games

Use competitions to motivate your kinesthetic learner

Make it harder to move than to sit still (such as moving desk against wall)

Allow for planned times for movement

Work with teachers to ensure the best learning environment in the classroom

Fun games and activities are especially helpful to engage kinesthetic learners

Incorporate subjects that are especially interesting to your tactile learner to capture their desire to learn

What books are best for kids with a kinesthetic learning style?

Adventure books

Interactive books

What games are best for children with a kinesthetic learning style?

Board games
Interactive reading games
Interactive computer games
Drag and drop games
Matching games
Role playing games
Phonics games

Visit our Reading Games for Kids page to see our favorite games.

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