Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Does this sound like a visual-spatial aspect?

We just introduced DS(11) to cassette tapes. He came to us with a full carrying case - maybe a dozen slots - and was showing us the tapes he selected. Most of the bands are completely unfamiliar to him.

At one point, DH and I each had a cassette pulled, and when I went to return mine, I commented that I didn't remember which slot I had pulled it from. DS did not hesitate to put it back where it belonged.

Here's where I think the V-S part comes in:

The tapes were not all facing the same direction, so some words were upside down. He explained his organizational plan: "These are white type on a black background; that connects to these two that are black type on a blue background; this one is still a black background, but has red and green type, which leads to all of these, which are red on white backgrounds."

I have vacillated for years over whether DS is a V-S kid, and if so, to what extent. Does this sound like a typical V-S characteristic to those of you with more experience?

At least he's observant. Is there more to "the learning style thing" than just asking if a person understands better by hearing, seeing, or doing?

Could be. DS8 is visual spatial and it sounds like something he'd do.

He's great with patterns, mazes, learned chess at 6, reads better than he listens, did puzzles for older kids, etc. If he has trouble comprehending something via audio input, the fastest fix is literally to spell it out on paper or draw a picture.

His fine and gross motor skills are/were delayed, and yet his hand to eye coordination is very strong (it's contradictory and strange, lol). Today, for example, the kids and I took their new gloves, balls and bat to the park, and DS8 was pitching (i.e. getting the ball properly IN the strike zone) better than his more coordinated older sister. Yet have him kick a soccer ball (ie something he's not looking down at) - and it's a disaster. CLUMSY. It's as if... visual input wakes up the connections between his brain and limbs. We were looking at SPD for him, proprioceptive being one of his weaknesses, which is alleviated when his eyes join the process.

He STRUGGLED in the pool - kept failing level one, and hated it. Then I got him goggles so that he could see under water, and he's a different kid in his lessons now. He LOVES swimming. Wow. Goggles? Really? That's it? (If I'd only figured that out sooner!! Geez.)

He is SO visually oriented it's not even funny. Our Pediatrician ruled out DCD because she said she could "trick him into being coordinated" but I wonder if she was accessing his visual spatial ability.

I could go on and on with examples (I promise I won't, but here's a couple more):

Maze Craze (Atari Flashback) - he was untouchable (at 3 or 4 - it was literally years ago now). He's the youngest in the family and none of us could beat him. It was kinda creepy (downright creepy, actually).

Tanks (Wii Sport) - Oh my goodness. Same thing - he walked all over us (again years ago, so he was about 4, maybe 5). DH, DD and I all tried in earnest many many times to beat him and simply couldn't. Our brains couldn't process the visual input as fast as his could. By this time we were just used to this from him and kind of expected it.

Making myself stop typing now... lol

Thanks so much for the input! I'm sorry it took me so long to get back here.

CCN, thanks for sharing so much very interesting info!