[Illustration]
Believing in the value of a glass of water taken before meals one
person made a picture of a large glass of water covering a greater
part of the dining table, and when coming to the table he saw himself
spill the glass of water. It is essential to have two objects in the
picture--one, the thing you wish to be reminded of doing; and the
other, a familiar scene which you are going to see at the time. In this
case, when the person sees the table, which is half of the picture, it
brings back into consciousness the large glass of water. This reminds
him of drinking the water before sitting down to the meal.
[Illustration]
A lady had been forgetting to get a certain rug which had been put
away in a dark closet, and which she feared might be injured by the
moths if it was not taken out and used. As is often the case in such
circumstances, she thought of this rug many times, but always when
it was inconvenient to get it. She made a picture of the door of the
closet in which the rug was stored and also of herself passing this
door; the door flew open and the rug jumped out into the hall at her
feet. Later, when she was passing, seeing the closet door it reminded
her of the rug and she stopped, opened the door, took out the rug and
thus attended to the matter which she had been forgetting.
A business man had been forgetting to telephone an associate. He made
a picture of the desk in his office, and when he rolled up the top of
the desk the friend jumped out and scared him. This picture was made in
the library of his home in the evening. Next morning when he saw the
desk the rest of the picture came back to his mind and he took up the
telephone and attended to the matter.
These pictures may include more than one object, or even more than one
errand. What the average memory needs is a hint to start it on the
right track. A husband had been asked, when leaving the house, to order
some groceries before going to the train to meet some friends. He made
a picture, of his car standing where it would be when he was ready to
leave the office, and over the whole car he spread a large beefsteak,
on one end of the steak he saw a bag of sugar, on the other end he saw
a bag of coffee, then he broke an egg over the whole, for these were
the things which he was to order. When he came from his office, seeing
the car, a part of the picture, it reminded him of the groceries, and
he easily remembered the things wanted.
Pictures which are exaggerated, have strong motion, and are unusual or
even startling, are best for this reminder idea. The pictures must be
seen clearly in the mind's eye, and the part of the picture, which is
used as the reminder, must be something which you will see clearly at
the time you wish to do the thing. The illustrations given are from the
actual experiences of busy men who are using this idea in their daily
life.
This application of the visual memory can become invaluable to the
child. In cases where the desired result has not been procured the
difficulty, almost invariably, is a lack of vividness in seeing the
place, person, or thing which is to act as the reminder. It must be
familiar, definite, and clearly visualized. Practice will improve the
results. Make an effort to see detailed and distinct objects in your
pictures and use the strengthening elements. Here are a few additional
examples of how children have used this idea. It works.
A child was sent to the grocery store for four items, and instead of
carrying a list he made a picture of the counter in the store as his
reminder. The items to be purchased were a sack of Salt, a bottle
of Vinegar, some Fly Paper, and Potatoes. He pictured the Fly Paper
sticking on the edge of the counter and on it balanced the sack of Salt
and the bottle of Vinegar, then he saw himself throwing the Potatoes at
them.
A picture of this kind will enable the child to remember a few items
without difficulty. The Hitching Post idea which follows soon will be
more accurate and enable him to extend the list to any length.
A boy, who often went away to school without bringing in his wood, made
a picture of himself running out of the door to school, when slipping
off the porch he sailed through the air and landed on the wood pile.
The next morning, when he went out of the door and across the porch,
his picture flashed into his mind and he stopped and brought in some
wood before leaving.
A girl had formed the habit of throwing the towel on the chair instead
of hanging it up. She made a picture of herself throwing down the towel
when it became entangled in her feet and tripped her up as she walked
away, throwing her headlong.
Reminder pictures of this kind must be visualized by the child, even if
suggested by the parent. Do this pleasantly and even playfully, being
careful not to arouse the antagonism of the child. If he is stubborn
in the matter you can gain nothing, unless you secure his co-operation
and pleasant interest. To keep these pictures in mind and to use them
at every opportunity will aid in forming correct habits. Make them
startling and interesting, and when possible, put real feeling into
them. Induce the child to feel the pain of his fall; feelings give life
and power to visualized pictures.
A boy was told to stop at a neighbor's and deliver a note for his
mother on his way to school. He pictured the front gate of this
neighbor's fence swinging out and stopping him. He tried to go over the
gate and the more he climbed, the higher it became. Seeing the gate as
he passed on his way to school reminded him of the note.
A tablet was needed at school and had been forgotten several times. A
picture of the tablet barring the door of his home, so that he could
not get in, reminded the boy to go at once to the store and make the
purchase.
On her way to church a girl was given a message to deliver to a certain
lady, after the service. She pictured herself trying to get out of the
door of the church, but the lady blocked the way refusing to allow her
to crowd through. When she started out, seeing the door, which was part
of the picture, it reminded her of the lady, and she delivered her
message.