Loving my Kinesthetic Learner
Do you have a kinesthetic child?
I do. And he makes me crazy.
Not in a bad way.
Okay, sometimes, he makes me go crazy in a bad way.
Like today when I had a deadline to beat at work, a hundred blogs I need to write (an exaggeration, of course, but you catch my drift), and the house is a mess.
That’s one thing about having a Kinesthetic learner. There’s a huge chance your house is a total mess.
Kinesthetic learners are, in a nutshell, tactile learners. They learn more through touching things, trying them out, observing them as they happen and physically participating in the learning process.
You can’t expect them to sit down as long as visual or even auditory learners do. Worksheets may or may not work.
Let me give you a picture of how it goes with my little one.
Mondays to Fridays are no-gadgets days in our home (not unless I have an important meeting and I had to keep them in one place for more than 5 minutes). Since our homeschool won’t start until next week, I just tell them to find something to do around the house. We’ve got tons of really good books and I think they have enough toys to get busy with.
My eldest grabbed his drawing book and spent the whole day making his new comic book story; my second son got his drawing book, crayons, scissors, and his current most favorite thing- scotch tape. We usually end up with different cutouts and his artworks on our walls and doors when he’s like this.
My youngest son…well, he’s a totally different story.
Yesterday, while his brothers buried their heads in their drawing books, he pulled out his big box of toys and spilled them all on the floor. He then rolled the box out to the living room, pushed it hard and watched it slam it against the TV stand at the corner. I let him do it a couple of times before asking him to move to another activity.
This afternoon, while his brothers were reading some books, he climbed up their double-deck bed, spat and watched it hit the floor.
Many times, he experiments. I can’t count anymore the number of times I’ve jumped at the sound of the electric fan whirring angrily after he threw in a small toy or ball to find out what would happen.
I have to admit, there are times when I get really impatient with him. I always have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself or his brothers. There’s always too much to clean up and it takes him hours to pack away (with me having to hover over him to make sure he does clean up because he hates doing so).
He’s also quick to get dirty. He loves it when I say, eeew! He breaks into peals of laughter.
If I were to analyze my situation — working from home, homeschooling, no helper, based on my finite reasoning, I would say that I can’t handle a Kinesthetic child anymore. Homeschooling two kids of different levels is challenging enough as it is. With my youngest, hands on activities are not only supplementary but necessary.
It’s a lot of work!
It helped that I read Wild Things by James | Thomas years before we had our youngest. It’s a book that explains the natural stages of growth in boys; and how their energy and activeness contribute to this growth.
I love this book, I still read it from time to time for reference. Our youngest is a lot different from his siblings but I can celebrate his (hyper) activeness, appreciate his sometimes heart-stopping antics and enjoy him more because of the wisdom in raising boys imparted by the authors.
With God’s loving grace, my husband and I will be able to teach him how to channel his energy and his personality to be the man that God intends for him to be.
Inspite of our limitations.
Sure, he turns the house upside down, but if that’s what it takes for him to learn what he needs to learn, then by all means, mess away.
I guess I’ll just have to faithfully teach him to clean up or patiently admonish him when needed. It’s much easier said than done, so help me God!
Homeschool 2016 is going to be quite a ride now that my Kinesthetic child is joining our study hours and I’m excited, really.
Bring it on!
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“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” Psalm 127: 4-5
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
36 Comments
Mariel @ The Learning Basket
Love this! My 5 year old boy loves scissors and scotch tape too these days 😀 Kudos to you for your patience, May! 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Thank you Mariel! 🙂 I have my moments.
Michi
I can relate with some of the activities of your son, messy day sa min pag wala pasok because no gadgets din kami pag Mon to Friday even summer break. But I think, ok din na homeschool kayo kasi kung traditional school, baka lagi ka pa mapatawag dahil hyperactive. 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Oh yes! We’d be in so much trouble with the school in no time if it’s a regular school. We did put him in a once a week preschool this year just so he gets to play with other kids his age. We’ll see, hehe.
Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag
I need to read that book! Where did you buy your copy?
May De Jesus-Palacpac
I got mine from Every Nation bookstore in BGC. 🙂 I’m sure they have this in Power books or Fully Booked. 😉
Teresa Dumadag
Thanks! I’ll check this out!
Gilian
I feel you. My 2nd son, still 2 yrs old, shows a little sign of kinesthetic learning style. He wants movement and mess. He’s manageable at times, but of course when I’m too tired, I don’t want any kinesthetic learner uprising..haha..but, it’s true God made them sweet and loving, it makes us move, it makes usbe more energetic.
Que Gavan
I want to read that book too! Hi Judah! See you at the park soon!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
We want!
Coi
Great read! Like the idea of no-gadget-on-weekdays! Will do that to my little girl as well. Kudos to you! You’re really patient 🙂 Thank you for sharing 🙂
Juvy Ann
During our time kids like your son are labelled playful. My youngest is always jumping and doing parkour. We sometimes call him Hurricane Raj… he is really a handful but he brings so much joy to the family.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Haha, we call our two youngest kids Tornadoes!
Eve
My eldest used to be very hyperactive at the age of 4. He was kinesthetic as well during those time. That’s one of the reasons we pulled him out of conventional school and decided to homeschool. Now that he is 8, he’s combination of kinesthetic and auditory. He is less active now as before. I guess they just have this kind of season.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yes. I think Kinesthetic is just a bit harder to train because they usually come with stronger willfulness.
Nilyn Matugas
Pagkagwapo naman nya, specially on the last photo! 🙂 I have to be honest I didn’t know about a “kinesthetic learner” before I stumble upon your blog, so thank you for the idea. Well, I guess I know about it, but I don’t know the term. 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
He is my heartthrob alright. 😉
Berlin
When i attended the ogalala workshop months ago, we learned about the kinesthetic learner and the learning style appropriate for it. We were also taught how to handle them and our expectations. In seeing my little one has having this kind of learning attitude. Patience is needed. I salute you for your dedication to teach your children!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
If it’s the same Ogalala event I went to, then you must have seen me chasing this same child back and forth behind every speaker onstage, hahaha.
Jackie
Love your post! I just gasped at this line:
“This afternoon, while his brothers were reading some books, he climbed up their double-deck bed, spat and watched it hit the floor.”
Lol! Anyway I think I’m going to buy that book you just mentioned. My second daughter might be a kinesthetic learner, too! I didn’t even realize until I read your post! Thank you very much for sharing!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Hi Jackie! The book is for parents who are raising boys. 🙂
Jerzee Benavente
Ahhhh.. Yes! I can still remember how he ran, danced, and jumped on the couch during Nikki’s debut. Hahaha! You are one super Mom handling all your boys and homeschooling them at the same time. That’s not an easy job. Salute!????
Ma.Me.Mi.Mommy
My eldest also loves scissors, scotch tape, and paper. He’s always pretending to make mail. 🙂
How did you classify your son as a kinesthetic learner? Is it by taking a test or something? I’ve heard of a very costly test kasi last time that determines the kind of learner your child is. It’s so helpful daw kasi you get to base your teaching approach based on it.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
There are tests. But you can also observe your child as to how he/she responds to things. My eldest is very visual. He learns easily through pictures and in demonstrations. I noticed that my second is highly auditory because he learns through songs and he listens to dialogues on shows more than his two brothers. The third one likes to touch things, reach things, try things. 🙂
Louisa
He sounds like a handful. I see vast differences with my oldest and youngest sons and I wonder how my youngest will do things.
Marni
Yo, that’s what’s up trylufhltu.
monica
Good tip on the book…I probably should grab a copy and read it. Raising a little boy too and I wonder what kind of learner he’ll be. : )
Mhaan A
I admire you for being so patient, pero ganun talaga siguro when it comes to your child, you will do anything. I also admire your kids kasi they are disciplined not to use their gadgets Monday thru Friday. I hope I can implement that to my son too. Keep up the good work Mommy! 🙂
Mommy Anna
I admire you raising three boys, ako isa palang naloloka na same with you he is so active, he wants to experiment everything, he wants to know how things work. Kaya madalas din nakabantay kami sa kanya. Iba talaga pag ka active nila he cannot sit or stand na hindi din gumagalaw ang paa or kamay
Janice
Ziggy is kinesthetic too so I can definitely relate. Believe it or not, my OC self has learned not to mind the mess so much but I give him limitations as to where he can make a mess, which means his play area. That way, the rest of the house stays mess-free. By now he knows that if he makes a mess, whether it was done through playing, eating or whatever, he’s going to have to clean it up. It’s just something I’ve insisted on since he was old enough to pick stuff up. Haha! So I guess, sanayan lang talaga. 🙂
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen
Wow! With two kids at home now and one a being a toddler. I’ve accepted that I can never ever get a clean house and get a chore done on time but being a mommy, it has also become a challenge. Hmmnn.. Maybe I could impose a no-gadget weekeday too??
Rachel Dahl - a la modest
Your son is so cute and very hands on! That’s the best way to learn, isn’t it? I know for myself it is, and it’s true for many others. Simply sitting back and listening isn’t going to be as effective as maneuvering through things with your hands.
Amanda
My kinesthetic learner is joining the homeschool table this year too. It’ll be an interesting year with much learning happening…including me!
Ice Manuba
This helped me feel calmer. Thank you for sharing this blog to me May.
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