Visual Process Natural
We are all born with this ability to visualize or see imaginary mental reproductions of things which we have seen before. By the use of the imagination we combine parts of these pictures into new ones and thus are able to construct a mind's eye picture which may never have existed in fact.
Children possess this faculty in a marked degree; they use it continuously and unconsciously. They can also see their visual picture much more clearly than their parents can, unless they have continued to use the faculty consciously. Many children amuse themselves by the hour in playing with imaginary playmates, and will talk to them as interestedly as if they were really present. To the child they are present, he actually sees them and also visualizes the conditions under which he is playing.
The child should be given a conscious understanding of the mind's eye picture and what is meant by visualization. Teach him that when you ask him to visualize, you mean for him to see clearly the mind's eye picture of the thing referred to. The first exercises in visualization are for the purpose of developing a clear visual picture.
Training the Mind's Eye
The following tests and games will reveal the lack of speed and accuracy in the operation of the visual faculty. The repetition of the tests will result in an improved ability; vary and continue them and you can quickly experience improvement in the availability of the faculty.
Exercises which tend to quicken the action, broaden the range of vision, and increase the amount of detail retained, are most valuable.
The Picture Test
Select a good sized picture which is strange to the child, in which there are several persons surrounded by the furniture of a room, or any similar setting where there are a number of objects. Allow him to give one quick glance at the picture and then see whether he can recall definitely just how many persons were in the picture? Whether they were men, women or children; and locate definitely the position of each person. The first glance should not exceed one second. Now let him look at the picture again for not more than five seconds. See how many objects he can name, check them up to see that he is accurate. Also notice how many objects are mentioned which are not in the picture.