She taps her foot constantly. He can’t sit still. She wiggles so much! He can look at a book while he wiggles a toy in the other hand.
Just like adults, young children have their own learning style. “Kinesthetic learning (also known as tactile learning) is a learning style in which learning takes place by the student carrying out a physical activity, rather than listening to a lecture or watching a demonstration. People with a kinesthetic learning style are also commonly known as “do-ers”.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinesthetic_learning
Some adults and young children learn best through movement. (Gardner, H. (1983).Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. New York: Basic Books)
Actually when talking about preschoolers, according to Piaget’s theories, the majority of preschool children ARE kinesthetic learners since many preschoolers are still within the sensorimotor phase of development. So, these preschoolers learn by using their senses and motor skills. For many young children, just listening or watching someone else “do” is not effective for learning.
A clue is the young child who may wiggle, tap their feet and seem unable to sit still. This child may be a kinesthetic learner.
Essential for every parent and early childhood profession is the task to provide plenty of opportunities for children to move their bodies and engage in sensory activities. At first that may seem overwhelming, but here’s some ideas. I’m sure you’ll find that many are happening already or could be with some intentional planning.
First looking around the early childhood room/home and some of these items may be found that are useful for kinesthetic learners:
- in the Library: books with textures, seating area with different textures
- in the nap area: blankets with textures, pillows, stuffed animal
- in the Dramatic Play area: baskets, rigid plastic tops, wooden salad bowls, pot holders, terry towels, sponge, scrub brushes, clothes that are woolly, silky, & bumpy, hard hats, felt hats
- in the Art area: paint brushes, paper with texture, natural wood pencils, glue, finger painting, shaving cream, feathers, fabric scraps, clay, paper to tear, sponges for sponge art, yarn
- in the Science area: sandpaper, gardening, planting seeds, small pets, water
- circle time – have a movement activity, fingerplay, a little exercise or a stress ball available as part of circle time
- transitions – have a movement activity moving fingers, arms, clapping
- art – play dough provides movement opportunity, standing to paint
- writing – bring in bags of gel to write letters with a finger, cornmeal or sand in a tray to write in with a finger, letters made of sandpaper, furry fabric, or felt
- library – pillow with textures, books with texture