It was found that the wishes of normal children and children seen by a psychiatrist did differ in some significant respects; the wishes of normal boys and girls differed significantly and the findings as to their most popular wishes confirmed existing theories as to the underlying fantasies of children in later childhood. It seems that the three-wish test is an effective projective method for both normal children and those with psychiatric disorders, but in the latter group it is more likely to bring out the child's particular anxiety or major concern.