In this blog post, we'll explore tactile learning. Understanding this learning style helped me transform my classroom into a place where all my students can thrive.  

If you have a basket full of fidget toys, sit spots strategically placed away from nearby shelves and a waiting list for the playdough table, you are not alone!  

Like me, you have students who need to touch and manipulate things. Sensory seekers that need tactile activities to keep them engaged and learning.

Read on to discover precisely what tactile learning is and how you can easily incorporate this beneficial learning style into your kindergarten classroom.

Discover research-informed tactile learning strategies to ensure you avoid ineffective and outdated teaching practices.

And take away nine quick and easy tactile learning activities your sensory learners will love.

Creating hands-on, sensory learning experiences for your students is essential. Read on to discover why.

What are Tactile Learners?

Tactile learners are hands-on learners. They learn best by physically touching or manipulating objects. For these learners, the sense of touch is critical in processing information. 

A tactile learning approach to education actively involves children in the learning process through their sense of touch. By incorporating touch, manipulation, and exploration into the learning process, tactile learners will better retain information and develop essential kindergarten skills.

Tactile Learning vs Kinaesthetic

Sometimes tactile learning and kinaesthetic learning are terms used interchangeably, but they are actually very different types of learning. They are both a physical activity, but tactile learning is about the hands and touch, whereas kinaesthetic learning is about the whole body and movement.

Kinaesthetic learners need whole-body movement and prefer to learn by doing activities that use their big gross motor muscles. This type of learning often includes physical movement activities like sports or dance. If you get your students up and moving so they are using their whole body, you would be providing your students with a kinaesthetic learning experience.

Children’s Learning Styles

The concept of learning styles as preferred ways of learning for children was a popular belief back in the 90’s. Many educators adapted their teaching methods to cater to a specific learning style that they believed each child had. However, the scientific support for learning styles is pretty limited.

We have new information now. In recent years, this topic has been subject to considerable scrutiny and debate in the educational and scientific communities.

The belief was that children had four main learning styles: visual, auditory, tactile, and kinaesthetic.

• Visual Learners prefer to learn visually and need to see information in order to process it. 

• Auditory Learners were children who learned best by listening. 

• Tactile Learners needed activities involving touch. Some educators believed that tactile learners wouldn’t engage in activities or lessons unless it was hands-on.

• Kinaesthetic Learners were sometimes confused with tactile learners. Kinaesthetic learners needed to use their whole bodies and required big movements to learn, whereas tactile learners just needed to use their hands.

One of the main criticisms of this type of thinking is that there is limited empirical evidence to show that teaching to a specific learning style improves educational outcomes. Children just don’t fit neatly into single categories like this. You have no doubt noticed in your own classroom that if a child seems to have a preference for one learning style, it doesn't mean they can't learn in other ways.

Learning is a complex process. It is influenced by a variety of factors, including prior knowledge, context, and the nature of the material itself. Labelling a child as a particular type of learner could potentially limit their educational experiences. For example, suppose you labelled a student as a visual learner. In that case, they might not be included in activities that involve auditory or kinaesthetic learning and that could have a negative effect.

Luckily, we have a better understanding of how children learn now. Learning involves complex cognitive processes that are not captured by the simplified categories of learning styles.

Memory, attention, and motivation, among other factors, play a significant role in how children learn, and these processes are not style-specific. Children can and do learn in different ways, but labelling a child as only having one learning style is an outdated practice.

Most educators and researchers now advocate for a more evidence-based approach to teaching. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is one such approach. It uses varied methods of engagement, representation, and expression to cater to the broadest range of students without trying to match them to specific learning styles.

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework based on research in the learning sciences. It includes cognitive neuroscience that aims to improve and optimise teaching and learning. Developed initially by the Center for Applied Special Technology, UDL supports the idea that each student learns differently. 

UDL is built on three core principles. Each of these principles has guidelines and specific checkpoints for educators to consider:

1. Multiple Means of Engagement: This principle addresses the why of learning. It focuses on how to motivate and engage learners. The idea is to tap into your student’s interests, offer appropriate challenges, and promote self-regulation.

2. Multiple Means of Representation: This is the what of learning. It suggests that information should be presented in various formats and mediums like text, audio, video, and hands-on experiences. This ensures that learners who find certain formats more accessible than others can still access the information effectively.

3. Multiple Means of Action and Expression: This addresses the how of learning. Students should be offered various ways to interact with learning material and options to demonstrate their knowledge. This could mean anything from writing or drawing a response to creating a video or participating in a discussion.

One of the significant benefits of UDL is that it aims to be inclusive of all students, including those with disabilities, those who are English language learners, or those who have different learning preferences.

The UDL approach is seen to be highly flexible and a great way for educators to adapt materials and methods to meet the diverse needs of their students. It’s not about trying to fit students into a one-size-fits-all model like the outdated learning styles theories were.

My focus on play-based pedagogy, particularly in early childhood education, aligns well with UDL's principles. Play-based learning naturally incorporates multiple means of engagement, representation, and action or expression. It offers children various ways to interact with concepts and ideas. 

One of the reasons I love play-based learning so much is because I have seen first-hand how effective this pedagogy is for meeting different developmental needs and learning preferences in a diverse classroom.

If you want to incorporate play-based learning into your classroom, you will love the range of resources I have designed to help you. 

Understanding the Diversity of Learning Styles in the Kindergarten Classroom

I hope I don’t need to tell you how unique every child is, not just in their personalities but also in the ways they prefer to learn. As Maria Montessori aptly put it, the goal of early childhood education should be "to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn." Yet, each child’s pathway to activating this desire can look very different.

While the concept of learning styles—such as visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, or tactile learning—has been a somewhat controversial topic, one thing is clear. 👇

The good news is that children benefit from a varied and multi-faceted approach to learning.

It's important to remember that learning is not a one-size-fits-all experience. What ignites a passion for discovery in one child might not work for another.

This is particularly relevant in a kindergarten setting where children are in such a crucial stage of development. It is the educator's role to ensure that the learning environment meets the diverse needs of all students.

This doesn't mean categorising children into specific learning styles that could limit their experiences. Instead, it's about creating rich and diverse learning opportunities so that each and every child can engage, explore, and thrive.

Using a range of tactile, auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic activities can make your classroom an inclusive space where every child finds a way to connect and explore.

Activities that involve touch and hands-on work, like those offered through tactile learning experiences, can offer experiences that some children might not fully grasp through auditory or visual means.

Yet, these activities aren't just for tactile learners. Many would argue that most children will benefit from the multi-sensory, hands-on learning opportunities that tactile activities provide. In fact, you would have a hard time convincing me otherwise!

The importance of diverse learning experiences cannot be overstated.

Play based learning invites children to investigate, touch, and learn. It is a versatile method for appealing to a range of learning preferences.

As you read more about tactile strategies and activities in this blog post, keep in mind that tactile or hands-on learning is one teaching method.

There needs to be a balance. Your students will not have a unique learning style. Auditory, visual and kinaesthetic learning experiences are just as important. It’s all about making the learning accessible and engaging.

Tactile Learning Strategies

When we think of tactile learning, we often think about a hands-on approach to teaching. Tactile learning strategies are about providing opportunities for students to touch, manipulate, and explore resources with their hands.

Hmm.. that sounds a lot like a play-based pedagogy. You could even say tactile learning strategies and play based learning strategies go hand-in-hand! 😉

Let's have a look at a few different strategies.

A Multi-Sensory Experience

Tactile learning in a play based classroom is very often a multi-sensory learning experience. When children engage in tactile activities in a play-based classroom, they're not just touching objects though. They're observing them, exploring them, sometimes listening to the sounds they make, and usually verbalising their observations.

This multi-sensory learning experience is called play. A play based classroom has tactile learning and multi-sensory experiences at its core. I believe it is an extremely effective way to teach.

Provide Options In Assessment Pieces

When you are planning your assessment piece, keep tactile learning methods in mind. Try to include options for your students to demonstrate their learning through hands-on, tactile projects.

When assessing students, try allowing them to choose the method they prefer in order to demonstrate their understandings. It empowers your students, is an inclusive strategy and will give them a greater chance of success.

Encouraging Exploration and Curiosity

Both tactile learning and play-based learning strategies stimulate a child's natural curiosity. When children can touch and manipulate objects, they are more likely to ask questions, make connections, and explore further.

These strategies take students from being passive collectors of information into active, hands-on learners.

Tactile learning strategies involve more than just hands-on learning though. They include methods and approaches that optimise the sense of touch to facilitate learning. When integrated into a play-based curriculum, these strategies create a multi-sensory environment that sparks the innate desire children have for learning.

Here are a few tactile learning strategies that complement a play-based learning pedagogy:

• Sensory Play: Think about setting up learning provocations that include a variety of tactile experiences. For example, you can add textured storybooks to the reading area or add a variety of surfaces (paper, card, fabric, aluminium foil) to the art easels for children to paint on. The strategy here is to include various tactile elements and sensory play experiences in each of your investigation areas. This will increase engagement and help students to make connections between their sense of touch and other cognitive skills.

• Guided Exploration and Prompts: While free play has its merits, guided tactile exploration can be more focused and educationally rewarding. Use learning prompts or challenges to guide children as they engage with tactile materials. For example, add a printed prompt that asks students to find an object in a feely bag at the Science table that matches a specific texture card you've discussed.

I love learning prompts. I add printed prompts to most of my learning provocations. They remind me and other educators in the room how to ensure our play is purposeful and aligned with the curriculum.

Check out all my learning prompts and invitations for learning HERE. I’m sure you will find some to enhance the hands-on learning in your classroom.

• Integrate Tactile Cues into Your Lesson Plans: Use tactile cues in your explicit teaching lessons. This can help solidify new concepts and help learners retain information. For example, you could ask the students to "tap your head when you hear a word that starts with the /t/ sound” during a read-aloud session. 

• Cross-Sensory Pairing: Combining tactile learning experiences with visual or auditory elements can help children make connections between different sensory inputs. For example, use a tactile activity like writing in sand trays or using sandpaper letters with verbal descriptions or visual symbols when teaching students letter formations. This strategy can develop neural pathways and help to develop motor memory.

Using tactile learning strategies in your play-based curriculum can help you create a fun and engaging environment. You will also be providing your students with a multi-dimensional educational experience that taps into the varied learning preferences of young children.

This can all help to enhance a student’s ability to understand, retain, and apply knowledge. Do yourself a favour and include these strategies in your kindergarten classroom. Tactile learning strategies have a positive influence on every child's academic performance.

Practical Ideas for Tactile Learning Activities

We have looked at a few tactile learning examples here as each learning strategy has been discussed. There are many ways you can incorporate tactile learning in a play based classroom. Let’s explore some more ideas.

Sensory Bins

Create sensory bins filled with various materials like rice, sand, water beads, or textured fabrics. Encourage children to use their hands to explore, sort, and discover objects hidden within the bins. This fosters sensory awareness, fine motor skills, and language development.

Playdough

I love playdough. It is such a versatile resource.

Playdough gives students the opportunity to mold, squish, and shape their ideas. It is a wonderful tactile experience. At my playdough table, I like to include themed resources that relate to our curriculum learning intentions and topics. It really is quite easy to use playdough to spark imaginative play and reinforce learning.

If you are interested in learning more about how I use playdough to reinforce our learning, make sure to check out this blog post: Playdough Activities for Kindergarten Sensory Maths Play

Don’t just offer playdough to your students. Think about different modelling mediums like plasticine and clay too. Your students will appreciate the different sensations and properties of different tactile mediums.

Letter and Number Tracing

Use tactile materials like sandpaper, textured paper, or textured stickers and blocks to help students learn letter and number formations. Tactile learners will love the sensory aspect of tracing the tactile letters and numbers. 

Textured Fabrics

I have a huge collection of different textured fabrics. They can be used as tablecloths, added as loose parts to block play and small world setups and draped around the learning environment. This is such an easy way to add a sensory element to any investigation area.

Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts

It is always refreshing when you take the learning outside. Go on nature walks and scavenger hunts so your students can collect natural objects like leaves, flowers, sticks, and stones.

This sensory experience will engage their senses and expand their knowledge of the world around them.

DIY Sensory Boards and Walls

Create sensory boards with different textures, fabrics, buttons, and zippers. These boards are very popular in early childhood classrooms for a good reason. They invite tactile exploration, encourage creativity, and develop those all-important fine motor skills.

Art and Collage

Creating a varied tactile experience in the art and collage area is easy. Just change up the materials you offer in this learning area. Seek out and provide a variety of textured materials (think fabric, wood, plastic and metal) to your collage trolley.

Provide your students with a selection of surfaces to paint and draw on in the art area. Consider textured papers, cardboard, aluminium foil, fabric, wood,  and a variety of recycled items like tubes and containers.

Oh, and include texture plates for rubbings – your tactile learners will be fascinated with rubbings!

The 5 Senses

We start every school year learning about our five senses in Science. One of these senses is the sense of touch, and this is the perfect time to incorporate a variety of tactile learning experiences in our investigative play sessions.

Tactile cards and resources are added to our Science table for children to explore, and we focus on vocabulary related to the sense of touch.

Building Blocks and Loose Parts

When deciding what resources to add to your blocks area, keep tactile learning needs in mind. Provide a variety of sensory building blocks and loose parts for students to construct, stack, and engineer with.

This fosters problem-solving, spatial awareness, and mathematical thinking while also satisfying the need for sensory hands-on explorations.

Including tactile learning opportunities in your play based learning invitations is all about offering diverse and varied textured objects for your students to touch and explore. It just requires you to get a little creative. Tactile learning activities can be included in all of your play based learning areas when you think outside the box.

Do All Kids Benefit from Tactile Learning?

Tactile learning is when a child is learning and experiencing things through their sense of touch. At the early stages of their brain development, young children learn so much just by holding an object in their hand. Adding tactile elements to your student’s learning activities will enhance their effectiveness. Tactile learning plays a vital role in teaching younger students to understand object properties and also develop fine motor skills.  

Tactile learning experiences can:

• Improve Retention: Tactile learning improves memory retention and helps build neural pathways in the brain by creating stronger connections between concepts and physical experiences.

• Enhance Engagement: Hands-on activities and tactile experiences will capture children's attention and keep them actively engaged in the learning process.

• Encourage Creativity: Tactile exploration sparks creativity and imaginative thinking. It not only helps your children look at things in new ways, but it helps the educator get creative in the planning process too.

• Develop Fine Motor Skills: Practice in manipulating objects will develop and refine fine motor skills, which are essential for many school and life tasks.

Conclusion

Each child is unique in how they absorb, process, and retain knowledge. It is really important that we, as educators, understand and embrace the diversity in our classrooms.

Students have many and varied styles of learning. One step we can take is to include tactile learning experiences in our classrooms.

Tactile learning experiences will enhance your early childhood classroom, making education a memorable and creative experience for both you and your little students. 

"Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn."

These words resonate deeply with me and help to demonstrate the essence of tactile learning. By actively involving our students in hands-on, multi-sensory learning experiences, we are not just teaching them - we are setting them up for success as learners! 

By incorporating play-based, hands-on activities with a tactile learning twist into your teaching approach, you'll see first-hand how your students thrive and learn and develop a love for learning that will last them a lifetime. 

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