The Mental Blackboard
The child can easily learn to visualize his problems in mental arithmetic if he will begin while young. This is especially true if you have used the exercises for visualization given in the First Book. Those on mind's eye counting and the Number and Letter games are especially helpful. Their importance now becomes apparent, and if you have neglected them it will be well to go back and use them now.
Encourage the child to see the figures in exaggerated size on an imaginary blackboard; see large white figures on the blackboard. As soon as the problem is given, let the ear impression become a mind's eye picture, as illustrated. The use of this visual method is gradually being recognized as being valuable, and will in the future come into general use. Give your children the advantage and have them use it now.