Visual perceptual activities help a child to make sense of information that the eyes are sending to the brain. Visual perceptual skills are important to writing, scissor skills, and other classroom tasks. It is important to work with your child on improving their visual perceptual abilities so that they can be more successful in school. Below are some activities that you can do with your child to address different areas of visual perception.
Form Constancy
This refers to the ability to recognize and give objects labels even if viewed from different perspectives or in a different environment.
This refers to the ability to recognize and give objects labels even if viewed from different perspectives or in a different environment.
- Ask your child to locate objects in your home that are a particular shape. You can have them look for as many squares, circles, diamonds, etc that they can.
- You can also place various small objects from around the room, then place them on a plate/tray and have your child identify which ones have circles on them, triangles, etc
Visual Discrimination
This skill helps a child see the subtle differences between objects or pictures and see if things match. This is often described as "paying attention to detail."
This skill helps a child see the subtle differences between objects or pictures and see if things match. This is often described as "paying attention to detail."
- Make 3-4 piece puzzles (or more) out of pictures of animals. Cut the puzzle pieces into straight lines and mix them up. Your child then has to pay close attention to detail to determine which pieces match to make the animal.
- Use a set of matching cards and place a few of the cards on the table (one of each pair). Hand your child one or more of the remaining cards and ask him/her to find the matching card from the pool on the table. You can increase the demands of this activity by increasing the number of cards on the table
Figure Ground
This is the ability to focus on one specific piece of information in a busy background. It is the ability to locate one object in a busy background.
This is the ability to focus on one specific piece of information in a busy background. It is the ability to locate one object in a busy background.
- Have your child find the matching sock or pick out their own clothes out of a pile of clothes.
- Sort different kinds of pasta or cereal based on size, color, or shape. They can then sort it into an egg carton or muffin tin.
- Play "I Spy" while going on a walk outdoors or on a rainy day indoors.
- You can make an object find game by filling a container with rice and various small objects. Make a list of the objects in the container and then have your child locate each object. This one can be lots of fun if you put lots of fun small objects in the container.
Visual Closure
The ability to correctly perceive an object or word, even when it is partially hidden. This ability helps you make quick sense of what you see, even if you don't have every little detail.
The ability to correctly perceive an object or word, even when it is partially hidden. This ability helps you make quick sense of what you see, even if you don't have every little detail.
- Gather a few household toys or shapes and have your child name them. Once you know your child can name/identify them, have them close their eyes while you hide them partially under a towel or cloth. Make sure that part of the object/shape is peeking out. Then have your child identify the shape/toy. The more similar the toys/shapes are, the harder the activity is.
- You can do this same thing with a form fitting puzzle by hiding parts of the pieces and challenging your child to figure out which puzzle piece goes where without seeing the entire piece.
Visual Memory
This skill is important for children to be able to learn sight words. It is the skill which enables you to recall or remember the visual details of what you have seen. This skill is extremely important for reading and writing. If this skill is poor, your child may struggle to copy work from the board or a book, copying only one letter at a time while his/her peers are copying whole words or sentences at a time.
This skill is important for children to be able to learn sight words. It is the skill which enables you to recall or remember the visual details of what you have seen. This skill is extremely important for reading and writing. If this skill is poor, your child may struggle to copy work from the board or a book, copying only one letter at a time while his/her peers are copying whole words or sentences at a time.
- Play a matching game like Memory with your child. This is a great way to build visual memory skills. If the whole game is challenging, narrow it down to 6-8 pairs and then gradually increase it as your child gets more proficient.
- You can play a visual memory game by gathering up some random household objects, placing them on a tray and covering them with a cloth. Be sure your child doesn't see the objects as you put them under the cloth. Let your child have a peek at them for a few seconds, then cover them back up and see how many they can remember. The more objects you add, the more difficult the activity becomes.
Visual Sequential Memory
This is the ability to remember visual details in the correct sequence. This is essential for spelling and reading.
- You can play he same game as you did with visual memory involving hiding items under a cloth, except have your child remember the items in order of how they were placed. Be sure you have the objects lined up so that your child can tell you them left to right.
- You can use Memory cards (from matching game) to play another game to address this skill. Split the pairs of cards between you and your child. Get a book or folder to serve as a divider between you and sit straight across from each other. Set out a few of your concentration cards 2-3 to start with in a row facing your child. Let them see the cards for a few seconds, then put the divider back and have them recreate the sequence you made with your cards. If they are struggling then give them another peek and start with fewer cards.
Information and activity ideas retrieved from OT Mom.
© Motor Development Team