Kinesthetic Learning Style
Tactile learners and kinesthetic learners are often one in the same. Both of the learners are very hands-on. They learn best by touching, moving, and physical doing. Kinesthetic-tactile learners would rather draw, build, or put something together by trial and error. Because of this, kinesthetic-tactile learners may get fidgety in the typical traditional classroom setting.
On this page you’ll learn more about the kinesthetic learning style and how you can help your child achieve success by taking advantage of their learning strengths.
What Are the Characteristics of a Kinesthetic Learner?
People who are kinesthetic learners usually share these characteristics:
- Are highly coordinated
- Learn through hands-on activities
- Have a hard time staying still
- May have difficulty staying attentive
- Usually performers and athletes
- Lots of energy
- Strong motor energy
Some of the characteristics of kinesthetic learners seem to overlap with characteristics of students with ADHD. In both instances, boys are more likely to be kinesthetic learners or to be diagnosed with ADHD. Keep in mind that learning styles are usually the way students retain information best. The kinesthetic learning style stimulates a student’s mind to stay engaged with a subject or topic.
Study Tips for Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic-tactile learners retain information best by incorporating:
- Movement
- Building
- Story
- Visuals
Learning should be exciting, but for kinesthetic learners, movement is key! These students will be able to stay engaged and retain more information with lessons that include physical activity rather than what they read or hear. Here are some ways you can incorporate movement into your schedule:
- Encourage your child to draw diagrams and trace letters will improve their reading and writing skills. You can also grab some pipe cleaners and paper and have them make letters using the tools. Then they can create words or sentences.
- Reenact stories or scenes from the past at home with your child to help them study history and literature. Or have them create/build timelines of the events being discussed.
Incorporate physical objects such as coins or bills, clocks, blocks can prove useful when teaching math concepts. - Perform science experiments with your student and tie them back to the topics you are discussing that week or month.
- Let them express their creativity by taking an art or drama course.
- Using flashcards can be incredibly useful and fun! Writing down information and flipping the card back and forth engages the brain physically while studying.
- Kinesthetic-tactile learners are good at multitasking. If your student likes going on walks, have them also listen to an educational podcast, audiobook, or video.
- Have your student act as the teacher. Ask them questions regarding a topic they have learned. Have them create a worksheet or quiz for you. This is allowing them to recall the information they know back to you.
- Kinesthetic learners very much like to participate in educational trips and games such as RummiKub, Scrabble, Monopoly, and other similar games.
By incorporating movement or some kind of physical action into your kinesthetic-tactile learners day, you are allowing them to maximize their learning potential. Making use of the environment and their energy in a positive way will allow these learners to hit milestones and achievements in their educational adventure.
The kinesthetic-tactile learning style is beneficial for all students, including those who are auditory and visual learners. Hands-on learning addresses the needs of kinesthetic learners and visual and auditory learners alike.
How Time4Learning Works for Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing. That’s why we offer a mixture of different formats including videos, interactive activities, worksheets, hands-on activities, and exams to cater to all learners. Our curriculum ensures that every lesson has a different element so students remain engaged, while the interactive interface gets the students moving. We also offer an educational virtual game room with plenty of fun games that support the kinesthetic learning style!
Time4Learning has the benefit of being completely online and transportable. Our ease-of-access allows for kinesthetic learners to take Time4Learning with them anywhere – even the gym! We also make sure to stock our blog with plenty of field trip ideas that pair perfectly with our online curriculum to offer your kinesthetic learner a world of opportunities beyond the curriculum.
Traditional homeschool curricula are often designed much like classroom curricula, and simply do not address the needs of kinesthetic-tactile learners. But with Time4Learning, your child will not just gain knowledge, but thrive and develop a love of learning. Here are a few reasons why Time4Learning works great for kinesthetic learners:
- The online nature of our curriculum allows students to take breaks when necessary, so they can walk around or stretch to gather their thoughts and refocus.
- Our curriculum is full of activities with fun videos and engaging sounds, including music which tactile learners so much enjoy.
- Students can retake lessons which helps them review and remember what they’ve studied better.
- Our science and math lessons emphasize on the “how” of concepts. Tactile learners feel motivated when hearing explanations of how something works and how to do it.
- Plenty of hands-on activities are incorporated in our curriculum to help strengthen kinesthetic learners skills.
Signup for Time4Learning and gain access to a variety of educational material, which will engage and challenge your child to succeed. Make Time4Learning a part of your educational resource toolbox for teaching your unique learner.
