Children who are analytic learners always have more questions. “How do you know that?” “Where did that happen?” “Why are we doing it this way?” Analytic children learn best when they are given lots of details. They focus on specifics, sequence, rather than the “big picture”. This can be especially challenging to parents and teachers when you yourself are not an analytic learner, or when children want more details than you can provide.
Skills include:
- problem solving
- classifying
- categorizing and organizing information
- working with abstract concepts to figure out relationships
- questioning and wondering about natural events
- ability to work independently
- good critical thinking skills
How do analytic learners learn? –
Analytic learners are driven to always find out more. Children with this learning style love maps, charts, and detailed pictures. When they ask for more info, give them as much as possible and then challenge them to figure or find out answers for themselves. They will become lifelong friends with books of all kinds, using them to answer questions that they have about the world around them.
They will enjoy puzzles and activities that challenge them to solve problems in a creative way. They will often surprise you by coming up with creative links between seemingly unrelated things. They prefer to be given information in a sequence, rather than getting “the big idea” first the way global/intuitive learners do.
Children with this learning style, especially, appreciate being given the freedom to explore the world and be creative. They may sometimes come up with off-the-wall ideas, or ideas that you may disagree with. That’s okay! They need plenty of intellectual freedom, as long as it’s not bringing harm to themselves or others.
The downside can be that this type of child is afraid of making mistakes, and holds themselves to an impossibly high standard of perfection. It’s important that they be able to work at their own pace without being graded or judged (as much as possible).