Learning styles

Yesterday I read a 1000-word essay done by YK which caused my jaw to drop. Over the weekend, the recruits were given an assignment to write about their experience in the army. YK wanted me to remind him after dinner in case he forgets. He said he should be able to complete it in 15 minutes.

I woke up the next morning to find the 2-page essay on the table and read it out of curiosity. Till now, I've never had a chance to read my son's work even though he contributes to some websites. What he had churned out in 15 minutes was really impressive. Even though he is a science student,  I'm now convinced that he can even pursue a career in writing if he wishes.

Unlike many children I know, YK has never liked reading even though he grew up with access to a big library of books. He has never read a novel in his life and cannot understand my love for reading. During his O Level exams, he surprised me by scoring a distinction in literature though he confessed that he did not even read the text book. In fact, I found it lying around the house and ended up reading it instead.

As his mom, I know that he is a fast learner and he speaks well but I've always wanted him to broaden his general knowledge. My attempts to make him read the newspapers have proven to be futile.  While he is getting news updates through his smart phone, I think it is inadequate. He only  reads reference books and prefers to glean knowledge through other mediums. He swears by Wikipedia and spends hours watching documentaries and videos on Youtube.

I probably worry too much. He has proven time and again that you don't have to be a bookworm to acquire knowledge. While I've always known about his audio/visual learning style, I'm finally able to embrace it after 20 years.

So parents out there, identify your children's learning style and instead of trying to change them, help them to flourish from there.