What is Visual Spatial?

The majority of the population are Linear thinkers. They process information in sequential order, put it into categories and analyze it. Most educational systems are built on a foundation of linear processing and work well for our linear thinkers.

Approximately 20-30% of the population are Visual Spatial thinkers. In this case, information is processed all together like a mind map, put into 3-dimensional pictures and analyzed with/against previous experiences. Visual Spatial thinkers, while gifted, can have challenges working in the linear world of the educational system.

The Gift

Visual Spatials think in moving 3-dimensional pictures. This gives them the ability to see beyond the real world around them. Innovators, athletes and geniuses such as Einstein, Mozart, Henry Ford, John Cena, daVinci, Simone Biles, Temple Grandin and many more, are considered Visual Spatials. Their gifts help them literally see and manipulate math, body movement, physics and music inside the unlimited capacity of their minds. It is truly amazing what a Visual Spatial can create in their mind. At Sunburst Academy, we help each of our clients find their gifts so that they can share them with the world.

The Challenge/s

With the ability to move things in one’s mind, comes the challenge of moving things when it isn’t so helpful. As we mentioned above, our educational system is very linear. Math, reading, writing and even planning all require the ability to see/do things in linear sequence. For some Visual Spatials, this can be very challenging. Many of these challenges have names you may be familiar with:

• Dyslexia
• Dyscalculia
• ADHD
• Autism
• Executive Function Disorder

The Solution

At Sunburst Academy, we teach our clients how to turn off their creative fast brain (Visual Spatial neurological pathway) and turn on their Linear 'slow' brain (Linear neurological pathway) when they need to do linear tasks. Their fast Visual Spatial mind is incredibly valuable, but so is the ability to slow down and process information in a Linear mind. Once our clients can switch back and forth, their challenges diminish and they can embrace their immense gifts.

So many parents have told us, “I know they’re so smart, but why do they struggle with simple arithmetic/reading?” or “They are so brilliant in some things and completely lost in others. Why?” The answer is simply that they need tools to be able to switch between their neurological processing pathways. Once they have those tools, their struggles begin to disappear and their brilliance becomes more visible to all of those around them.

Notice how we do not refer to any of the list above as ‘disabilities’? That is because they are NOT disabilities. Your child is NOT broken and you are not alone. Your child simply processes information differently than others. They are simply Learning Differences; they need to learn in a different way. And here at Sunburst Academy, we help them do just that.