Your child is considered a visual learner if she gathers information best with visual cues.
These kinds of learners need to see material in front of them — drawn or written — to understand it well. Visual learners tend to be keen observers who are attracted to screens and other visual content, such as art and illustrations.
If you think that your child learns and remembers by looking, use these study strategies to play to her visual strengths.
Help your child learn how to incorporate visual aids into her notes. When she writes down information, she can sketch a related image next to it. She may benefit from drawing lines that connect related points, graphs that illustrate an idea, and images that help her remember information.
Your visual learner may make better sense of content by seeing it come to life. Watch educational videos that complement what she’s learning in class. Your child may also benefit from historical films, biopics, and other movies that relate to material from school.
Since visual learners have such vivid memories, positive visualization is especially useful for them. Ask your child to imagine herself getting back her paper with an A on top. Athletes may use this technique successfully, as well, by imagining winning at an upcoming game.
You and your child should shop for visually-stimulating materials. She can use stickers, colored sticky notes, and folders to keep her papers organized. Using color-coded highlighting can also be helpful when she’s studying. Your child may benefit from posters or other visual aids that you can buy or encourage her to create.
Visual learners can concentrate better if their workspaces are aesthetically pleasing. Provide a desk or work area that is free from clutter or other distractions. You can also put up posters or positive reinforcements. The idea is to help your child feel calm and focused while studying.
There are different contexts in which your visual learner can see material displayed in front of her. For example, visit a museum with an exhibit that’s relevant to what your child is learning in class. Books with lots of illustrations and diagrams can also be helpful tools.
Want to learn more about auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners? Read our article: How to Identify Your Child’s Learning Style.