Understanding Auditory and Kinesthetic Learners: How They Learn and How We Can Support Them

Have you ever wondered why some children light up when they’re read to, while others can’t sit still for more than a few minutes? Or why some learners retain every word of a song but struggle with written notes? The answer often lies in their learning style.

In this blog post, we’ll explore two powerful but very different learning styles: the auditory learner and the kinesthetic learner. Understanding the difference between these two can completely shift how we teach, support, and communicate with the children in our lives.

🎧 What is an Auditory Learner?

Auditory learners process and remember information best through sound. They thrive in environments where they can listen, speak, and hear ideas being explained.

Common Traits:

  • Enjoys being read to
  • Remembers what they hear better than what they see
  • Talks through problems or ideas
  • Likes music, rhymes, and sound-based memory tricks
  • Often repeats things aloud to remember them

How to Support an Auditory Learner:

  • Read aloud together or use audiobooks
  • Encourage them to repeat information in their own words
  • Use songs, chants, or rhymes to teach concepts
  • Allow them to explain their thinking out loud
  • Use group discussions or partner activities

✅ Example: A child learning the days of the week might sing a song rather than memorize a list.

✋ What is a Kinesthetic Learner?

Kinesthetic (or tactile) learners understand the world best through movement and hands-on activities. They need to physically experience learning to retain it.

Common Traits:

  • Learns by doing, building, or acting things out
  • Enjoys movement, sports, and crafts
  • Struggles to sit still for long
  • Often gestures or fidgets while speaking or learning
  • Remembers best when physically involved in an activity

How to Support a Kinesthetic Learner:

  • Incorporate role-play, building, or experiments
  • Use real objects (manipulatives) in lessons
  • Allow movement during study (standing desks, walking while reviewing)
  • Turn learning into games or active challenges
  • Give frequent breaks for physical activity

✅ Example: A child learning multiplication might use building blocks to group items physically instead of writing sums on paper.

🧠 Why This Matters: One Size Doesn't Fit All

Every child’s brain is wired differently. Some need to hear it. Others need to do it. And many need a mix of styles. When we recognize and adapt to these differences, learning becomes more inclusive, effective, and enjoyable.

Supporting a child according to their learning style isn’t about putting them in a box — it’s about opening more doors to help them understand and succeed.

👩‍🏫 Practical Tips for Mixed Learning Styles

If you're teaching or parenting a group with different learners:

  • Combine methods (e.g., read a story out loud, then act it out or draw it)
  • Let kids choose how to show what they’ve learned
  • Create stations: one for listening, one for movement, one for writing/drawing
  • Use music and movement together — great for everyone!

❤️ Final Thoughts

No learning style is better than the other — they’re just different. By tuning in to whether your child or student is more auditory or kinesthetic, you can build stronger connections, reduce frustration, and make learning something they actually look forward to.

Let’s keep reminding ourselves: learning doesn’t have to be quiet, still, or traditional to be powerful. 

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