There are several different learning styles or types and one of those is kinesthetic learning. Kinesthetic learning is defined as learning by being active in some way. Often it is thought of as “learning while doing.” Kinesthetic learning may come in the form of walking, talking, moving, fidgeting or preferring hands-on activities. Playdough can help children with this learning style because it gives them something hands-on to do while they are learning.
Kinesthetic learners require hands-on experiences to cement their learning. Whether they need a hands-on or physical component that directly ties into a new concept or require something physical to do during exposure to new ideas doesn’t really matter. These types of learners need activity and they flourish when they have it.
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Playdough appeals to kinesthetic learners by giving them something to use in a hands-on way. What’s more is that playdough is such a versatile material that it can easily be adapted to varying concepts, ages, ability levels and needs. Use playdough when teaching about the lifecycle of a butterfly so that children can shape the dough into the different phases of the cycle. Give a kinesthetic learner a lump of dough to mold during story time. Include playdough as part of an addition or subtraction lesson so that children can physically add or subtract and not just use mental pictures or written symbols. There are endless options!
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