Wiggle Worm

I’ve spent some frustrated time trying to keep my son still while he learns something.  His whole life he’s been a squirmy, bouncy, impulsive kid – and I am a  quiet, still, focused, impatient old lady.   So, like all things, I started researching and reading.  I was intrigued with the concept that “busy hands reduce fidget and increase focus”.  There is also a lot of information to help recognize (and accomodate) learning styles.   Nicholas is a combination Kinesthetic/Auditory learner:

Kinesthetic:

• move all the time
• touch and feel everything, rubs hands on walls, hallways, door frames as he moves
• thumps buddies
• can take an item apart and put it back together
• enjoys doing things with his hands
• is well coordinated
• frequently uses fists (held crayons in fist when he was small)
• may make paper airplanes
• needs to use concrete objects as learning aids
• cannot rote count or sequence material without aids (has learned this better)
• has difficulty establishing one-to-one relationships in number value (needs visuals)
• after age 6.5 is generally classed as an underachiever
• often described as a child who can’t keep his hands to himself
• needs to explore his environment more than average for this age
• is often considered hyperactive

Auditory:

• never stops talking
• tells jokes and tries to be funny
• can win spelling bee if taught “say-spell-say” method
• is a good story teller – they get taller and taller
• has poor handwriting, a history of reversals
• can remember what is said to him and repeat it accurately
• makes a good boss
• likes records, folk dances, rhythmic activities
• has ten excuses for everything
• knows all the words to all the songs
• can memorize easily
• has a poor performance on group intelligence tests
• seems brighter than group tests reveal
• has poor perception of time and space

To channel this energy so we can have a productive day, we allow plenty of time for movement.  Taking frequent breaks he jumps on a trampoline or bounces on a pilates ball, rides his bike or skateboard or plays his guitar.  Motion or rythm both help him to be able to come back and refocus.

During class time, we use a lot of manipulatives.  Keeping his hands busy helps him maintain focus.  He draws while listening to CDs or when I read aloud.   I took these pictures this morning of him while he was discussing a research project he was working on.  He is unaware that his fingers are in never-ending motion as he twists pipe cleaners.

If you have a child who struggles with learning in traditional ways – determine his/her learning style and make a few tweaks.  The results can be amazing!  Tapping into the way God made them is so much more productive than keeping a mindset that learning has to be accomplished in a certain way.