If you’ve ever filled out a school form or attended a parent-teacher conference, chances are you’ve been asked about learning styles: What kind of learner is your child? Are they a visual learner? An auditory learner? Do they prefer hands-on (kinesthetic) activities?
It’s a common question—and one that’s often rooted in the now-popular idea of “learning styles.” But what if we told you that learning styles aren’t actually backed by science? And that clinging to them could actually hold your child back from becoming a stronger, more confident learner?
Let’s unpack the truth behind learning styles, what those preferences might really be telling you, and how to help your child strengthen the skills that make learning easier in any setting.
The Problem with Learning Styles
The idea of learning styles suggests that each person has a preferred way of taking in information—visual, auditory, or kinesthetic—and that teaching to that style will improve learning outcomes. It sounds good. In fact, nearly 90% of teachers still believe in learning styles. But study after study has shown no scientific evidence that matching instruction to a student’s preferred style actually improves learning outcomes (Pashler et al., 2009).
In fact, trying to teach a child only in their preferred “style” may do more harm than good—especially if that preference is masking a deeper issue.
Learning Preferences May Reveal Skill Weaknesses
When a child says, “I’m a visual learner” or avoids reading aloud or listening to instructions, it’s often not a sign of preference—but a workaround.
Here’s what that could mean:
- A child who avoids listening and says they’re a visual learner may have weak auditory processing skills.
- A child who wants to be hands-on may be struggling with working memory, attention, or processing speed.
- A child who hates writing but enjoys speaking may be compensating for weak visual processing or long-term memory skills.
These preferences are often clues, not labels. They’re signs that your child may be finding certain types of learning harder because the underlying cognitive skills needed for success in those areas are weak.
So What Are Cognitive Skills?
Cognitive skills are the core brain skills we use to think, learn, and remember. These include:
- Attention
- Memory (short-term, working, long-term)
- Processing speed
- Logic & reasoning
- Visual and auditory processing
If any of these skills are weak, learning will feel harder—no matter how the information is presented. That’s why focusing on improving how your child learns (not just what they prefer) leads to better long-term outcomes.
How Brain Training Can Help
At LearningRx, we focus on identifying and strengthening the cognitive skills that form the foundation for all learning—not just academic success, but confidence, motivation, and independence.
We start with a cognitive skills assessment to pinpoint which skills are strong and which need work. From there, our one-on-one brain training programs use game-like exercises to target and strengthen those weak skills, often producing results that transform how kids learn—no matter their “style.”
The Bottom Line: Don’t Box Your Child In
Your child is more than a label. And while it may feel helpful to say “they’re just a visual learner,” it’s even more powerful to understand why they struggle—and what you can do about it.
If you’re ready to stop working around the struggle and start building stronger learners, schedule a cognitive assessment with us today. Let’s discover what’s really going on inside your child’s brain—and unlock their potential from the inside out.