A frequently asked question is "Why do I need to incorporate multisensory learning into my homeschooling approach when I'm teaching just one child?"
Using different ways of learning is important because it helps accommodate your child's unique preferences and strengths. By incorporating various sensory experiences such as seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and even tasting, you provide your child with more opportunities to understand and remember information. This type of learning makes studying more engaging and facilitates better academic performance for your child.
But how does this help you as parents?
Well, it lets you figure out how your child learns best. Instead of only using regular teaching methods, trying out different ways of learning helps you see what works best for your child. This helps you teach them in a way that fits them, which helps them understand and remember things better.
Plus, it brings you closer to your child. When you do activities together that involve using your hands, exploring with your senses, and learning together, you build a stronger connection. And it makes learning more fun for your child too.
Here's an example:
Let's say we're teaching our child about the water cycle. Instead of simply reading about it from a textbook, we can create a hands-on experiment that engages multiple senses:
Visual:Â We set up a demonstration with a bowl of water, a heat source (such as a hot plate or stove), and a clear container to represent the atmosphere. We use color-coded diagrams or illustrations to explain the different stages of the water cycle.
Auditory:Â While conducting the experiment, we narrate each step of the water cycle process, explaining the concepts in simple terms and using descriptive language to engage our child's auditory senses.
Kinesthetic:Â Our child actively participates in the experiment by pouring water into the bowl, observing the steam rising from the heated water, and feeling the condensation forming on the sides of the clear container. They can also move objects around to simulate the movement of water molecules.
Olfactory:Â As the water evaporates and condenses, our child may notice changes in the scent of the air, which provides an olfactory component to the learning experience.
Gustatory:Â Although not directly applicable to the water cycle, we could incorporate a related activity such as making homemade ice pops or flavored water to demonstrate the concept of freezing and melting.
By incorporating visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and even gustatory elements into the lesson, we create a multisensory learning experience that not only reinforces the concepts of the water cycle but also makes learning engaging and memorable for our child.
Check out the full activity below!
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