A colleague describes his son as a “really physical person” since childhood. Traditional schooling wasn’t easy for him. He was restless in class and often got into trouble. At age 7, he started playing hockey and it helped him connect with himself. In his 40s, the son, now a successful surgeon, still plays hockey twice a week in an adult league.
Kinesthetic Learners, one of the several multiple intelligences described by Gardener, are “body smart.” Highly in tune with the world through touch and movement, they learn best by doing. They are always in the thick of things, getting their hands dirty.
This might be the little boy who takes a toy apart to see how it works, and then puts it back together again. A girl who has a hard time following directions, but throws herself into trial and error, role-playing, experimenting, and just doing it, until she “gets it”. What does this mean for you? Expect a lot of “parts” lying around your house.
These learners are often misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD. In fact, they are oftentimes simply bored. While listening to a lesson, they are unable to just sit still and do “nothing.” For these reasons kinesthetic learners are often mislabeled and do not do well in a classroom setting, but excel in homeschool setting when allowed to learn their way.
Kinesthetic learners are natural born dancers, athletes, and performers. They know how to use their body language to get a point across, and can be wonderful actors. They have a good sense of balance, and can handle objects with great skill. Think Michael Jordan or Simone Biles!
How do I teach my Kinesthetic Learner?
The easiest way to educate your “body smart” student is to let him or her be hands on and creative. Being involved in their educational experience by taking notes, drawing pictures, acting out scenes will help your student remember the facts, and ultimately enjoy the work more.
So stock up on helpful materials! Start with highlighters, flash cards, markers, pens and paper. Add building objects such as blocks and Legos, and motion-oriented games like Twister and Simon Says. Look also for hands-on construction kits (including some that connect with computers) and electronic motion-simulation games.
Encourage role-playing and skits with props and costumes, presentations to you and his peers (members of your support group, perhaps), group projects, and written work, since it all will help your child learn.
Be sure to allow ample time for practice of new skills being taught, and provide objects that can help your child stay engaged. This does not have to be fancy. Big highlighters, colorful markers, a choice of pens and paper can help. Some kids work better in a chair that rocks gently. Or on a bouncy ball. Encourage them to take notes or draw diagrams during the lessons.
Allow your child to doodle while reading to her. If your child is old enough to read on her own, have her read to you. This will get rid of the “boredom” that might distract a kinesthetic child.
Hands-on and “body smart” strategies can be added to any academic subject. For example, to teach math use lots of pennies and give them to your child. They are not expensive and handling them will help your child learn. A reading lesson could include a skit to act out characters in a book, or a visit to the local library to take part in a scavenger hunt. A science project might involve a field trip to a local wildflower field or park to look for different kinds of plants and animals. This could be a day-long outing. The more movement, the better!
Remember, just because your child is not sitting, it does not mean she isn’t listening and learning!
Also allow for frequent breaks. Every 15-20 minutes pause to let your child stretch or do jumping jacks or sit ups, and continue the learning discussion. Whatever movement helps your child process the information is best! It may look counter-intuitive to those of us who are verbal or mathematical learners and enjoy sitting quietly. The more your child can move around and engage his brain in tune with his body, the easier the learning process.
Activities Outside the Home
Kinesthetic learners, maybe more than any other type, will enjoy hands-on and interactive activities outside the home. Take your child to DIY wood-working workshops, science museums with 3D planetary shows, and community environmental stewardship projects such as tree plantings. Encourage your kid’s tendency to experiment and be in center of action. If they love sports, say, gymnastics or football, look for a local team. If they lean towards dance and theater, find a local arts organization. Movement helps kinesthetic kids in so many ways!
What will my child be?
Your “body smart” learner has the ability to be anything he or she wants to be. Occupational paths most suited to her learning style are ones with a lot of movement, whether it be small, science-driven movements of surgeons, or grand artistic gestures of choreographers and dancers.
These learners generally excel as actors, artists, athletes, builders and craftsmen. They also do well with jewelry making, gardening, farming, and in first responder roles such as firefighters and paramedics. The list goes on and on, but your child is the only one who can decide what she will become as an adult!
Further Reading:
A Recipe Book for Tutors: Teaching the Kinesthetic Learner
Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century
You're Smarter Than You Think: A Kid's Guide to Multiple Intelligences
In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encouraging Your Child's Multiple Intelligences
Five Minds for the Future
Discover Your Child's Learning Style: Children Learn in Unique Ways - Here's the Key to Every Child's Learning Success
Home Educators Resource Directory (HERD) is owned, managed, and maintained by parents passionate about giving their children the best education. The Directory’s mission is to provide resources, support, and information helpful to the diverse community of educators around the globe. Along with offering a rich store of varied resources, the Directory maintains a catalog of local and global support groups and calendars highlighting local events.
The HERD monthly newsletter keeps educators apprised of current homeschool events and supplies informational articles for both the new and experienced. We invite you to stay informed with your own newsletter subscription, explore our many resources by visiting the Directory http://www.homeeddirectory.com/ and check out all the information to be found on our blog.
Permission to reproduce this article granted only with the entire article, bio and all links included.
Kinesthetic Learners, one of the several multiple intelligences described by Gardener, are “body smart.” Highly in tune with the world through touch and movement, they learn best by doing. They are always in the thick of things, getting their hands dirty.
This might be the little boy who takes a toy apart to see how it works, and then puts it back together again. A girl who has a hard time following directions, but throws herself into trial and error, role-playing, experimenting, and just doing it, until she “gets it”. What does this mean for you? Expect a lot of “parts” lying around your house.
These learners are often misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD. In fact, they are oftentimes simply bored. While listening to a lesson, they are unable to just sit still and do “nothing.” For these reasons kinesthetic learners are often mislabeled and do not do well in a classroom setting, but excel in homeschool setting when allowed to learn their way.
Kinesthetic learners are natural born dancers, athletes, and performers. They know how to use their body language to get a point across, and can be wonderful actors. They have a good sense of balance, and can handle objects with great skill. Think Michael Jordan or Simone Biles!
How do I teach my Kinesthetic Learner?
The easiest way to educate your “body smart” student is to let him or her be hands on and creative. Being involved in their educational experience by taking notes, drawing pictures, acting out scenes will help your student remember the facts, and ultimately enjoy the work more.
So stock up on helpful materials! Start with highlighters, flash cards, markers, pens and paper. Add building objects such as blocks and Legos, and motion-oriented games like Twister and Simon Says. Look also for hands-on construction kits (including some that connect with computers) and electronic motion-simulation games.
Encourage role-playing and skits with props and costumes, presentations to you and his peers (members of your support group, perhaps), group projects, and written work, since it all will help your child learn.
Be sure to allow ample time for practice of new skills being taught, and provide objects that can help your child stay engaged. This does not have to be fancy. Big highlighters, colorful markers, a choice of pens and paper can help. Some kids work better in a chair that rocks gently. Or on a bouncy ball. Encourage them to take notes or draw diagrams during the lessons.
Allow your child to doodle while reading to her. If your child is old enough to read on her own, have her read to you. This will get rid of the “boredom” that might distract a kinesthetic child.
Hands-on and “body smart” strategies can be added to any academic subject. For example, to teach math use lots of pennies and give them to your child. They are not expensive and handling them will help your child learn. A reading lesson could include a skit to act out characters in a book, or a visit to the local library to take part in a scavenger hunt. A science project might involve a field trip to a local wildflower field or park to look for different kinds of plants and animals. This could be a day-long outing. The more movement, the better!
Remember, just because your child is not sitting, it does not mean she isn’t listening and learning!
Also allow for frequent breaks. Every 15-20 minutes pause to let your child stretch or do jumping jacks or sit ups, and continue the learning discussion. Whatever movement helps your child process the information is best! It may look counter-intuitive to those of us who are verbal or mathematical learners and enjoy sitting quietly. The more your child can move around and engage his brain in tune with his body, the easier the learning process.
Activities Outside the Home
Kinesthetic learners, maybe more than any other type, will enjoy hands-on and interactive activities outside the home. Take your child to DIY wood-working workshops, science museums with 3D planetary shows, and community environmental stewardship projects such as tree plantings. Encourage your kid’s tendency to experiment and be in center of action. If they love sports, say, gymnastics or football, look for a local team. If they lean towards dance and theater, find a local arts organization. Movement helps kinesthetic kids in so many ways!
What will my child be?
Your “body smart” learner has the ability to be anything he or she wants to be. Occupational paths most suited to her learning style are ones with a lot of movement, whether it be small, science-driven movements of surgeons, or grand artistic gestures of choreographers and dancers.
These learners generally excel as actors, artists, athletes, builders and craftsmen. They also do well with jewelry making, gardening, farming, and in first responder roles such as firefighters and paramedics. The list goes on and on, but your child is the only one who can decide what she will become as an adult!
Further Reading:
A Recipe Book for Tutors: Teaching the Kinesthetic Learner
Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century
You're Smarter Than You Think: A Kid's Guide to Multiple Intelligences
In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encouraging Your Child's Multiple Intelligences
Five Minds for the Future
Discover Your Child's Learning Style: Children Learn in Unique Ways - Here's the Key to Every Child's Learning Success
Home Educators Resource Directory (HERD) is owned, managed, and maintained by parents passionate about giving their children the best education. The Directory’s mission is to provide resources, support, and information helpful to the diverse community of educators around the globe. Along with offering a rich store of varied resources, the Directory maintains a catalog of local and global support groups and calendars highlighting local events.
The HERD monthly newsletter keeps educators apprised of current homeschool events and supplies informational articles for both the new and experienced. We invite you to stay informed with your own newsletter subscription, explore our many resources by visiting the Directory http://www.homeeddirectory.com/ and check out all the information to be found on our blog.
Permission to reproduce this article granted only with the entire article, bio and all links included.
