One of the most important things we teach our swim instructors is how to recognize and spot the individual needs and learning styles of each child. Knowing what signs to look for is one of the best ways to help a child swim along his or her journey to becoming a great swimmer.
By tailoring the experience to the child, their chances of improving are greatly improved. The way that we go about this is by identifying what their main learning style is.
So what are these learning styles that we keep talking about? Glad you asked…
THE 3 LEARNING STYLES OF KIDS LEARNING TO SWIM
The three main learning styles are: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. While everyone uses a combination of the three, most children have a dominant style.
Visual Learners
Visual learners learn best by watching others first. They have great observation skills and can often remember what they see. You’ll know your kid is a visual learner by spotting the following characteristics:
They generally want other people to go first or show them first before trying themselves
They may appear to not understand verbal instructions as well as visual instructions
Show a strong preference for studying/learning by reading things or reviewing visual aids (eg. notes, charts, etc.)
They remember what they read rather than what they hear
They get absorbed into visual stimuli
May prefer to work alone rather than in groups
Auditory Learners:
Auditory learners learn best by listening and verbally engaging with their instructors and peers. You’ll know your kid is auditory learner if they display the following characteristics:
Might talk to themselves while learning something new
They ask a lot of questions when being taught something
They often repeat back to you what you’re saying
Enjoy discussions over working alone
May have trouble with written instructions
May find it difficult to work quietly for long periods of time
May talk a lot with peers and teachers
Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic learners “learn by doing.” They understand something best by actually doing the activity, rather than by listening or reading instructions. They are often misdiagnosed as troublemakers because they come across as not paying attention to verbal or visual instructions. You’ll know your kid is a kinesthetic learner by spotting the following signs:
They like to take things apart or tinker with toys to understand them
They might “talk with their hands” a lot
Like to touch things to learn about them
Might appear to not be paying attention to instructors
They may seem to be constantly moving around and have trouble staying still
All children have their own individual learning styles when it comes to swimming. Understanding your child’s best method for learning new skills is a key component to promoting progress in swimming skill development.
No matter what your child’s dominant learning style is, our instructors are equipped to match it to an effective teaching method. Your child will be swimming his or her way to success in no time!
Ready to improve your child’s swimming abilities? Register today at our pools in Surrey, Whiterock, Langley, and Abbotsford: http://www.swimclo.com/register