The auditory learner: strengths, strategies, learning activities

If your child constantly peppers you with “But WHY?” questions, spontaneous theories, jokes, and musings, they may have a strong auditory learning preference. While learning styles today are often considered more "preferences" than fixed categories, understanding how your child best engages with information can spark deeper interest and enjoyment in learning activities.

If you think your learner thrives through sound and conversation, here are strategies to help them grow.

What is an Auditory Learner?

Auditory learners process information best by hearing and talking about it. They retain knowledge through verbal reinforcement, thrive in discussions, and often express their thoughts before they’re fully processed—sometimes repeating ideas in different ways to solidify understanding.

They are often highly social and love participating in conversations, class discussions, and storytelling.

Strengths of Auditory Learners

Auditory learners tend to:

• Be great listeners

• Connect easily with others through conversation, humor, and storytelling

• Shine as speakers, debaters, and performers

• Express themselves clearly and confidently

• Have a natural sense of rhythm and musicality

• Remember names, stories, and conversations with ease

• Enjoy reading aloud—or being read to

Outschool offers classes to help your learner discover their preferred learning style.

Strategies for Supporting Auditory Learners

Auditory learners often excel when they can talk through concepts instead of working silently. Try these approaches:

• Be available to listen as they "think out loud" during homework.

• Ask open-ended questions to prompt verbal reflection.

• Suggest they record themselves explaining ideas to help with writing assignments.

• Create or join a study group or extracurricular project to allow collaboration.

• Understand their need to verbalize—sometimes repetitively—as part of their process.

Fuel Their Passion for Language

Auditory learners often excel at picking up new languages. Explore Outschool’s live online world language classes:

• Learn Spanish with Outschool

• Learn French with Outschool

• Learn Japanese with Outschool

• Learn Mandarin with Outschool

How to Engage Your Auditory Learner at Home

Support your child's natural strengths and minimize frustration by weaving verbal and auditory activities into daily life:

• Give feedback and household instructions through conversations instead of just lists or charts.

• Read aloud to them, or listen to them read to you.

• Play games like Charades, Taboo, 20 Questions, Simon Says, and Word Association.

• Listen to audiobooks, podcasts, or the radio together.

• Read recipes aloud while cooking or talk through steps during projects.

• Learn a foreign language together, or teach them conversational phrases during daily activities.

• Encourage them to engage in imaginative play or create performances.

• Provide props like costumes, stuffed animals, dolls, or musical instruments for creative expression.

• Play lyric-heavy songs they can sing along to during car rides or at home.

If This Doesn’t Sound Like Your Child…

Every learner is unique. If auditory learning doesn't seem to fit, your child may prefer a different learning approach:

• Visual Learner: Thrives with images, graphics, and visual cues.

• Kinesthetic Learner: Excels through real-life, hands-on experiences.

• Reading and Writing Learner: Prefers information delivered through written text.

Outschool Staff