Like most involved parents, you want to choose meaningful learning styles activities to make learning come alive for your whole family. Though you can’t always plan around the needs of your auditory learner, here are some fun family activities that promote auditory skills and will enrich all members of the family.

Take the Whole Family to the Library

Your public library is a terrific resource for learning styles activities. Libraries are getting creative in their efforts to reach young people and are offering many programs that cater to auditory learners. Get everyone in the family a library card to use regularly.

  • Reference librarians love to answer your questions (it’s their job). Ask them what kids are reading today and who are the hottest young adult authors. They can guide you through the process of finding just the right title for your reader.
  • Help your auditory learner check out audio books both to reinforce his classroom lessons and for simple enjoyment. Some of the Judy Blume classics are still relevant today like the classic Are You There God It’s Me Margaret or S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders.
  • To improve her conversation skills, ask her relevant questions about the book she is listening to. Listen to her book yourself if you can, or better yet listen to it together while washing dishes, crafting, or riding in the car. If you are short of time, check out the CliffsNotes so you can discuss the characters and plot together. Ask her to explain the main points to you and her feelings about them.
  • Encourage her to learn something new and have fun doing it. Sign up for noteworthy lectures the library offers just for young people: for example, babysitting, how to find a summer job, SAT prep, or how to write the all-important college essay. You can get a schedule of upcoming events at the reference desk or online.

Make  Music Together

Studies show that listening to music primes the brain to learn. But making music is even more educational (not to mention fun). If you aren’t particularly musical, you can have a karaoke night and encourage your child to be a rock star. If performing isn’t your thing, try these ideas.

  • Go to free concerts in the park, jazz festivals, or revivals. Even if it isn’t your  child’s favorite, it is likely he will be able to find something interesting to observe in a live performance. Besides, live music is just better no matter what kind.
  • Most libraries have a wide variety of CDs. Borrow some music from other cultures or try to find music from a particular time in history (World War II, the 60s, etc). Listen to diverse music together to develop a deeper appreciation for all types of sound. Share the music you listened to when you were a teen (if you dare!) and listen to hers. If she is into rap, get her to try some reggae. If she is into country, try some classical music.
  • Sign your child up for music lessons so he can experience the magic of music firsthand. The YWCA and YMCA offer classes for a nominal fee. If these suggestions stretch your budget too much, encourage your child to join the school band and take up an instrument that can be rented for the school year fairly inexpensively.

Be a Captive Audience

Riding together in the family car is a great time to engage your kids in conversation (they can’t get away and neither can you). For your auditory learner, this is not only a time to bond but to reinforce learning. Listen to your chatterbox talk, even if it is just to shoot the breeze. Auditory learners need to hear themselves and hear others in order to learn and problem solve.

  • Discuss everything under the sun: what they are learning in school, current events, and their friends. Ask lots of questions if it is difficult to get them to open up.
  • If you see an interesting segment on the news or article in the Sunday paper, share it and ask your child's opinion. You’ll be surprised!
  • Encourage your child to teach you some new information or a concept that he is learning about. Or if he is studying a foreign language, have him share words for common objects.

Enlist the Grandparents

  • Encourage your child to interview older relatives such as grandparents about the good old days. She will love listening to her relatives' stories and learning about history,  roots, and culture. If you can, have your child record the interview so she can listen to it later and save it for other family members.
  • If your older relatives are bilingual, ask them to share the language with your auditory learner allowing a love of a different culture and language to come alive.