"All the pictures go into a big book in my head . . .&q

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This place has been such an encouraging sounding board for me lately. Just had to share this, I hope you don't mind.

My 4 1/2 year old son was talking tonight about how something worked and gave an amazing description of how something in his body worked. I asked him how he knew that. Typically, when I asked him how he learned something that I find surprising that he knows, he will tell me ‘I learned it up in my head’. I’ve always thought that was kind of funny and maybe a cop-out for giving credit to someone else.

Tonight, though, he was really on a verbal roll. “Well,” he said, “I just know it from my head. I just got it out of there.” Fairly typical answer. But tonight I pried just once and it was enough to open a momentary massive window into my son’s brain. “How does it do that?” I asked. I wasn’t expecting much more than a repeat of what he just said. I wish so much I’d had a recording device with me for his answer. But I’ll do my best--what I got was a monologue that was approximately like this:

“Well, my head has a book in it, and well, it’s kind of like a map. And, well, my eyes kind of take pictures of everything and then they put the pictures in the book in my head. My eyes sort of have cameras that shoot out and take pictures of everything and all the books I see. And then all the little books and pictures go into my head and it all goes into the big book. And it’s also kind of like a map. And that’s how I know how to make lots of really cool things with my Legos. [he does] I can see it all in my head from the pictures. Everything goes into the book in my head and it stays there and I can see it.”

There was actually a little more that he said in his long monologue, but it’s hard to re-create all accurately now in my memory. But that was the jist of it. Honestly, it kind of freaked my out just a little—only because I thought—ok, so now what do I do with this little boy who has maps and a big book of pictures in his head? Hahaha. I guess the wonderful thing though is the rare glimpse into how he thinks. Of course, he is describing in many ways how we retain information as human beings; however, the part about taking pictures and knowing amazing things because he takes ‘pictures’ that go into a book in his head and he remembers and puts it all together is incredible. He is only 4 ½ and we have been blessed that he is so verbal—now I just wonder where to go from here. Just don’t even know what to do about school for him. He can’t socialize or draw or listen well, but he complains that he is ‘not learning enough science’. Right now his sensory issues really inhibit his learning. Ah, well. One step at a time.

My dd has done similar things especially when she was younger. It's kind of like they have access to a level of reality that we adults don't have. Jung among others that darned if I can remember right now have postulated a kind of group consciousness. If you look up what he tells you and it checks out cool. I can kind of dip into it sometimes but not very clearly. I wouldn't worry about it much unless it becomes a problem.

I love that description. When our kids can tell you, they have the most amazing descriptions of their internal workings.

I wonder if this is his description of thinking in pictures, or if he actually has a photographic or near photographic memory.

You are right that school will be a challenge in many wyas, and I'm afraid he'll be disappointed by science class, but flexible and creative teachers, when you can find them, make a huge difference. You don't have to worry about your child loving to learn, you just have to worry about all the ways the big bad world will try to squash it.

Very good question, DW. I wondered the same. I was looking at a Yoga magazine one day and it was showing about 8 different yoga poses in it. He can't read, but he wanted to know the name of each pose. Most of the names were two words, like 'Standing Warrior' or 'Sleeping Dragon', etc. I read the name of each one to him once, and he said, oh, and walked away. He came back a couple minutes later and asked to see the yoga pose pictures again; he then proceeded to accurately name each pose from memory. So, either he has a great memory or he does think in pictures and is able to learn quickly that way. Kind of nice to have an more verified insight into how he learns.
As you said, the thing I worry about is finding an environment that doesn't squash his desire to learn and the way he learns. Currently, I am lacking a little confidence regarding home schooling. His pre-school right now is 'adequate' but I think he is going to get bored pretty quickly.