The principal desire for Visual Children is for everything to be perfect, just as they visualized it. Visual children are usually obedient, unless they have to deal with an unexpected change. Then they might resist. Let’s revisit Aaron again but now he’s a Visual child. Aaron skipped into small waiting room. He was excited because his cousins were visiting. “Let’s play!” he thought. He leaned against his cousin, Curt, and started pushing on his knees. Curt playfully pushed back Aaron’s shoulders. Aaron pushed harder. Curt returned shove a little too hard and Aaron suddenly plopped on floor. He giggled loudly and started pushing his cousin’s legs with his feet. “Stop that,” Curt demanded. Aaron pushed again. This was fun! “Aaron,” his mother said sternly, “Get up and sit down next to me.” Aaron climbed on to chair. With his shoulders hunched, he looked down at floor. He wanedt to play and have fun but now he couldn’t. Humiliation engulfed him. What must his cousins think of him? When his mother’s name was called, she got up to leave. Aaron quickly slid out of his chair and tearfully ran toward her. She turned and said, “You can stay and Carrie can read to you.” “But we always go together!” Aaron wailed. His mother stretched out her hand and he gratefully took it. Aaron playfully tiptoed back into waiting room. He smiled broadly when his cousins noticed. Carrie asked, “Shall we read your book while we wait?” He nodded. As she read, he began to act out parts he knew so well. Visuals are natural actors. Their vivid imaginations expand on stories, often in humorous ways. Aaron walked around tiny room like an elephant. Soon he was another animal. Aaron was content in his imaginary world. He wasn’t rowdy and I enjoyed his amusing antics. Although Aaron’s mother maintained firm discipline, she recognized his need for a creative outlet. When she started to leave without him and he protested, she realized he wanted to do what they usually do, get their shots together. Visuals like routine because they can visualize it.

The principal desire for Wholistic Children is to be treated like an adult. Since Wholistic children see themselves as adults, usually they are well behaved unless they’re tired, bored or resentful. Then they will cry or whine or become testy. They’re comfortable with adults and feel resentful when told they can’t do something because they’re not old enough. How different is Aaron’s story as a Wholistic. Aaron ran over to chairs and sat down. He told Curt to sit on one side of him and Carrie on other. This was something new and fun! He wasn’t just with his mother. Aaron started talking about allergy injection. He showed how nurse squeezes his arm to make a “hill” and then gives him shot. “That way,” he said boastfully, “it hurts only a little bit.” Aaron pointed out children’s books. “I know all of them,” he said. “Would you like one?” he asked Carrie, hopefully. She nodded. Carrie started reading but it was going too slowly. Aaron was quickly getting bored. “I’ll read,” he said. He took book and started telling story. He zipped through book and ran for another one. He continued until all books were finished. Aaron’s mother got called to go for her injection. Aaron immediately asked if he could stay with his cousins. She agreed. When it was his turn, he asked Curt to join him. When they came back, since books were done, he started talking about whatever came to mind. As minutes ticked by, boredom struck. He got off chair and crawled underneath. “I’m in my cave and if you get too close, I’ll eat you,” he squealed delightedly. He tickled back of Carrie’s legs. She let out a yell and stood up. Aaron laughed uproariously. He pushed his head against back of Curt’s legs. “If you don’t open door right now, I’ll bite you!” Curt parted his legs and Aaron squirmed through. The game was over. Restlessness swept over Aaron again and he began to whimper. He heard thunder and perked up. “Can I go see storm?” he asked. Carrie volunteered to take him outside. The change was instantaneous. He went from looking completely wilted to a happy, bubbly boy, gleefully running to door. After a few minutes he burst into room. “Mommy, you should see rainbow. Hurry before it goes away!” Ah, wonderful, exciting world of new things to explore and investigate. Wholistics are creative and imaginative. At home they can play for a long time by themselves. Their fantasies carry them in many challenging directions and they’re content. Can you identify your children’s primary perceptual styles from this story?