It is a great aid to observation to have the ability to place upon the brain a physical eye picture which is so clear and distinct that later, when you reproduce the picture in the mind's eye, you still see the details accurately. To develop this power of visualization will help to develop the ability to observe. The exercises in the development of observation which follow will also improve the visual power of the mind's eye.
Method of Developing Observation
The story is told how the French magician Houdin trained the observation of his son. They would go down the street together and stop in front of a shop window. The father and son would both take a good look at the contents of the window, and then walk on a little farther and stop and write on a pad all the objects they could recall. Then they would go back to the window and compare the lists, and go on to a second window and do the same thing. This exercise was followed until the boy had developed an unusual ability to remember what he saw.
When the father was performing his magical feats on the stage of Paris he would ask people from the audience to come up onto the stage and deposit any articles which they chose upon the table until there were forty in all. The boy, blindfolded, was then brought onto the stage, led up to the table, and, after the blindfold was removed, allowed one glance. He was then blindfolded again and led to the front of the stage with his back to the table. He would without hesitation name each of the forty objects. This was considered magic, mental telepathy, etc. It was magic—the magic of practice.
Practice will work wonders for you and your children. The method followed by this magician is one of the best exercises for developing this faculty. The time you put in walking the streets is mostly wasted as far as mental development is concerned. As you and the children pass a store window look closely at the articles in it and as you walk along see how many each of you can recall definitely. At first you will not be able to name very many. Practice in this way several times a day will soon enable you to recall the majority of things that you see. Continual practice will result in your becoming an adept.
The same kind of practice can be indulged in on streets where there are no store windows. Look at the front of a house and see how definitely you can describe it after you are by. How many windows has it? Can you see the color, trimmings, the style of windows, doors, porches, and all the details clearly? Practice until all can do this. Then observe the yard until you can describe the approximate size, the arrangement of the shrubbery, walks, flower beds and trees. While walking with the children continuously use these ideas. Call their attention to a certain house and when you have passed ask questions regarding what they have observed.
An excellent method of developing observation is to recall the definite location of the furniture in the different rooms of the home, the articles that are on the top of the dresser or library table.
In going to the home or office of a friend look around the room once carefully, then look out of the window or at the floor, and recall the furniture and other details of the furnishings. How many pictures are on the walls, where are they and what are they?