What We Don’t Realize About How Kids Learn Best

Every parent wants their child to succeed, but many don’t fully understand how kids learn best. Traditional education often emphasizes grades over proper comprehension, but neuroscience and modern research tell a different story.

1. Neural Development and Learning Styles Matter

Children’s brains develop at different rates, and their learning styles vary widely. Some kids thrive through hands-on experiences, while others absorb information better through visual or auditory methods. Scientific studies show that during early childhood, synaptic density in the cerebral cortex peaks, allowing for rapid learning and adaptability. Research from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child emphasizes that early brain plasticity is crucial for building cognitive and emotional skills.

One critical aspect of neural development occurs between the ages of 2 and 3, when neural density is at its highest. During this period, a child’s brain forms an immense number of synaptic connections—up to twice as many as an adult brain—which are later pruned to enhance learning efficiency. This synaptic pruning, a well-documented process in neuroscience, ensures that frequently used neural pathways are strengthened while unused connections fade away, making learning more streamlined.

While neural density declines over time, neuroplasticity remains a lifelong ability. Studies in neurocognitive science indicate that continued mental stimulation can reinforce neural networks, keeping cognitive abilities sharp well into adulthood. Just like physical exercise maintains muscle tone, intellectual challenges—such as problem-solving, language acquisition, and creative tasks—help sustain brain adaptability. Learning should not be confined to the early years but encouraged throughout life, as research from the National Institute on Aging suggests that continued cognitive engagement can delay age-related decline and enhance neuroplasticity. Dynamic, experience-based learning integrates multi-sensory engagement, strengthening cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills at every developmental stage, which is why learning needs to be lifelong.

2. It's never 'One-Size-Fits-All' Education

I hate to make this comparison lightly, but we are using an education system that does not account for individual learning differences. It is about mass-producing employees and workers. After all, it was built initially to supply the workforce to factories and clerks to offices. And given what we know about the myriad combinations of learning styles most students have, are we accounting for it? Are we accounting for all these individual differences that make things so much better?

Most traditional education systems are built around a rigid curriculum that doesn’t account for individual learning differences. This approach can lead to disengagement, frustration, and even anxiety in students who don’t fit the mould. According to research by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, nearly one in five students have learning and attention issues, yet many of these kids are overlooked in standard classrooms. Because traditional education systems have historically been designed to cater to the average student, often neglecting the needs of exceptional learners and those who struggle.?

3. Rote Learning Vs Creativity and Problem-Solving Abilities

I'm not ever going to say knowing a lot of things is a bad thing. Being able to absorb and recall large amounts of information is, I believe, still a very required skill. But basing it as the entire foundation for an education system is limiting true human potential. You cannot have people be vast stores of knowledge without giving them the ability to creatively problem-solve and critically think.

And this is just one tiny aspect of intelligence. There are over nine types of intelligence, each of which helps round off an individual's capabilities and helps them find their place in society. From linguistic intelligence to spatial intelligence, from emotional intelligence to bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, a well-rounded education should foster all these aspects rather than just focus on rote memorization. When kids are taught to think analytically and apply knowledge rather than just recall it, they become better equipped to tackle real-world challenges and innovate.

A report from the World Economic Forum highlights that problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking are among the top skills needed in the future workforce. True intelligence is not just about remembering information—it’s about understanding how to use that information in meaningful ways to create, adapt, and innovate in a constantly evolving world.

We all should take a moment to reflect on how our own childhoods and perceptions of education have evolved over the decades. We have seen different iterations of the same education system through our younger siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and even our own children. Yes, there are more tools available today. We have moved from classrooms providing slates and well-lined notebooks to integrating impressive technologies that enhance learning. But at its core, are our underlying principles still designed to prepare children for a world that no longer exists?

The reality is that we haven’t spent enough time—whether as parents, educators, or policymakers—truly grasping how kids learn best. The world has changed drastically, but our education systems are still anchored in outdated methodologies. We are doing the best we can, and the decades of research worldwide on improving learning methodologies and learning technologies are evidence of this. But at the end of the day, the point that we have to keep in mind is that we haven't really drastically changed things in over a century. We have only made the car go faster. We haven't made the car fly.