You sit down to help your child with homework. You show them the method that always worked for you — the one that made total sense back in your school days.
But they just stare at the page. You repeat it. You even draw a diagram. Still nothing.
Now they’re frustrated. You’re frustrated. And what was supposed to be 15 minutes of bonding is quickly turning into a standoff.
Sound familiar?
You’re not alone — and there’s a simple reason behind this: not all kids learn the same way. And neither do adults.
Most of us naturally default to how we understood things best. If you’re a reader, you’ll suggest they write it out. If you’re a talk-it-through person, you’ll explain it aloud.
But here’s the catch: your child may not process information the same way you do. And when that happens, what starts out as helping can quickly become a source of frustration — for both of you.
Research backs this up: parents often unknowingly teach their children using methods that align with their own learning preferences, rather than their child’s. This mismatch can create unnecessary stress around learning.
📌 Nature Partner Journals Science of Learning, 2023
At Unify, we use the VARK model to help parents and educators understand how children learn. It identifies four key learning preferences:
Your child may lean toward one or be a mix of two — and that blend might shift as they grow. That’s why understanding learning preferences isn’t a one-off discovery, but an ongoing process.
There’s been a lot of debate in education circles about learning styles. Some studies argue that rigidly teaching “to” a style doesn’t necessarily lead to better outcomes. But what’s clear is this:
✅ Children do have learning preferences, and
✅ When teaching is varied and engaging, learning improves for everyone
In fact, combining different methods — visuals, storytelling, movement — often leads to the strongest results.
📌 American Federation of Teachers, 2018
When you understand how your child prefers to take in information, everything gets easier:
It’s not about choosing one method forever — it’s about discovering what clicks for them right now, and evolving with them as they grow.
Instead of guessing, take a moment to find out. At Unify, we offer quick, research-backed learning style assessments for both children (ages 6–12) and teens (ages 13–18).
These assessments give you clear, practical insights — including tips tailored to your child or teen’s current preference. Whether they’re in Year 2 or preparing for GCSEs, knowing how they learn best can make a real difference.
Because when learning works better for them, life works better for you too.
