"Visual perception is the ability of the eye to take in information and interpret it. It is not just seeing but translating visual images into information that the brain can remember, organize, recognize and use. It allows children to understand what an image means, such as shape and letter recognition" (Chung). Good ocular motor skills are also important in obtaining the information that is communicated to the brain. Activities that include a drawing or writing component are called visual perceptual motor activities. Below are the areas we work on to improve visual perceptual skills.
Visual discrimination: Refers to the ability to recognize the differences or similarities of objects based on size, color, shape, etc.
Visual memory: Refers to the ability to remember and recall the visual information we see
Visual sequential memory: Refers to the ability to recall a sequence of items in the correct order
Visual closure: Refers to the ability to recognize an object when the whole item is not shown
Visual spatial relations: Refers to the ability to perceive an object’s position in space in relation to another object (Depth Perception)
Visual figure ground: Refers to the ability to find an object in a busy background
Visual attention: Refers to the use of ocular motor skills such as fixation, visual tracking and visual scanning to obtain and focus on visual information that is communicated with the brain
Visual discrimination activities
Worksheets to find the same/different objects by color, size, matching , etc.
Find the matching pairs of socks in the laundry or sort them by different sizes
Sorting activities: silverware, coins, colored beads, sea shells, leaves, pasta
Use a memory game to sort all the pairs
"What's wrong with the picture" worksheet
"Find the difference between the 2 pictures" worksheets
Puzzles
Have a Scavenger Hunt!
Play a Bingo Game using letters, numbers, shapes and objects!
Go Fish
Visual memory activities
What's Missing Game: Use familiar objects, colors or shapes your child is able to name easily. Use less items at the beginning to make it easier. *Master challenge - keep all the objects covered and ask the child to recall as many items as possible!*
Room change game: Have the child leave the room, take an object out of the room and see if they can figure out what is missing
Play a Memory Game using letters, numbers, shapes or objects!
Look at a picture in a book or magazine, see if the child can draw or describe it from memory
Draw letters, shapes or numbers on a chalkboard or paper and see if the child can copy it from memory
Visual sequential memory activities
String beads or macaroni following a pattern card
Copying number, letter and shape pattern worksheets
Use Memory Game cards to make a pattern and have the child copy it
Have the child look at a series of letters or numbers and have the recall them from memory or write them down
Memorize phone numbers without looking
Practice spelling words from memory without looking
Visual closure activities
Puzzles
Complete/finish the picture worksheets
Mad libs
Dot Art
Match the complete to the incomplete picture worksheet
Cover half an object or letter with paper and ask child to name what it is
Visual spatial relations activities
Create a map to have them find objects around the house
Puzzles
Play baseball or basketball
Follow building set directions such as Legos or Knex
Play Simon Says with up/down, left/right, over/under type directions
Play on play ground equipment or make an Obstacle Course inside our outside!
Set the table
Play board games, chess or checkers
Complete worksheets that use a directional component
Build shapes or buildings using toothpicks and mini marshmallows
Visual figure ground activities
Word searches
Hidden pictures : There are free daily challenges at Highlights to do!
"I Spy" and "Where 's Waldo " books
Play pick up sticks
Overlapping picture worksheets
Find objects in a junk draw
Find a toy or stuffed animal hidden in a pile of other toys
Find food items in a pantry or in the fridge
Find objects or certain colors when going for a walk or driving in a car
Visual attention activities
Word searches
Secret message games
Reading
Scan a newspaper or book and find all of a certain letter
Complete timed tasks
Complete a relay race or obstacle course