All kids (and adults) don’t learn the same. Just as kids have differing temperaments and personalities, they also have particular ways of learning. Three senses through which children absorb and learn new information are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Let’s look at how these senses apply to learning golf.
If your child is a visual learner, then he learns best by watching you (or the pro) make the swing and hit the ball. As I said before, kids are great imitators, and if you demonstrate and show them how it’s done, they progress quickly. It won’t do anyone any good to explain the swing to visual learners. They’ll just get confused.
I’ve always felt that 85% of kids (and adults) are visual learners, which is why I use so many props on the lesson tee. Just show and go!
There will always be a few kids who are auditory learners. These youngsters are good listeners and like things explained to them. Auditory learners like to talk about golf and what they are doing. In other words, they are verbal and enjoy talking with people.
Finally, there are the kinesthetic learners. These golfers learn by “feel.” If they strike a ball well, you should excitedly ask, “Did you feel that one? You did? Great! That’s how it’s supposed to feel. Here’s another ball. Now hit it again.”
Determining your children’s learning style and adapting your teaching methods to match will help them learn the game—and you’ll be able to help them with their homework as well.
Article excepted from The First Tee Shot by Wally Armstrong. Used with permission.
