visual perception

Activities for Teaching Colors

by
teaching colors

There are so many ways to include multisensory play in teaching colors to children. Here, you’ll find hands-on, creative ways to teach colors of the rainbow using play that helps kids develop skills, move, and grow. Use these color activities in preschool or to teach toddlers colors. It’s a fun way to develop visual discrimination skills in young children.

Teaching colors and coloring goes hand-in-hand. Our resource on the best crayons for toddlers is a huge help, especially when deciding on the type of crayon to use at the age of teaching colors to toddlers and young children.

Multisensory activities to teach colors to toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners.

I’m including color activities for kindergarten and school-aged children, as well, because this color themes can be used in therapy activities or to help kids develop handwriting, or visual motor skills in the older grades. There is a lot of fun, hands-on activities listed here that help children learn colors and explore through play!

Activities to teach colors to toddlers

Teaching Colors to Toddlers

Toddler play and development is all about the hands-on exploration of the world. We have a lot of toddler activities designed to develop motor skills and learning here on the website that you’ll want to check out.

To teach colors to toddlers, it’s all about making things fun. These toddler activities will get you started with hands-on development activities.

So many color activities in the toddler years involve sorting colors, identifying colors, and pointing out colors. All of these activities lay the building blocks for visual discrimination that kids will use in reading and writing down the road.

Try these activities for teaching colors to toddlers:

Toddler Color Sorting with Toys– This activity uses toys and items that are found around the home, making the color identification part of every day life. You can use items that the child uses and sees every day.

Teach Color Sorting Activity– This simple color sorting activity is great for families that have a preschooler and a toddler. The preschooler can cut foam sheets and work on scissor skills and then both the preschooler and toddler can sort the paper scraps by color. This is a nice activity that allows siblings to work together to learn concepts and grow skills together.

Color Sort Busy Bag– Toddlers love to drop items into containers, and put things into buckets, bins, and bags…and then take them back out again. It’s all part of the learning process! This color sorting busy bag gives toddlers colored craft sticks or dyed lollipop sticks and has them sort by color. It’s a great activity for developing fine motor skills and coordination, too.

Cup Sorting for Toddlers– This color sorting activity uses items in the home, like plastic toddler cups! There is just something about toddlers playing in the kitchen with baby-safe items…and this one builds pre-literacy and pre-math skills that they will use long down the road…through play!

Talk about colors– Pointing out colors during play, conversation, in reading books, and going for walks…there are so many ways to teach colors to babies and toddlers through everyday conversation. It’s as simple as saying, “look at that blue flower” to add descriptive terms to kids.

Color with painting– Incorporate all of the colors of the rainbow in multisensory activities from a young age. These art play activities incorporates colors into play and learning through art with toddlers.

Teach colors with a ball pit– Use ball pit balls in a baby pool. You can bring a baby pool indoors as a baby ball pit to teach colors. Here are other ball pit activities that can be used to teach colors.

Teaching colors to preschoolers with multisensory learning activities

Teaching Colors in Preschool

In the preschool stage, learning occurs through play! These color learning activities are designed to promote learning through hands-on exploration, because those are the ways that learning “sticks”…when hands are busy and developing motor skills that they will later need for holding and writing with a pencil. Let’s look at some ways to teach colors in the preschool years:

Color by Letter Worksheets– These are great for the preschool age because they are getting the exposure to letters in uppercase and lowercase format but not through writing. the coloring builds hand strength and fine motor skills needed in kindergarten and beyond.

Teaching Shapes and Colors with Rainbow Rocks by Fun-A-Day- This activity is fun because it uses the heavy weight of rocks to teach colors and shapes. But, kids are also strengthening their hands and gaining motor feedback about objects as they explore colors and other discriminating factors like weight and size.

Color and shape sorting– This preschool color sorting activity gives kids fine motor experiences with wikki stix. Ask preschoolers to copy the shapes, too for extra fine motor skill building and visual motor integration.

Fine Motor Color Sort– Grab an old spice container or cheese container, and some straws. This color sorting activity lays the groundwork for fine motor skill development and math skills. Kids can count the straws as they drop into the container and work on sorting colors while developing open thumb web space, separation of the sides of the hand and arch strength.

Color Matching Water Bin– This color learning activity is a sensory motor activity that also teaches letters. It’s perfect for preschool and kindergarten or even older grades as kids are immersed in multi- sensory learning with letters and pre-reading skills.

Clothespin Color Match– Children will love this fine motor activity that builds hand strength in a big way.

Bear Sees Colors Book and Activity– We used a snack to explore colors with a beloved preschool book. This is multisensory learning at its finest.

Gross Motor Color Games– There are many ways to explore and teach colors using games. Try some of these to add movement and play into learning colors at the preschool level:

  • Color I Spy- Call out a color and kids can run to touch something that is that color. Add variations of movement by asking kids to skip, hop, leap, crawl, or bear walk to touch the colors.
  • Color Simon Says- Call out directions based on clothing colors that kids are wearing. Add as many variations of movement and auditory challenges. This is a great activity for building working memory skills in preschoolers.
  • Color Tag- Kids can play tag and when they tag another player, they need to say a color for that person to go to. Another variation is having the players who are tagged run to a color that the tagger calls out.
Teaching colors to kindergarten children with multisensory learning activities.

Kindergarten Color Activities

At the kindergarten level, children are moving beyond basic color naming and into more advanced use of color in learning. At this stage of development, most children can consistently identify and name common colors, and they begin to understand how color relates to academic tasks such as sorting, categorizing, and following multi-step directions.

From a developmental perspective, kindergarteners are refining:

  • Color discrimination (noticing subtle differences between shades)
  • Conceptual understanding (recognizing that objects can be different colors)
  • Language use (describing and comparing colors)
  • Application of color knowledge in structured tasks

Color learning at this stage supports reading readiness, math concepts, and classroom participation. Children are often expected to follow directions such as “circle the green object” or “underline the word in red,” which requires both recognition and functional use of color.

Kindergarten Color Activities

  • Color-coded math sorting (by shape and color)
  • Graphing objects by color
  • Color pattern creation with blocks or beads
  • Following multi-step directions using color cues
  • Color scavenger hunts with written checklists
  • Color mixing experiments with paints
  • Sorting classroom objects into colored bins
  • Color-coded center activities
  • Matching shades and gradients
  • Color word recognition and labeling
  • Highlighting sight words by color
  • Directed drawing using specific colors
  • Color-coded obstacle courses
  • Using colored manipulatives for math problems
  • Sorting and categorizing by multiple attributes (color + size)

Teach Colors in Kindergarten and older grades

Once children are school-aged, teaching colors doesn’t end. In the school years, children explore color mixing, learning about primary colors, and more. Look at all of these color experiences that kids learn during the school years:

  • Spelling color names
  • Learning Primary Colors
  • Learning secondary colors
  • Color mixing
  • Color theory
  • Color wheel
  • Complimentary colors

Preschool Color Activities

Teaching colors in preschool is a huge part of the curriculum.

Teaching Colors to Preschoolers

In preschool, children are just beginning to develop the ability to recognize and name colors. This stage is focused on exposure, repetition, and meaningful interaction with color in everyday activities.

Developmentally, preschoolers are building:

  • Visual perception skills (noticing differences in color)
  • Early language development (learning color names)
  • Attention and memory (recalling color information)
  • Concept formation (understanding color as a property)

At this stage, children may recognize a color before they can name it. They also commonly confuse similar colors or use color names inconsistently. This is a normal part of development.

Why Teaching Colors Matters in Preschool

Teaching colors in preschool supports:

  • Early communication skills
  • Following simple directions
  • Participation in play and routines
  • Preparation for academic tasks

Color learning is most effective when it is embedded in play and daily experiences rather than taught in isolation.

How to Teach Colors to Preschoolers

  • Use repetition in daily routines (e.g., “Here is your blue cup”)
  • Focus on one or two colors at a time
  • Pair colors with familiar objects
  • Use hands-on, sensory-based activities
  • Keep learning playful and engaging
  • Color sorting with large objects
  • Matching colored blocks or toys
  • Simple color scavenger hunts
  • Finger painting with one or two colors
  • Color matching with stickers
  • Sorting pom-poms by color
  • Matching colored cups and objects
  • Color-themed sensory bins
  • Color hop games (jump to the color called out)
  • Matching colored shapes
  • Using dot markers for color matching
  • Sorting crayons by color
  • Color I Spy activities
  • Matching colored puzzle pieces
  • Rolling and matching colored balls

Try some of these color activities for older children:

Color I Spy free therapy slide deck- This color themed scavenger hunt will get kids up and moving, using the items they have in their home as they work on visual perceptual skills, handwriting, and more. Kids can visually scan around their home to match the colors on the slide deck. Then, there is a handwriting component. This is a great slide deck for anyone working on handwriting skills with kids, virtually.

Color Exercises– Use gross motor exercises and stretches as well as fine motor exercises to get kids moving while working on SO many skill areas: bilateral coordination, motor planning, strengthening, core strength, precision, dexterity, visual motor skills…

Rainbow Deep Breathing Exercise– This free printable PDF is super popular. There’s a reason why: kids love the deep breathing activity and We love the mindfulness, coping skills, calming, and regulation benefits. Great for all ages.

Rainbow Binoculars Craft– Kids can use paper towel tubes in a craft that helps them look for and identify colors. Use these rainbow binoculars in visual scanning, visual discrimination, visual figure-ground, and other perceptual skills.

Colored pencils activities– All you need is a couple of colored pencils (or substitute with a regular pencil if that’s all you’ve got on hand) to work on pencil control, line awareness, pencil pressure, and letter formation.

Benefits of coloring with crayons– Just grab a box of crayons and build so many fine motor and visual motor skills.

Make crayon play dough– Explore colors with heavy work input through the hands and arms using all the colors of the rainbow. This crayon play dough recipe is a popular sensory recipe here on the website.

Key Differences Between Preschool and Kindergarten Color Learning

  • Preschool focuses on exposure, recognition, and early naming
  • Kindergarten focuses on consistency, application, and use in academic tasks

Understanding this progression helps ensure that activities are developmentally appropriate and support functional skill development.

One activity book we love is our Colors Handwriting Kit:

Colors Handwriting Kit

Rainbow Handwriting Kit– This resource pack includes handwriting sheets, write the room cards, color worksheets, visual motor activities, and so much more. The handwriting kit includes:

  • Write the Room, Color Names: Lowercase Letters
  • Write the Room, Color Names: Uppercase Letters
  • Write the Room, Color Names: Cursive Writing
  • Copy/Draw/Color/Cut Color Worksheets
  • Colors Roll & Write Page
  • Color Names Letter Size Puzzle Pages
  • Flip and Fill A-Z Letter Pages
  • Colors Pre-Writing Lines Pencil Control Mazes
  • This handwriting kit now includes a bonus pack of pencil control worksheets, 1-10 fine motor clip cards, visual discrimination maze for directionality, handwriting sheets, and working memory/direction following sheet! Valued at $5, this bonus kit triples the goal areas you can work on in each therapy session or home program.

Click here to get your copy of the Colors Handwriting Kit.

Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

DIY Light Box for Tracing

by
Child tracing letters with a pen on a light table. Text reads DIY light table for tracing

This DIY light box for tracing is an easy light box we put together in minutes. All you need is an under the bed storage container and a string of lights to make a tracing tool that kids will love. There are benefits to tracing and this tool is a fun way to build fine motor skills and visual motor skills as a visual motor skill leading to better handwriting.

Amazon affiliate links are included in this blog post. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

DIY Light Box for Kids

A DIY light box is a simple and effective tool that can be used for learning, play, and creativity. Light boxes provide a bright surface that makes it easier to see lines, shapes, and images for tracing or visual exploration. You can easily create a light box at home using materials like a plastic storage bin, LED lights, and a translucent lid.

This type of setup is especially helpful for kids because it makes activities more engaging and visually clear. A homemade light box can be used for tracing, drawing, sensory play, and even early writing activities.

DIY Light Box for Tracing

A DIY light box for tracing is perfect for helping children practice handwriting, drawing, and visual motor skills. The light shining through the surface allows kids to clearly see letters, shapes, or pictures placed underneath a sheet of paper.

This makes it easier for children to trace lines accurately, which supports motor planning and control. A DIY tracing box can be used for tracing alphabet letters, numbers, shapes, and simple drawings. It is a great tool for kids who are just beginning to learn how to write or who need extra visual support.

Sensory Light Box and Tracing Table Ideas

A sensory light box adds an extra layer of engagement by combining visual input with hands-on exploration. Kids can place different materials on the light surface, such as colored shapes, beads, or translucent objects, to explore how light changes the appearance of items.

You can also use your light box as a tracing table by placing worksheets or drawings underneath paper. This creates a bright, inviting workspace that encourages focus and creativity. Sensory light boxes are especially helpful for children who benefit from visual and tactile learning experiences.

Can You Make Your Own Light Box?

Yes, you can absolutely make your own light box at home with simple materials. Many DIY versions use:

  • A clear or translucent storage bin
  • LED strip lights or push lights. You can also use a tablet or studio lights (a video ring light found at many stores)
  • Wax paper or parchment paper (to diffuse light)
  • A flat surface lid

By placing lights inside the bin and covering the top with a translucent surface, you can create an affordable and functional light box. This DIY option works well for home use, classrooms, or therapy settings.

Can I Use My iPad as a Light Box?

Yes, an iPad or tablet can be used as a simple light box alternative. By increasing the brightness and displaying a white screen, the tablet can provide enough light for basic tracing activities.

However, there are some limitations. Tablets are smaller than most light boxes and may not provide as much working space. They are also more delicate, so supervision is important. A tablet can be a convenient option for quick tracing tasks, while a DIY light box offers a larger and more durable surface for regular use.

Reduce glare by upping the brightness when placing the tablet inside the plastic bin.

Specific Tracing Activity Ideas

Using a DIY light box for tracing opens up many opportunities for learning and skill development. Here are some beginner-friendly tracing ideas that parents, teachers, and therapists can start using right away:

Letter Tracing

Place alphabet worksheets under paper and have children trace uppercase and lowercase letters. This supports handwriting development and letter recognition.

Shape Tracing

Use simple shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and stars. This helps build pre-writing skills and visual motor coordination.

Name Tracing

Write a child’s name in large letters and have them trace over it. This is a motivating way to practice writing.

Picture Tracing

Trace simple pictures such as animals, vehicles, or objects. This supports creativity and drawing skills. Make sure you use white paper to see the objects.

Line and Pattern Tracing

Use straight lines, zig-zags, curves, and waves to build control and precision needed for writing.

Number Tracing

Practice forming numbers by tracing over large, clear models.

Themed Tracing Pages

Create seasonal or themed tracing sheets (weather, holidays, animals) to keep activities engaging.

Why Use a DIY Tracing Box?

A DIY tracing box makes learning more interactive and accessible. The light helps children see lines more clearly, which can reduce frustration and improve accuracy. This tool supports fine motor skills, visual tracking, and hand-eye coordination while making writing practice feel more like play.

DIY light box for tracing

A light box is a fun activity, and one you see in preschool classrooms, as it’s intended for hands-on play and exploring the senses. But did you know there are many benefits to using a light box for tracing (and other exploring play)?

How to Make a DIY Light Table for Tracing

This DIY Light Box was something I’ve seen around Pinterest and have wanted to try for a while…Once we had our Christmas lights outside, I thought we would definitely be doing this project after we pulled all of the lights back in.  So, after we brought the Christmas lights in from the outside bushes, this was easy to put together for a cold evening’s play!

You need just two items to make a DIY light table:

(Amazon affiliate links)

  1. Strand of white Christmas lights
  2. Clear, plastic under-the-bed storage bin

Important: The under the bed storage bin needs to be made of clear plastic or have just a slight opaque color to the plastic. Also, the top should be smooth. Many storage bins have textured surface or a white surface. The flat, smooth lid is important for sensory play as well as tracing with paper on the DIY light table. This brand (affiliate link) is a good one to use.

Instructions to make a DIY light box:

  1. Plug in the lights.
  2. Place them into the bin.
  3. Either cut a hole in the base of the bin for the lights to go through or cut a small notch into the lid so the strand of lights can go under the lid.

To make this homemade light box safer and not use plug in lights, you can use battery operated button lights (affiliate link) inside the storage bin. Or, there are many battery operated LED lights available now too. These are a great idea because many of them have a color-changing capability and can be operated from an app on your phone.

IMPORTANT: This homemade light box project should always be done under the supervision of an adult. The lights can get warm inside the bin and they should be unplugged periodically.

This is not a project that should be set up and forgotten about. The OT Toolbox is not responsible for any harm, injury, or situation caused by this activity. It is for educational purposes only. Always use caution and consider the environment and individualized situation, including with this activity. Your use of this idea is your acceptance of this disclaimer.

I put all of the (already bundled-up) strands of Christmas lights …seriously, this does not get much easier…into an under-the-bed storage bin, connected the strands, and plugged in!

 

DIY light box for tracing

A DIY light box made with Christmas lights
 

Once you put the top on, it is perfect for tracing pictures!
 
Tracing on a DIY light box
 
 

Tracing pictures on a light table

 
This is so great for new (or seasoned) hand-writers.  They are working on pencil control, line awareness, hand-eye coordination…and end up with a super cool horse picture they can be proud of!
 
Use printable coloring pages and encourage bilateral coordination to hold the paper down. You can modify the activity by taping the coloring page onto the plastic bin lid. 
 
Tracing a picture on a DIY light table
 
 Big Sister LOOOOVED doing this!  And, I have to say, that she was doing the tracing thing for so long, that we had to turn the lights off because the bin was getting warm. 
 
 
 
trace letters on a light table
 

Other ways to use a DIY Light Table

 
We went around the house looking for cool things to place on top of the bin.  Magnetic letters looked really neat with the light glowing through…Baby Girl had a lot of fun playing with this.
 
You can add many different items onto the DIY light table:
  • Magnetic letters (the light shines through them slightly)
  • Sand for a tracing table- We cover how to use a sand writing tray in another blog post and all the benefits of tracing in a sensory medium. With the lights under the tracing area, this adds another multisensory component to the learning.
  • Shapes (Magnatiles would work well)
  • Feathers
  • Coins
  • Blocks
  • A marble run
 
letters on a light table
 
What a great learning tool…Shapes:
 
 
Letter Identification, spelling words:
 

 Color and sensory discrimination:
 
 
 
…All in a new and fun manner!  We had a lot of fun with this, but have since put our Christmas lights back up into the attic.  We will be sure to do this one again next year, once the lights come back out again 🙂
 

Please: if you do make one of these light boxes, keep an adult eye on it, as the box did warm up…not to burning warmth, but I would worry about the lights becoming over heated.  This is NOT something that kids should play with unsupervised!

Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

Working on fine motor skills, visual perception, visual motor skills, sensory tolerance, handwriting, or scissor skills? Our Fine Motor Kits cover all of these areas and more.

Check out the seasonal Fine Motor Kits that kids love:

Letters Fine Motor Kit
Kit de motricidad fina de verano
Summer Fine Motor Kit
Outer Space Fine Motor Kit
Space Fine Motor Kit
Spring fine motor kit
Valentines Day fine motor kit
winter fine motor kit
Winter Fine Motor Kit

Or, grab one of our themed Fine Motor Kits to target skills with fun themes:

Want access to all of these kits…and more being added each month? Join The OT Toolbox Member’s Club!

How to Improve Working Memory

by
working memory

Working memory is a skill we need for everything we do!  From answering the phone to shopping at the grocery store; working memory is happening at every given moment.  Kids who struggle with executive functioning skills often times have working memory challenges.

working memory activities

Working memory Examples

the best way to explain working memory is by looking at examples of working memory in action! We split these examples into sections based on age, because, remember executive functioning skills are developmental. We don’t fully develop executive functioning until mid 20’s so an example of working memory in a young child will look much different than in a middle school aged student.

Preschool Working Memory Examples (Ages ~3–5)

Working memory at this age helps children hold and use small pieces of information for short tasks.

  1. Remembering two-step directions (“Get your shoes and your jacket.”)
  2. Repeating a short sentence back to an adult
  3. Remembering where a toy was placed
  4. Following directions in a simple game like Simon Says
  5. Remembering the next action in a pretend play sequence
  6. Remembering the rules of a simple game
  7. Holding a short story in mind while answering a question
  8. Remembering which color block to stack next
  9. Copying a pattern with blocks
  10. Remembering the location of puzzle pieces
  11. Finding matching cards in a memory game
  12. Remembering which crayon they were using
  13. Listening to a short instruction while beginning the task
  14. Remembering which cubby belongs to them
  15. Repeating numbers or words in a sequence
  16. Remembering which snack they chose earlier
  17. Remembering what item to bring to the table
  18. Keeping track of a turn in a game
  19. Remembering a simple song or rhyme
  20. Following a classroom routine sequence

Elementary School Working Memory Examples (Ages ~6–10)

Working memory becomes more important for academic tasks and classroom participation.

  1. Remembering multi-step instructions from the teacher
  2. Holding spelling words in mind while writing them
  3. Copying sentences from the board
  4. Remembering math steps while solving a problem
  5. Remembering story details during reading
  6. Keeping track of place while reading a paragraph
  7. Remembering homework instructions
  8. Listening to directions while gathering materials
  9. Following directions during art projects
  10. Remembering the next step in a science activity
  11. Recalling vocabulary words during discussion
  12. Remembering math facts while solving problems
  13. Holding numbers in mind during mental math
  14. Writing sentences while remembering punctuation rules
  15. Remembering classroom rules during group work
  16. Keeping track of materials needed for a task
  17. Following instructions during PE games
  18. Remembering characters and events in a story
  19. Completing worksheets with multiple directions
  20. Remembering teacher expectations for assignments

Middle School Working Memory Examples (Ages ~11–13)

Working memory supports more complex learning, organization, and reasoning. We also have a resource on middle school occupational therapy.

  1. Remembering steps in multi-step math equations
  2. Keeping track of information during lectures
  3. Following multi-step science experiments
  4. Remembering reading assignments across chapters
  5. Writing essays while holding ideas in mind
  6. Remembering discussion points during group work
  7. Keeping track of homework from multiple classes
  8. Remembering locker combinations
  9. Managing materials for different subjects
  10. Remembering instructions for technology tasks
  11. Taking notes while listening to a teacher
  12. Remembering rules during team sports
  13. Keeping track of steps when solving word problems
  14. Remembering writing prompts while composing responses
  15. Holding multiple ideas during class discussions
  16. Organizing ideas during brainstorming
  17. Remembering steps while editing writing
  18. Managing schedules for classes and activities
  19. Remembering expectations for long-term projects
  20. Keeping track of multiple assignments

High School Working Memory Examples (Ages ~14–18)

Working memory becomes essential for complex reasoning, studying, and planning. Also check out our resource on high school occupational therapy.

  1. Remembering lecture information while taking notes
  2. Holding multiple steps in advanced math problems
  3. Remembering information during test-taking
  4. Managing long reading assignments
  5. Organizing ideas for essays or presentations
  6. Remembering study materials across subjects
  7. Planning steps for projects and reports
  8. Holding information while solving complex problems
  9. Managing schedules with multiple classes
  10. Remembering deadlines and due dates
  11. Taking notes while analyzing information
  12. Remembering instructions for lab experiments
  13. Managing multiple pieces of information during debates
  14. Holding research points during presentations
  15. Remembering study strategies for exams
  16. Managing information during group projects
  17. Following complex directions in technical classes
  18. Remembering driving rules during learning
  19. Tracking information during problem-solving tasks
  20. Planning multi-step tasks for assignments

Young Adult Working Memory Examples

Working memory supports independence, decision-making, and job tasks. Here is more on adults and executive functioning.

  1. Remembering instructions from supervisors
  2. Managing multiple tasks at work
  3. Following steps in cooking recipes
  4. Holding directions in mind while driving
  5. Managing schedules and appointments
  6. Keeping track of financial tasks and bills
  7. Remembering details during meetings
  8. Managing information while studying in college
  9. Following multi-step workplace procedures
  10. Holding ideas in mind while problem-solving
  11. Organizing information for reports or presentations
  12. Managing tasks during busy workdays
  13. Remembering steps when assembling items
  14. Keeping track of items needed for errands
  15. Remembering conversation details during discussions
  16. Holding instructions while completing projects
  17. Managing academic deadlines
  18. Remembering passwords or codes temporarily
  19. Following instructions during training
  20. Planning and executing daily routines independently



working Memory

 Let’s talk about what working memory is and how to improve working memory in kids so they can be successful in those everyday tasks.

Use these strategies to help improve working memory in kids with sensory processing struggles or executive functioning difficulties.

 

What is Working Memory?



Working Memory is the ability to act on past memories and manipulating the information in a new situation.  

Processing short term memories and using it allows us to respond in new situations.  

Working memory allows us to learn. Using working memory skills we can use past information in reading in order to read sight words.  

We can remember math facts, state capitals, mnemonics, phone numbers, addresses, and friends’ names.  We can then use that information to answer questions based on what we know and apply that information in new situations.


Executive functions are heavily dependent on attention.  Read about the attention and executive functioning skill connection and the impact of attention on each of the executive functioning skills that children require and use every day.


In order for working memory to be used in daily tasks, we need a few key items.  Our brain might be considered a memory soup and the key ingredients to working memory are attention, focus, auditory memory and visual-spatial memory.


Read more about visual memory and how to incorporate strategies into play.

Use these strategies to improve working memory skills in kids.

Mix all of those ingredients together and you will end up with working memory that can be used to problem solve any given situation.


You can see how children who struggle with the underlying “ingredients” of attention, concentration, auditory processing, and visual processing will be challenged to pull that information into an unrelated event.  The child with sensory processing disorder who is also struggling with social emotional issues might end up in meltdown mode.  The child who can not generalize facts to a new environment might withdrawal.


Read more about attention and how to help kids improve attention with easy strategies for home and school.

 

All of these situations can potentially lead to difficulty with problem solving. Children are developmentally growing every day in relating past information. Yes, we say thank you EVERY time someone holds the door for us, not just that one time last week.  By going through our day, kids learn these things!


The child who is struggling with any of the key ingredients related to working memory, it can be really hard to generalize.

Many parents, teachers, and therapists of kids with executive functioning skills or sensory processing challenges wonder how to improve working memory. These strategies for working memory skills will help.

 

How to Improve Working Memory

Try these working memory strategies to help improve this executive functioning skill:

  1. Take notes
  2. Daily Journal- The Impulse Control Journal is a great tool for keeping track of day to day events
  3. Notebook with times for daily tasks
  4. Practicing the ability to stop and think in practice and in real-life situations. This skill allows one to complete tasks or respond using past experiences.
  5. Writing down information (opposed to typing or tracking on an app)
  6. Setting an alarm for tasks
  7. Second set of school books for home
  8. Dry erase board notes to be used in tasks like cleaning a room
  9. Mnemonics
  10. Guided imagery
  11. Mental rehearsing
  12. Imagine a task in pictures (like a cartoon strip of a day’s event)
  13. Analyzing problem areas
  14. Practice through rehearsal
  15. Routines
  16. Rewards
  17. Reminder messages including verbal, picture, or app-based
  18. To-do lists with physical action (pull off a post-it note when completed)
  19. Task sequencing lists
  20. Play memory games, such as matching games or memory card games.
  21. Use mnemonic devices to help remember information, such as acronyms or visual cues.
  22. Repeat information to yourself multiple times to help solidify it in your memory.
  23. Use visualization techniques to create mental images of information you need to remember.
  24. Break down complex information into smaller chunks to make it more manageable to remember.
  25. Use repetition and rehearsal to help remember important information.
  26. Practice active listening by summarizing and repeating back what someone has said to you.
  27. Write down important information or ideas to help reinforce them in your memory.
  28. Use technology, such as digital reminders or voice memos, to help you remember important information.
  29. Practice mindfulness exercises to improve focus and concentration, which can help with working memory.
  30. Engage in regular aerobic exercise, which has been shown to improve working memory.
  31. Play strategy-based games, such as chess or Sudoku, to help improve working memory skills.
  32. Use self-testing or quizzing techniques to help reinforce information in your memory.
  33. Break tasks down into smaller steps to make them more manageable to remember.
  34. Use different sensory modalities, such as sight and sound, to help reinforce information in your memory.
  35. Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, to help reduce stress and improve working memory.
  36. Engage in activities that challenge your working memory, such as learning a new language or musical instrument.
  37. Use context cues or associations to help remember information, such as associating a person’s name with a visual cue or location.
  38. Prioritize and focus on the most important information to remember.
  39. Get enough sleep, as lack of sleep can negatively impact working memory skills.
  40. Repeat complex instructions
  41. Break down complex instructions into step-by-step directions with pictures, such as a more detailed version of a visual schedule

Working Memory Activities

In addition to the working memory strategies listed above, there are specific activities you can do to build working memory. Try these ideas:

Digit Recall Activities- Work on repeating numbers in a series. The individual can repeat back numbers in 2 to 3 digit series in both forward and reverse. Then, you can add on additional digits. Continue to grade the digit activities in greater difficulty by adding digits to the thread of numbers or adding letters. To increase the difficulty of this activity even further, ask the individual to write down the series of numbers and letters, and add time in between the given number and when they are asked to recall the series.

Word Sequences- Similar to the number sequences described above, you can use visual pictures of words, or auditory word sequences. Ask the individual to repeat back the series of words.

Ordering Activities- Another great working memory activity is sequential ordering of images or objects by size. You can target this activity to meet the interests of the individual. Think about ordering animals, sports balls, toys, or other items by size. Offer a specific number of items and challenge the individual to remember all of the objects in the series. Increase the difficulty by asking the individual to order objects by largest to smallest and then by smallest to largest.

Instructional Sequencing Activities- This working memory activity focuses on functional tasks and can target goals of the individual. For example, a child working on brushing their teeth can order the steps of the activity from memory. Then, you can ask the child to list the steps in reverse. 

More tools for addressing attention needs in kids

There are so many strategies to address attention in kids and activities that can help address attention needs. One tactic that can be a big help is analyzing precursors to behaviors related to attention and addressing underlying needs. 

The Attention and Sensory Workbook can be a way to do just that. 

The Attention and Sensory Workbook is a free printable resource for parents, teachers, and therapists. It is a printable workbook and includes so much information on the connection between attention and sensory needs. 

Here’s what you can find in the Attention and Sensory Workbook: 

  • Includes information on boosting attention through the senses
  • Discusses how sensory and learning are connected
  • Provides movement and sensory motor activity ideas
  • Includes workbook pages for creating movement and sensory strategies to improve attention


A little more about the Attention and Sensory Workbook: 


Sensory processing is the ability to register, screen, organize, and interpret information from our senses and the environment. This process allows us to filter out some unnecessary information so that we can attend to what is important. Kids with sensory challenges often time have difficulty with attention as a result.

It’s been found that there is a co-morbidity of 40-60% of ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder. This workbook is an actionable guide to help teachers, therapists, and parents to help kids boost attention and focus in the classroom by mastering sensory processing needs. 

You will find information on the sensory system and how it impacts attention and learning. There are step-by-step strategies for improving focus, and sensory-based tips and tricks that will benefit the whole classroom.

The workbook provides tactics to address attention and sensory processing as a combined strategy and overall function. There are charts for activities, forms for assessment of impact, workbook pages for accommodations, and sensory strategy forms.
 
Grab the Attention and Sensory Workbook below.
 
 

Attention and sensory workbook activities for improving attention in kids

These strategies to improve working memory are helpful tools for addressing short term memory in tasks.

References:
Gentry, T. (2015, September). Mobile technologies as vocational supports for workers with cognitive-behavioral challenges. Technology Special Interest Section Quarterly, 25(3), 1–4.

FREE Attention & Sensory Workbook

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.
    Built with ConvertKit

    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    Saccades and Learning

    by

    Read below to learn about visual saccades and learning in kids, including how saccades affect learning, more about what are visual saccades, or visual scanning, and what saccadic movement looks like. You’ll also find information on saccades and smooth eye movements and the visual processing needs that impact learning. This information on vision can be helpful for the occupational therapist working with a child or student with vision related learning challenges as a result of visual saccades.

    What Are Saccadic Eye Movements?

    Saccades are quick, precise eye movements that allow the eyes to jump from one target to another. These movements help the brain rapidly shift visual attention so we can scan words while reading, move between objects in the environment, or look back and forth between items during daily activities.

    Instead of moving smoothly across the visual field, the eyes make these rapid jumps to bring new information into focus. Saccades work together with other visual skills like visual tracking, visual attention, and visual perception to help the brain process visual information efficiently.

    Children rely heavily on saccadic eye movements during school tasks. Reading lines of text, copying from the board, solving math problems, and scanning worksheets all require accurate and well-controlled saccades.

    What Is the Function of a Saccade?

    The primary function of a saccade is to quickly shift the eyes from one visual target to another so the brain can gather new visual information. This ability allows a person to scan the environment, locate objects, and move their visual attention efficiently.

    In children, this skill supports many important tasks, including:

    • Reading across a line of text
    • Copying information from the board to paper
    • Scanning worksheets for answers
    • Tracking moving objects during play
    • Shifting attention between visual targets

    Efficient saccadic movements allow children to move their eyes quickly while maintaining accuracy and visual focus.

    What Do Saccades Indicate?

    Saccadic eye movements provide information about how well the visual system and brain are coordinating eye movement control. When saccades are accurate and well timed, they support efficient reading, visual attention, and learning.

    However, when saccadic movements are poorly controlled, children may show signs such as:

    • Losing their place while reading
    • Skipping words or lines
    • Difficulty copying from the board
    • Slow visual scanning
    • Eye fatigue during schoolwork

    These signs can sometimes be mistaken for attention problems when the underlying challenge may involve visual processing or oculomotor control.

    Visual Saccades and Learning

     

    Saccades and saccadic eye movements have a huge impact on learning and reading.

     

     

    For more information on saccades, check out this post on what exactly is visual scanning.

    As therapists, we are often asked to provide consultation services to a child who cannot copy from the board, from one paper to another, frequently loses their place while reading, and has frequent errors in spelling and writing tasks, along with sloppy handwriting. These children are typically in first or second grade, maybe even third. They are good students who appear to be struggling for some unknown reason.  An underlying vision concern may be the culprit of these student’s difficulties, with the underlying concern being impaired saccades, or visual saccadic movements. 

     
    What are visual saccades? Saccadic eye movement is so essential for reading and learning!




    What are Saccades?

    Have you heard the term, visual saccades before? Maybe not! Let’s break this down into an explanation…

    Saccades Definition: 

    Saccadic movement, or more commonly known as saccades, is the ability of the eyes to move in synchrony from point A to point B rapidly WITHOUT deviating from the path. 


    Typically, we look for these patterns to be established in left/right and top/bottom patterns as they are the easiest to identify. 


    However, if the saccadic movement is not impaired, the eyes should be able to move in all directions in synchrony between two or more given points. 

    Difference between Saccades and Pursuits


    Before moving on, I want to clear up the difference between saccades and smooth pursuits. 

    These two are often confused, but are really very difference. Saccades and smooth pursuits are the two parts of eye teaming. 

    Smooth pursuits allow visual tracking of a moving item while saccades allow synchronized, rapid eye movement between two or more given points such as in visual scanning.

    What are Impaired Saccades?

    Impaired saccadic movement is when the eyes do not move in synchrony in a designated pattern such as left/right and top/bottom. 


    They may jump randomly or move in uncoordinated patterns that can lead to confusion of where the child was previously in reading and written work. 

    What Does it mean to have Problems with Saccades

    Below is a simple passage that we would expect a first grader to be able to read and what they might read with an impairment of saccadic eye movement.

    The black cat sat next to the pumpkin. The black cat liked the pumpkin. 
    The black cat meowed at the pumpkin.

     

    This is what a child with impaired saccadic eye movement may have read:

    The cat sat to pumpkin. 
    The black cat liked pumpkin. 
    The cat meowed the pumpkin.

    This example is a demonstration of the “jumping” that may occur when reading or copying a sentence. While the child was reading, they may have stumbled and corrected themselves realizing they were not in the right spot and missing words along the way. 

    Children who present with impaired saccades ofen times are shy when reading out loud to peers and adults because of this. 

    Identifying Saccadic Impairments

    Impaired saccadic movements are very difficult to see in screenings. The most common presentation of impaired saccadic movement is slight jerks, or jumps at the midline or outer edges of field of vision. They are so small, that they can be missed or mistaken for a twitch. Despite their small outward appearance, impaired saccadic movement can have significant impacts on the child’s learning.


    In therapy or a classroom setting, having a child read the letters of a simple word search from left to right and top to bottom can provide an indication if they are unable to follow structured patterns with supports such as pointing with a finger, or covering up the lines under the one the child is looking at.


    Here are some helpful strategies that can accommodate for visual problems in the classroom.

    What Causes Saccadic Impairments?

    It is unclear what causes saccadic movement impairments in children. It is clear however, that the child’s eyes have not learned to move in structured patterns between two points rapidly, which can significantly inhibit the learning process.  

    Why Visual Attention Matters for Learning

    Visual attention is the ability to focus your eyes and brain on what matters while filtering out distractions. It plays a key role in how kids learn and function in the classroom. From reading across a line of text to copying from the board or tracking moving objects, visual attention is essential for school success.

    This skill overlaps closely with saccadic eye movements. The quick jumps our eyes make from one visual point to another. When visual attention is weak, a child may lose their place while reading, skip lines, or struggle to copy from a distance. These issues often present as trouble with reading fluency, handwriting, or task completion, especially in fast-paced classroom settings.

    The Impact of Shortform Video on Visual Skills

    Many children today spend hours watching shortform video content like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikToks. These videos shift scenes rapidly, are designed to grab attention instantly, and rarely require sustained focus. While entertaining, they don’t promote the kind of prolonged visual engagement kids need for schoolwork.

    Instead of training the brain to hold attention on a steady visual target, this kind of content encourages constant scanning and shallow focus. Over time, this can affect a child’s ability to engage in tasks that require visual endurance…needed for tasks like reading, writing, or completing a worksheet. The visual system becomes wired for quick novelty rather than sustained attention, which is a skill required for academic success.

    What Parents and Teachers Can Do to Help

    Parents, educators, and therapists can help by being intentional about building visual attention through meaningful activities. Set limits around passive screen time, especially shortform video content. Encourage games and play that involve scanning, searching, and visual tracking. Some ideas include: 

    • “I Spy,” memory games
    • Word searches
    • Flashlight tag
    • Scanning a wall for alphabet letters or shapes

    In therapy sessions, focus on saccadic exercises that also build visual endurance. This can be activities like: 

    • Tracking a moving object with the eyes
    • Scanning for items in a cluttered scene
    • Using printable worksheets that require visual jumps between targets.
    • Simple adjustments like minimizing background clutter and increasing contrast in materials can also support attention and reduce fatigue

    Finally, communicate with families about what you observe in therapy and how they can support visual attention at home. Offering structured breaks, reading together without distractions, and incorporating movement-based eye activities can help balance screen exposure and support the development of strong visual systems.

    Signs of Saccadic Movement Impairments in the Classroom

    Like many underlying vision concerns, screenings alone cannot determine impairments. 

    Some supporting signs that a child may have a saccadic movement impairment can be found below: 

    • Difficulties copying work from the board to a paper without errors or omission of words
    • Difficulties copying work between two papers without errors or omission of words
    • Difficulties reading passages of work, specifically 2 or more lines of text
    • Losing place when reading frequently
    • Utilizing a finger to track when reading 
    • Frequent errors when spelling
    • Poor spacing and orientation to the line when writing 

    Final Note on Impaired Saccadic Movements


    Saccades plays a crucial part in eye teaming, reading and writing. When it is impaired, the child may experience high levels of frustration, embarrassment and difficulties with their daily reading and writing tasks.  Like many underlying vision deficits, impaired saccadic movements has many variations in presentation, and should be monitored closely by therapists and educators to ensure referrals to the developmental optometrist are made when necessary. 

     

    Free visual processing email lab to learn about visual skills needed in learning and reading.





    Looking for more information on vision? Check out my OT Vision Screening Packet for helpful handouts and a screening tool.

     

    Occupational Therapy Vision Screening Tool

    This visual screening tool was created by an occupational therapist and provides information on visual terms, frequently asked questions regarding visual problems, a variety of visual screening techniques, and other tools that therapists will find valuable in visual screenings. 

     
    This is a digital file. Upon purchase, you will be able to access the 10 page file and print off to use over and over again in vision screenings and in educating therapists, teachers, parents, and other child advocates or caregivers.
     
     
    Saccades and learning, read more to find out what are saccades, how to screen for visual saccades, and what saccadic impairments look like.
     
    More Visual Processing Posts you will love: 
     

    More information on saccades:

    For even MORE on visual saccades and the impact visual skills play in learning, you will want to join our free visual processing lab email series. It’s a 3-day series of emails that covers EVERYthing about visual processing. We take a closer look at visual skills and break things down, as well as covering the big picture of visual needs.

    In the visual processing lab, you will discover how oculomotor skills like smooth pursuits make a big difference in higher level skills like learning and executive function. The best thing about this lab (besides all of the awesome info) is that it has a fun “lab” theme. I might have had too much fun with this one 🙂

    Join us in visual processing Lab! Where you won’t need Bunsen burners or safety goggles!

    Click here to learn more about Visual Processing Lab and to sign up.

    Are Saccades Good or Bad?

    Saccades are a normal and essential part of vision. They allow the eyes to gather visual information quickly and efficiently.

    Problems arise only when the movements are inaccurate, slow, or poorly coordinated. When this occurs, children may struggle with tasks that require visual scanning, reading, or shifting visual attention.

    With practice and targeted activities, saccadic eye movement skills can often improve, helping children become more efficient in school tasks.

    What Is the Difference Between Saccades and Nystagmus?

    Saccades and nystagmus are both eye movements, but they serve very different purposes.

    Saccades are intentional, rapid eye movements that shift visual focus from one object to another. These movements are controlled and purposeful.

    Nystagmus, on the other hand, involves involuntary eye movements that occur repeatedly and rhythmically. These movements are not under voluntary control and are often associated with neurological or vestibular conditions.

    While saccades are necessary for everyday visual tasks like reading and scanning, nystagmus can interfere with visual stability and clarity.

    What Causes Abnormal Saccades?

    Several factors can contribute to difficulty with saccadic eye movements. In children, these challenges may be related to:

    • Immature visual motor development
    • Oculomotor control difficulties
    • Visual processing challenges
    • Neurological conditions
    • Vision disorders that affect eye coordination

    Sometimes children develop compensatory strategies, such as moving their head instead of their eyes or using their finger to track words.

    Symptoms of Saccadic Eye Movement Difficulties

    Children with saccadic eye movement challenges may show signs such as:

    • Losing place while reading
    • Skipping words or lines
    • Difficulty copying from the board
    • Slow reading speed
    • Head movements instead of eye movements
    • Poor visual scanning in worksheets or games

    Teachers may notice that the child appears inattentive during reading tasks or struggles to keep up with written work.

    Saccadic Eye Movement Activities

    Occupational therapists often use playful activities to help children strengthen visual scanning and eye movement control.

    Here are some effective saccadic eye movement activities:

    Letter Jump Activity

    Write letters on two sides of a page or wall. Ask the child to quickly look from one letter to the next without moving their head.

    Sticker Target Game

    Place small stickers on a wall or paper. The child shifts their eyes quickly between targets as you call them out.

    Flashlight Tag

    In a dim room, shine a flashlight on different objects and have the child move their eyes quickly to locate each target.

    Word Search Activities

    Word searches encourage visual scanning and fast eye movements between letters.

    Craft Stick Tracking

    Write letters or numbers on craft sticks and hold two up at a time. The child looks quickly between them to identify each symbol.

    A Pediatric Occupational Therapist’s Perspective

    When I work with a child who has difficulty with saccadic eye movements, I often explain to parents and teachers that the child’s eyes and brain are simply having trouble coordinating quick visual jumps between targets.

    For example, a child who struggles with saccades may lose their place when reading or have difficulty copying from the board because their eyes cannot efficiently move back and forth between visual targets. This can make school tasks feel slow, frustrating, and exhausting.

    During therapy sessions, I use playful activities that strengthen the connection between the eyes and the brain. Games that involve scanning, searching, or quickly shifting visual attention help the child practice these eye movements in a fun and motivating way.

    I also reassure parents and teachers that these challenges are not related to intelligence or effort. Instead, they reflect how the visual system is developing. With practice and the right supports, many children can improve their eye movement control and become more confident with reading and classroom tasks.

    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    Looking for a consistent way to support fine motor skills all year?
    This yearlong fine motor system includes seasonal activity kits and monthly data collection tools to support planning and progress monitoring.

    If fine motor planning and data collection feel overwhelming, you’re not alone.
    This done-for-you yearlong bundle organizes seasonal activities and monthly screening tools in one system.

    Get the Yearlong Fine Motor and Data Collection Bundle today!

    Spaceman Writing Tool

    by
    Spacing tool for spacing between words in handwriting

    This spacing tool is an alien craft that kids can make and use as a spacing tool for handwriting. A spaceman writing tool is a powerful device to help kids with spacing in handwriting, specifically space between letters and words when writing. We’ve come up with a few different spacing tools in the past, and this space themed spacing tool helps kids better understand the concepts of spatial awareness for better legibility in written work.

    Teaching proper letter spacing in handwriting doesn’t have to be boring—meet your new writing sidekick: the Spaceman Writing Tool! This fun, kid-made spaceman for writing helps children visually and physically separate words on the page. Whether you call it a word spacer tool, spaceman spacer, or star spacer handwriting tool, this simple craft stick Martian is a fun and effective way to improve spacing between words.

    Perfect for occupational therapy for writing, classroom handwriting instruction, or home use, this DIY spacing tool for writing gives students a concrete visual cue to help keep their words from crowding together. It’s a space-themed handwriting exercise that brings structure, independence, and just the right amount of fun to writing practice.

    This space martian spacing tool goes really well with our block light saber spacing tool!

    Sometimes, a child’s handwriting doesn’t improve given time and practice in the classroom. You might see a child copying words or sentences and squishing all of the words and letters together in a long string. There might be no space or inconsistent spacing between letters and words. It can be frustrating for the child and their parent or teacher.

    Spacing Tool

    This spacing tool will help with spacing in handwriting in a fun way.  My second grader and I had fun creating this Space Martian Spacing Tool and using it to practice spacing between words.

    Spacing tool for spatial awareness in handwriting, using a space theme

    Spacing Tool for poor spacing in handwriting

      This post contains affiliate links.  

    Poor spacing in handwriting can be a visual tracking problem.  It could be visual inattention or poor hand eye coordination.  Sometimes, spacing is just something that needs more practice and a visual prompt like this space alien can help.  

    We’ve shared other versions of spacing tools to support these needs:

    What Is a Spaceman Writing Tool?

    The spaceman writing tool that we made is a small, craft-based object (like a decorated popsicle stick) used to teach word spacing in handwriting. It’s commonly used in classrooms and occupational therapy for writing sessions to give students a consistent way to mark space between words.

    Benefits of Using a Word Spacer Tool

    I love using a visual tool like this one for several reasons.

    • Encourages consistent spacing
    • Improves legibility
    • Builds independence
    • Supports spatial awareness (important in OT)
    • Engages young writers in a multisensory way
      Include how this tool supports distal finger exercises by giving physical feedback between words.

    Try this easy DIY version is actually a spaceman spacer for writing…but the alien version!

    Make a spacing tool with this space martian craft, and work on visual tracking, visual perceptual skills, and visual attention in handwriting.

    Make a Spaceman Writing Tool

    You can easily make this spacing tool with just a few materials:

    1. To make the spacing tool, ask students to use glue to add a small dot of glue to the back of the googly eye. What a great fine motor precision and eye-hand coordination job.

    2. Next, stick the googly eye onto one end of the green craft stick.

    3. Cut the letter C foam sticker in half. Glue each piece to the craft stick above the googly eye.

    And that’s it! If you don’t have foam letter stickers, you could use small pieces of pipe cleaners or scraps of paper.

    Here’s a video showing how to make this space alien spacing tool:

    Work on spacing in handwriting with a spacing tool craft kids can make.

     Use this handwriting spacing tool between letters and words.  Encourage your child to move the spacer over between words.  Sometimes, just that visual cue is enough to help.  The physical act of moving the craft stick to space between words can provide enough input to a child that they become more aware of the need to space, and are able to carryover the skill without using the physical reminder for spacing.  

    Visual Perception and spatial awareness in kids. What is Spatial awareness and why do kids have trouble with spacing between letters and words, reversing letters, and all things vision. Great tips here from an Occupational Therapist, including tips and tools to help kids with spacing in handwriting.

    HANDWRITING SPACING TOOL

    Another easy way to make a handwriting spacing tool involves materials you have around the home, like buttons. The main thing to address with a handwriting spacing tool is a spatial awareness and using a craft that kids can make adds meaning and motivation to work on spacing between letters and words.  

    When kids learn to write, it can be difficult to work on all of the parts of handwriting.  There is holding the pencil, and using muscles to maintain a grasp while writing sentences. Then there is letter formation.  Putting it all together can be challenging.  

    In Kindergarten, children really work on letter formation, and especially lower case letter formation. When you throw in the lines and spacing to writing, it can be a real frustration for a new writer!  That’s where using a fun spacing tool comes into play. It allows for appropriate spatial awareness in handwriting is accurately spacing letters within words and spacing words correctly within a sentence.      

    For another spacing tool idea, try this easy (and inexpensive!) way to create a Spacing tool using buttons. This spacing tool can be used in handwriting tasks, as a tool for spacing between letters and words.  

    Visual Perception and spatial awareness in kids. What is Spatial awareness and why do kids have trouble with spacing between letters and words, reversing letters, and all things vision. Great tips here from an Occupational Therapist, including tips and tools to help kids with spacing in handwriting.

    How to make a spacing tool with buttons

    Spacing between words and letters can be easy with this button spacing tool.  It’s easy to make and can be created using items you already have.  The cost of this activity should be very inexpensive, especially if you use items you already have.  

    To make spacing tool you’ll need just a couple of items: (This post contains Amazon affiliate links.)

    • Craft stick
    • Glue
    • Buttons

    We used a colored craft stick and brightly colored button that we received from www.craftprojectideas, but you could use any material you have in your home.  Have a bin of beads or crafting pom poms in your craft supplies?  Use beads instead of buttons. Other ideas include craft pom poms or pipe cleaners.

    1. First, glue one button to the end of a popsicle stick or even a pipe cleaner.  
    2. Let it dry.
    3. Then, use the spacing tool while your child is writing words and sentences.  Show them how to place the button spacing tool between words and sideways between letters. 

    This post is part of our 31 Days of Occupational Therapy where I’m sharing tips and tools for many developmental areas using free or inexpensive materials.     For more spatial relations related to handwriting, check out our Visual Tracking activities. 

    RELATED READ: Spatial Awareness Tips and Tools

    Spacing tool with an alien craft.

       

    Visit our Visual Motor Skills page for more ideas in all thing visual perception and kids!      

    Occupational Therapy Tips for Teaching Spacing with a Hands-On Approach

    In occupational therapy sessions, teaching proper spacing between words often involves visual cues, as well as other areas in a multisensory learning experience. We need to see motor planning, spatial awareness, and self-monitoring during written tasks.

    The spaceman writing tool is an excellent way to incorporate proprioceptive feedback and tactile input into handwriting instruction. Here’s how to make it more hands-on:

    1. Physically Move the Pencil with Intention

    After completing a word, instruct the child to set their pencil down briefly, pick up the spaceman tool, and place it against the end of the word. This pause gives their body and brain time to reset before starting the next word.

    Then, the child uses their dominant hand to hold the pencil and their non-dominant hand to hold the spacer in place, which promotes bilateral coordination and fine motor precision. As they slide the pencil to the other side of the spacer, they get a physical sense of space, which helps internalize how much room to leave between words.

    2. Add a Cueing Routine

    Teach a routine like “Write-Stop-Space-Slide-Write” to support sequencing and executive function during written tasks. These verbal prompts paired with physical actions help students self-monitor spacing over time.

    3. Use Heavy Work and Movement Breaks

    Incorporate heavy work before writing (e.g., wall push-ups, towel wringing, or chair pushes) to activate proprioceptive input and support postural stability, which improves writing control and precision.

    4. Encourage Consistency Across Settings

    Have students take their spaceman spacer tool between home and school (or OT sessions and class) as part of their self-regulation and academic routines. This builds confidence and consistency in their handwriting performance, especially for children working on functional school-based goals.

    More Spacial Awareness Activities

    Know a kiddo that loves all things space, astronauts, and planets? The Outer Space Fine Motor Kit is your chance to develop fine motor strength, dexterity, and coordination skills.

    Addressing hand strength, endurance, and precision is out of this world fun! The Outer Space Fine Motor Kit includes:

    • Fine Motor Mazes
    • Fine Motor Ten Frames for motor activities
    • 1-20 Star Counting Cards
    • Bead Copying Strips
    • Space Alien Directed Drawing Sheets

    This fine motor kit includes 24 pages of printable resources. Included in this printable pack are:

    1. Two pages of color coded bead copying strips
    2. Two pages of blank bead copying strips
    3. Four pages of “draw and write” directed drawing activities with a space theme (Includes 3 styles of handwriting lines: highlighted lines, single rule, and double rule)
    4. Nine pages of fine motor mazes
    5. 1-20 Outer Space Counting Cards
    6. Four pages of fine motor ten frames activities

    These printable activities extend to work on a variety of other functional areas, too: handwriting skills, numbers, math, adding, subtracting, one-to-one correspondence, scissor skills, coloring, and more.

    Click HERE to grab the Outer Space Fine Motor Mini-Kit.

    Outer Space Fine Motor Kit
    The Handwriting Book is a comprehensive resource created by experienced pediatric OTs and PTs.

    The Handwriting Book covers everything you need to know about handwriting, guided by development and focused on function. This digital resource is is the ultimate resource for tips, strategies, suggestions, and information to support handwriting development in kids.

    The Handwriting Book breaks down the functional skill of handwriting into developmental areas. These include developmental progression of pre-writing strokes, fine motor skills, gross motor development, sensory considerations, and visual perceptual skills. Each section includes strategies and tips to improve these underlying areas.

    • Strategies to address letter and number formation and reversals
    • Ideas for combining handwriting and play
    • Activities to practice handwriting skills at home
    • Tips and strategies for the reluctant writer
    • Tips to improve pencil grip
    • Tips for sizing, spacing, and alignment with overall improved legibility

    Click here to grab your copy of The Handwriting Book today.

    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    Spatial Awareness Toys and Activities

    by
    Toys for spatial awareness

    For kids that struggle with body awareness, position-in-space, and overall spatial understanding, spatial awareness toys are fun ways to develop a specific set of skills that impact function of every day tasks. Occupational therapy toys like these space-based play support development of these areas. Want to help kids become more aware of their body position, the space that they need to function, write, and perform tasks through play? Here we are talking spatial awareness toys!

    Let’s talk toys to support spatial awareness skills.

    Amazon affiliate links are included in this blog post. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Spatial awareness toys and spatial awareness games to develop visual spatial skills.

    Spatial Awareness Toys

    In this post, we’ll cover a few different things:

    • Spatial Awareness Definition
    • Spatial awareness activities
    • An easy spatial awareness tool for handwriting
    • Spatial awareness toys

    Kids are often motivated by play as a means to support development of skills. When games and toys develop skills in which they struggle, it can be meaningful and engaging for the child. They may not even realize they are developing those skill areas through play. Before we get to the toy ideas, let’s go over spatial awareness in more detail.

    Spatial Awareness Definition

    First, let’s cover the definition of spatial awareness. You might be thinking…ok, I know a child who might be having issues with awareness of space during functional tasks… But exactly what is spatial awareness?

    The definition of Spatial Awareness is being aware of oneself in space. Incorporating body awareness, visual spatial skills, and orientation, spatial awareness involves positioning oneself and/or functional items (pencil, a ball, a bag of groceries, etc.) in relation to oneself and the world around.

    Spatial awareness means several things:

    • Awareness of spatial concepts can look like reaching for items without overshooting or missing the object.
    • It can mean use of a map to navigate streets or a new middle school.
    • It can incorporate spacing between letters and words in handwriting.
    • It can mean navigating a crowded hallway while carrying a backpack and a stack of papers.
    • It might mean walking in lines in school or waiting far enough apart from other students so that each individual has their own personal bubble of space.

    Being able to reason about the space around us, and how to manipulate objects in space, is a critical part of everyday life and everyday functional tasks. This specific skill allows us to safely cross a street, fold clothing, load the dishwasher, place objects in a locker, put together a piece of “some assembly required” furniture, and other functional cognitive tasks. And these skills are especially important for educational success in particular handwriting tasks, math, STEM, and science.

    Most of us realize as we walk through a doorway that we need to space ourselves through the middle of the door.  Those with poor visual spatial skills may walk to closely to the sides and bump the wall.

    Visual-spatial skills are used when a middle school or high school student uses a map to navigate a new school. Orienting yourself on the map and then relating that to the real world to make turns, movements in a large space takes a complex set of skills guided by visual spatial relations.

    Spatial awareness skills also involve the fine motor tasks of coordinating handwriting with writing in spaces allowed on paper, placing letters within an area (lines), and forming letters in the correct direction.  

    So what is spatial awareness? Let’s break it down even further…

    Spatial awareness and spatial perception

    Spatial Awareness can be broken into three areas, specifically related to spatial perception: position in space, depth perception, and topographical orientation.

    1. Position in Space– where an object is in space in relation to yourself and others. This skill includes awareness of the way an object is oriented or turned.  It is an important concept in directional language such as in, out, up, down, in front of, behind, between, left, and right. Children with problems with this skill area will demonstrate difficulty planning actions in relation to objects around them.  They may write letter reversals after second grade.  They typically show problems with spacing letters and words on a paper.  
    2. Depth Perception– Distances between a person and objects.  This ability helps us move in space. Grasping for a ball requires realizing where the ball is in relation to ourselves.  Kids with deficits in this area may have trouble catching a ball or walking/running/jumping over an obstacle. Copying words from a vertical plane onto a horizontal plane may be difficult and they will have trouble copying from a blackboard. 
    3. Topographical Orientation– Location of objects in an environment, including obstacles and execution of travel in an area.  Kids with difficulties in this area may become lost easily or have difficulties finding their classroom after a bathroom break.

    Visual Spatial Skills develop from an awareness of movements of the body.  If a child has true visual spatial skills, they will likely demonstrate difficulties with athletic performance, coordination, and balance.  They may appear clumsy, reverse letters and numbers in handwriting, and may tend to write from right to left across a page.  They will have difficulty placing letters on lines, forming letters correctly, and forming letters with appropriate size.   

    When kids struggle with the ability to perceive where they are in space…when children are challenged to identify how much room they need to navigate the world around them…These are all examples of spatial awareness skills.

    What is spatial awareness and how does it relate to handwriting

    Visual Perception and spatial awareness in kids. What is Spatial awareness and why do kids have trouble with spacing between letters and words, reversing letters, and all things vision. Great tips here from an Occupational Therapist, including tips and tools to help kids with spacing in handwriting.
    Letter size and use of margins also fall under the term “spatial awareness”. Use these spacing tool ideas to support spatial awareness in handwriting.
    What is spatial awareness? Tips and tools for handwriting, reading, scissors, and all functional skills in kids and adults, from an Occupational Therapist.
    Visual Perception and spatial awareness in kids. What is Spatial awareness and why do kids have trouble with spacing between letters and words, reversing letters, and all things vision. Great tips here from an Occupational Therapist, including tips and tools to help kids with spacing in handwriting.
    You can use a spacing tool to support spatial awareness skills in kids.

    visual spatial relations activities

    Addressing spatial awareness can occur with a handwriting spacing tool like the one we made, but other spacing activities can help with visual spatial relations, too. Try some of these activities:

    • Create an obstacle course using couch cushions, chairs, blankets, pillows, and other items in the house.
    • Try this activity for teaching over, under, around, and through with pretend play.
    • Create a paper obstacle course.  Draw obstacles on paper and have your child make his /her pencil go through the obstacles.  Draw circles, holes, mud pits, and mountains for them to draw lines as their pencil “climbs”, “jumps”, “rolls”, and even erases!
    • Write words and letters on graph paper.  The lines will work as a guide and also a good spacing activity.
    • Use stickers placed along the right margin of  to cue the student that they are nearing the edge of paper when writing.  
    • Highlight writing lines on worksheets.
    • Draw boxes for words on worksheets for them to write within.
    • Play Simon Says. Print off these Simon Says commands to target specific skill areas in therapy sessions or at home.
    • Practice directions.  Draw arrows on a paper pointing up, down, left, and right.  Ask your child to point to the direction the arrow is pointing.  Then have them say the direction the arrows are pointing.  Then create actions for each arrow.  Up may be jumping. Down may be squatting. The Left arrow might be side sliding to the left, and the Right arrow might be a right high kick. Next, draw more rows of arrows in random order.  Ask your child to go through the motions and try to go faster and faster.

    spatial awareness Activities  

    For more multisensory learning and hands-on play incorporating the development of spatial awareness skills, visit these blog posts:

    Spatial Awareness Toys

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Looking for more tools to improve visual spatial awareness?  The toy ideas below are great for improving visual tracking and visual scanning in fun ways.  These toys, games, and ideas may be a great gift idea for little ones who have visual perceptual difficulties or problems with spacing and handwriting, body awareness in space, letter reversals, detail awareness, or maintaining place while reading.  

    SO, save these ideas for grandparents and friends who might ask for gift ideas for birthdays and holidays.  These are some powerhouse spatial awareness ideas!

    Spatial awareness toys and spatial awareness games for kids

      When working on spatial awareness in handwriting, kids can count the number of holes in the pegboard in this Construction and Building Toy. (affiliate link) Copy instructions to build 3D structures while working on spacing of pieces and awareness of details in this fun engineering toy. 

    Mini erasers (affiliate link) as a spacing tool. Kids can write while keeping the small eraser on their desk. When they space out words, use the eraser as a measuring tool, just like our button buddy. You can also encourage them to finish their writing task and then go back and check over their work for spatial concepts with the eraser. 

    Practice spatial awareness of the edges of the page by using a Clear Rulers. (affiliate link) Kids can place the ruler along the edge of the paper to know when to stop writing and to use as a visual cue. Sometimes kids try to squish a word in at the end of a line when there is not enough room. Line the ruler up along the edge and as they write, they can see that they are nearing the edge of the paper.     

    Use a highlighter (affiliate link) to draw dots between each word, to provide a visual cue for spacing between words. You can also draw a line along the edge of the paper for a visual cue that the child is nearing the edge of the paper. 

    Wooden Building Blocks Sets (affiliate link) are powerful ways to support spatial awareness development. Similarly, and great for targeting body awareness related to objects in the area around us, is this DIY cardboard bricks activity which children love.

    Spatial Awareness Games

    One study found that children who play frequently with puzzles, construction, and board games tend to have better spatial reasoning ability. 

    To get the whole family in on a spatial reasoning game while working on placement of pieces, try IQ Twist (affiliate link) for a game of logic as you place pieces in this puzzle.

    This related IQ Arrows game (affiliate link) develops spatial relations but is great for adding to an occupational therapy bag. Use the arrows in play dough to work on directionality with heavy work through the hands. Make mini fine motor obstacle courses and other spatial relations activities on a smaller scale.

    Kanoodle (affiliate link) works on pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and is a great way to practice spacing needed in handwriting.   

    A toy like a geoboard allows a child to copy forms while counting out spaces of pegs. Try these Geoboards. (affiliate link)

    Here are more spatial awareness games and specifically spatial reasoning games: These are Amazon affiliate links.

    Toys for Body in Space Awareness

    These toys specifically address body awareness and directional awareness to help with overall spatial awareness development. Position in space impacts functioning in daily tasks at home and in the community. This plays a part in social emotional development and overall confidence as well. When a child feels confident in their body in space awareness, they can navigate the world around them with ease.

    And, in regards to handwriting, sometimes, spacing problems on paper have to do with difficulties with directional awareness.

    Use Arrows (affiliate link) to start at the basics and practice naming left/write/top/bottom. Use them in whole-body movement activities where the child copies motions based on the arrow placement. Watch to make sure kids are not over stepping their allotted space. 

    Use Wikki Stix (affiliate link) for spacing on paper with physical cues for margins and spacing. Use the wikki sticks to space between words and a “ball” of the wikki stick to space between words.

    Position in Space Toys

    What is spatial awareness? Use these activity suggestions from an occupational therapist.

    More Occupational Therapy Toys

    1. Fine Motor Toys 
    2. Gross Motor Toys 
    3. Pencil Grasp Toys 
    4. Toys for Reluctant Writers 
    5. Toys for Spatial Awareness 
    6. Toys for Visual Tracking 
    7. Toys for Sensory Play 
    8. Bilateral Coordination Toys 
    9. Games for Executive Functioning Skills 
    10. Toys and Tools to Improve Visual Perception 
    11. Toys to Help with Scissors Skills 
    12. Toys for Attention and Focus

    Printable List of Toys for Spatial Awareness

    Want a printable copy of our therapist-recommended toys to support spatial awareness?

    As therapy professionals, we LOVE to recommend therapy toys that build skills! This toy list is done for you so you don’t need to recreate the wheel.

    Your therapy caseload will love these SPATIAL AWARENESS toy recommendations. (There’s space on this handout for you to write in your own toy suggestions, to meet the client’s individual needs, too!)

    Enter your email address into the form below. The OT Toolbox Member’s Club Members can access this handout inside the dashboard, under Handouts. Just be sure to log into your account, first!

    Therapist-Recommended ​
    SPATIAL AWARENESS TOYS HANDOUT

    ​

      We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

      Visual Tracking Tips and Tools for Treatment

      by

      Here we are covering all things visual tracking, including what visual tracking means, how to improve visual tracking skills, and visual tracking toys to support development of this visual processing skill.

      Amazon affiliate links are included in this blog post. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Visual Tracking toys and tools to improve visual fixation, visual tracking, visual saccades, in handwriting, reading, and so many functional daily tasks and skills in kids.

      What is Visual Tracking

      Visual tracking is typically defined as the ability to efficiently move the eyes from left to right (or right to left, up and down, and circular motions) OR focusing on an object as it moves across a person’s visual field.

      This skill is important for almost all daily activities, including reading, writing, cutting with scissors, drawing, and playing.  According to typical development of visual processing, the ability to visually track objects emerges in children around the age of five.  

      Reading a paragraph without losing their place, copying a list of homework from the chalkboard, misalignment of vertical and horizontal numbers in math problems, confusion in interpreting written direction, mixing up left/right, persistent letter reversals…Does any of this sound familiar? It’s all visual tracking!  

      Vision and visual tracking are tasks that happen without us even realizing.  The brain and it’s jobs is an amazing thing and our eyes are moving, tracking, scanning, focusing, pursuing, and accommodating without us even realizing.     There are many ways to work on visual perception in playful and creative ways.

      Related is the visual figure ground piece, which allows us to pull visual information from a busy background, and track that visual input.  

      visual tracking exercises

      Visual Tracking Exercises

      Using visual tracking exercises like the one described below can be a powerful way to use eye exercises to improve vision in kids. These are the visual skills needed not for visual acuity, but rather, those unseen visual problems that impact visual processing skills.

      Visual tracking exercises can include vision therapy activities that improve areas such as visual saccades or smooth visual pursuit.

      Difficulties in Visual Tracking

      You might see problems with these tasks if a child has difficulty with visual tracking:

      • Losing place when reading.  Re-reads or skips words or lines.  
      • Omits, substitutes, repeats, or confuses similar words when reading.
      • Must use finger to keep place when reading.
      • Poor reading comprehension.
      • Short attention span.
      • Difficulty comprehending or remembering what is read.
      • Confusion with interpreting or following written directions.
      • Writing on a slant, up or down hill, spacing letters and words irregularly.
      • Confusion with left/right directions.
      • Persistent reversals of letters (b, d, p, q) when naming letters.
      • Reverses letters when writing (persistent reversals after 2nd grade.)
      • Errors when copying from a chalkboard or book to paper.
      • Misalignment of horizontal and vertical series’ of numbers in math problems.

      Also related to visual tracking and very similar while being involved in many of these problem areas, is visual scanning.  

      It is important to note that not all of these difficulties indicate a true visual tracking and or visual scanning problem.  For example, many children demonstrate poor reading comprehension and may show a short attention span while not having visual scanning problems.  

      All children should be evaluated by a pediatric physician, behavioral optometrist, and occupational therapist to determine true visual processing and visual tracking or visual scanning deficits.  These recommendations are meant to be a resource.    

      Visual Tracking toys and tools to improve visual fixation, visual tracking, visual saccades, in handwriting, reading, and so many functional daily tasks and skills in kids.

      Visual Tracking Activities

      Today, I’m sharing an easy visual tracking activity that will help kids with many functional difficulties.  This post is part of our new series where we are sharing 31 days of Occupational Therapy using mostly free or inexpensive materials.

      Today’s activity should cost you at most $2 unless you already have these items in your craft cupboard or office supplies.  Add this activity to your treatment bag for multiple activities.  Read on:

      Amazon affiliate links below.

      This Visual tracking activity is easy to set up.  Gather recycled bottle caps.  I used round dot labels (affiliate link) from our office supplies to color the inside of each cap.  You could also use a marker or paint to color the bottle caps.  Use what you’ve got on hand to make this treatment activity free or almost free!   Next, gather matching crafting pom poms. (affiliate link)  These can be found at the dollar store for and inexpensive treatment item.    

      visual tracking activities

      Skills Related to Visual Tracking

      It’s important to mention that there are several skills related to visual tracking. These sub-areas should be identified as a piece of the overall puzzle. Areas related to visual tracking play a role in the eyes ability to fixate on an object and follow it as it moves. These skills include:

      • Visual fixation
      • Peripheral tracking
      • Visual pursuit

      Visual Fixation Activity: (Maintaining vision on an item in the visual field) Work one eye at a time.  

      1. Have your child close one eye and place a colored crafting pom pom onto a matching bottle cap.  They need to use one hand to place the pom pom into the corresponding bottle cap and not move bottle caps around on the table.
      2. After the child has filled all of the bottle caps using one eye, repeat the task with the other eye.  
      3. Then complete the activity using both eyes.    
      4. You can also do this activity by placing the label dots on a paper. Match the bottle caps onto the dots. 

      Visual Stare Activity (the amount of time the eyes can fixate on an object without eye movements)

      1. Hold up one bottle cap on your nose.
      2. Ask your child to sit about 18 inches from you and stare at the bottle cap.  Note their eye movements as they stare.  
      3. Keep track of time that the child can stare at the target without visual saccades (eye movements).

      Peripheral Tracking Activity (visually tracking from the peripheral visual fields)

      1. Arrange the bottle caps on the table.  
      2. Place a pom pom in the center of the table, with the bottle caps all around it.  
      3. Ask your child to stare at the pom pom. While keeping their head still and only moving their eyes, ask them to quickly find a bottle cap with the same color.  
      4. Ask them to scan to another bottle cap of the same color until they’ve found all of the caps with that color.  
      5. You can add a level to this task by writing letters or numbers in the bottle caps and asking the child to find letters in order or numbers in order.

      Visual Tracking Pursuit Activity (watching and tracking a moving object)

      1. Set one bottle cap on the right side of the table.  
      2. Place another at the left side.  
      3. The adult should blow a crafting pom pom from the right to the left and ask the child to follow the pom with his eyes, without moving their head.
      4. Repeat by blowing the pom pom from the left to the right, front to back, and back to front in front of the child.

      Visual Tracking Tracing Lines (Watching a pencil line as it is formed, and following the line with eye-hand coordination to trace with a pencil or marker)

      1. Set one vertical row of bottle cap on the left side of the child.  
      2. Place another vertical row on the right side.
      3. The adult should draw a line from one bottle cap on the left side to a matching bottle cap on the right side.  
      4. Instruct the child to follow the pencil as you draw.  Nest, trace the line with your finger.  
      5. Ask the child to trace the line with their finger.  
      6. They can then trace the lines with a pencil or marker.
      Visual Tracking toys and tools to improve visual fixation, visual tracking, visual saccades, in handwriting, reading, and so many functional daily tasks and skills in kids.

      More eye tracking Strategies

      • Complete mazes
      • Do puzzles.
      • Use a newspaper or magazine article.  Ask your child to highlight all of the letter “a’s”.
      • Draw or paint pictures.
      • Place a marble in a pie pan.  Rotate the pan around and watch the ball as it rolls. Don’t move your head, only your eyes!
      • Find as many things shaped like a a square in the room.  Repeat the activity, finding all of the circular shaped items in the room.
      • Play “I Spy.”
      • Dot-to-dot pictures.
      • Play balloon toss.
      • Use tracing paper to trace and color pictures.
      • Trace letters with chalk.
      • Play flashlight tag on walls and ceilings. The adult an child each holds a flashlight. As the adult shines the light on walls, the child keeps their light superimposed on top of yours. Start with simple strait lines.  Then add curved lines, then a circle.  Tell them what you are drawing next.  Advance the activity by drawing shapes without telling them what you are doing next.
      • Play with wind-up cars.
      • Create a race track on the floor. Follow cars with your eyes.
      • Roll a ball between you and the child.  Roll from left-right, right-left, front-back, back-front, and toss the ball.

      Visual Tracking toys and tools to improve visual fixation, visual tracking, visual saccades, in handwriting, reading, and so many functional daily tasks and skills in kids.

      Visual tracking Toys

      Looking for more tools to improve visual tracking?  The toys below are great for improving visual tracking and visual scanning in fun ways.  These toys, games, and ideas may be a great gift idea for little ones who have visual perceptual difficulties or problems with visual tracking and handwriting, body awareness in space, letter reversals, detail awareness, or maintaining place while reading.  

      SO, save these ideas for grandparents and friends who might ask for gift ideas for birthdays and holidays.  These are some powerhouse visual tracking ideas!

      Use Pattern Blocks and Boards (affiliate link) to work on visual fixation of shapes and sizes of shapes. 

      This Wooden Tangram Puzzle (affiliate link) has many different shapes and forms that can be copied from instructions. Copying from a diagram is a great way to practice visual tracking.

      For younger kids, this Wooden Stacking Toy encourages tracking for color sorting.  Try some of our pom pom activities that we discussed above!

      Mazes are excellent for fostering and building on visual tracking skills. Particularly those that involve a moving ball such as a Marble Run (affiliate link)
      or a labrynth (affiliate link).

      Watching a ball or moving object that is thrown around a room (like a balloon) is a great way to work on tracking in a big area. These Sportime Sensory Balls SloMo Balls (affiliate link) are lightweight and move more slowly than a typical ball, allowing kids to visually track the bright color. These are very cool for games of toss and rolling in all planes and directions. Use them to address peripheral tracking as well. 


      A flashlight can be used in so many visual tracking activities. Shine the light on words or letters taped to walls. Play “I Spy” in a dark room, shine shapes like this flashlight (affiliate link)can for visual tracking and form tracking.

      More visual Tracking Toys

      These visual tracking toys are Amazon affiliate links.

      Also check out these other top occupational therapy toys:

      1. Fine Motor Toys   
      2. Gross Motor Toys 
      3. Pencil Grasp Toys 
      4. Toys for Reluctant Writers 
      5. Toys for Spatial Awareness 
      6. Toys for Visual Tracking 
      7. Toys for Sensory Play 
      8. Bilateral Coordination Toys 
      9. Games for Executive Functioning Skills 
      10. Toys and Tools to Improve Visual Perception 
      11. Toys to Help with Scissors Skills 
      12. Toys for Attention and Focus 

      Printable List of Toys for VISUAL TRACKING

      Want a printable copy of our therapist-recommended toys to support visual tracking skills?

      As therapy professionals, we LOVE to recommend therapy toys that build skills! This toy list is done for you so you don’t need to recreate the wheel.

      Your therapy caseload will love these VISUAL TRACKING toy recommendations. (There’s space on this handout for you to write in your own toy suggestions, to meet the client’s individual needs, too!)

      Enter your email address into the form below. The OT Toolbox Member’s Club Members can access this handout inside the dashboard, under Handouts. Just be sure to log into your account, first!

      Therapist-Recommended ​
      VISUAL TRACKING TOYS HANDOUT

      ​

        We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
        Visual Tracking toys and tools to improve visual fixation, visual tracking, visual saccades, in handwriting, reading, and so many functional daily tasks and skills in kids.

        Visual Perception Toys

        by

        Let’s talk visual perception toys. These games, toys, and play are designed to promote visual perceptual skills: a complex combination of various visual processing skills. These visual perceptual skills are necessary together and in coordination with one another in order for use to see information. Occupational therapy toys that visual information to create responses support functional abilities like movement or processing.

        Amazon affiliate links are included in this blog post. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

        Visual perception Toys

        Visual perception is our ability to make sense of what we see. Visual perceptual skills are essential for everything from navigating our world to reading, writing, and manipulating items.

        Here is more information about strategies to address visual perceptual skills and handwriting. Also, be sure to check out our blog post on types of eye specialists. and this resource on behavioral optometrists.

        Use these visual perception toys to help kids develop and improve visual perceptual skills needed for handwriting, reading, and writing.


        What are Visual Perceptual Skills?

          This post contains affiliate links.   

        Visual Perceptual Skills and how they are used to complete tasks like reading, writing, manipulating items, and functioning in everyday tasks:

        Visual Memory– This is one’s ability to store visual information in short term memory.  This skill allows us to recall visual information.  When completing hidden picture puzzles, kids visually store images of items they are looking for when scanning to locate a specific shape or image.  This skill is necessary for handwriting tasks when copying information from a source, such as lists of words, homework lists, and copying sentences.   

        Visual Closure– This visual perceptual skill allows us to see part of an object and visualize in our “mind’s eye” to determine the whole object.  When we see part of an item we use visual closure to know what the whole item is.  This skill requires the cognitive process of problem solving to identify items.  Visual Closure is used to locate and recognize items in a hidden picture puzzle.  In written work, we use visual closure to recognize parts of words and letters when reading and copying work.  

        Form Constancy– This skill allows us to visually recognize objects no matter their orientation.  When completing a hidden picture puzzle, children can recognize the missing object whether it is upside down or sideways.  In handwriting skills, we use this ability to read and know letters and numbers no matter which direction we see them.   

        Visual Spatial Relationships- This visual perceptual skill allows us to recognize and understand the relationships of objects within the environment and how they relate to one another.  

        Visual Discrimination–  This visual perception skill enables us to determine slight differences in objects.  In hidden picture activities, this skill is needed to determine and locate different hidden objects.  When writing and reading, visual discrimination allows us to perceive the difference between “p” and “d”. Puzzles including ones like the wooden letter puzzle described below address visual discrimination. There are many puzzles on the market that meet different age and grade levels. Here are a variety of puzzles (affiliate link) to consider.    

        Visual Attention- This visual perceptual skill allows us to focus on the important pieces or parts of what we see. When we “take in” a scene or image in front of us, we are able to filter out the unimportant information. In this way, a student is able to focus our eyes on the teacher when she teaches. Driving down a road requires visual attention to take in the road so we can drive safely. Visual attention is important in copy work as students copy information from a Smart Board or book onto a piece of paper. As they visually scan from one point to another, they attend to the place they left off. Visual attention is also important and very needed in reading.   

        Visual Sequential Memory- This visual perceptual skill is the ability to visually take in and then later recall the sequence or order of items in the correct order. This skill is important in reading and writing. Visual sequential memory is important in spelling words correctly and recognizing that words are not spelled correctly.  

        Visual Figure-Ground–  This skill enables us to locate items in a busy background.  Finding hidden items in a hidden pictures puzzle works on this skill by visually scanning and identifying items within a busy scene.  In handwriting, visual figure ground is necessary for copying written work from a model and locating the place left off when shifting vision.  

        Toys to Improve Visual Perception

        Highlights Hidden Pictures book set– (affiliate link) Hidden pictures are a fantastic tool for helping kids develop and strengthen visual perceptual skills like figure ground, visual attention, visual discrimination, form constancy, and visual memory. This set of hidden pictures is a nice stocking stuffer that disguises “work” as a rainy day activity.

        Self-Correcting Heads & Tails Animal Match Puzzle– (affiliate link) Puzzles like this one helps kids address visual perceptual skills like visual discrimination, figure-ground, visual attention, form constancy, and visual memory. These are easy puzzles that can be used with younger children. Add this game to an older child’s visual perceptual activities by asking them to write stories or sentences based on the puzzle pieces while sneaking in visual perceptual skill work.

        Self-Correcting Counting Puzzle– (affiliate link) This puzzle is very similar to the previous match puzzle, only it uses math concept to match. Work on visual perceptual skills with a math component.

        Uppercase & Lowercase Alphabet (affiliate link) Help kids develop skills in upper/lowercase letter matching by addressing visual discrimination, form constancy, spatial discrimination, form constancy, visual memory, and visual discrimination.

        Preschool Alphabet Animal Wooden Puzzle (affiliate link) Visual discrimination is a skill needed for noticing differences in letters like letters b and d. It’s a skill that carries over to reading and noticing the differences between words like can and car.  visual discrimination skills enable the eyes to notice differences between the orientation and parts of letters and can promote a more fluent reading ability. This skill is also important in math and spelling.  Puzzles like this one also help with form constancy, visual figure ground, among other visual perceptual skills. 

        Pixy Cubes -(affiliate link) Noticing small differences in colors and direction is an important part of visual discrimination and reading, writing, math, and spelling. These skills are important for fluency as children age and need to complete reading and math skills at faster levels appropriate for grade advances. Matching and figuring out visual puzzles like this one address skills like visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, spatial relationships, and visual sequencing.

        Learning Resources iTrax Critical Thinking Game– (affiliate link) This visual perceptual toy allows children to copy and build designs using blocks of different sizes. Children can develop and boost visual perceptual skills such as visual figure-ground, visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, and spatial relationships in order to create the mazes that they see on the cards. There are various levels of mazes, allowing for development of skills.

        Learning Resources Dive into Shapes! “Sea” and Build Geometry Set– (affiliate link) This building set is a visual perception activity that develops various visual perceptual skills needed for skills such as handwriting and reading. Using double-sided activity cards, children can develop skills such as visual figure-ground, visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, and spatial relationships while they copy the three-dimensional figures they see on the cards. This activity is a powerhouse therapy tool as children can strengthen fine motor skills while building with the pieces.

        Tumble Trax Magnetic Marble Run– (affiliate link) This marble run building set is a visual perception activity that develops various visual perceptual skills needed for skills such as handwriting and reading. Children can copy different levels of marble run forms using activity cards while developing skills such as visual figure-ground, visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, and spatial relationships. The magnetic pieces can be used on surfaces such as a refrigerator or large magnetic sheet on the wall. It’s a great tool for strengthening the upper body, developing balance and core stability, and shoulder stability while working on a vertical surface.

        Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set– (affiliate link) Use the activity cards to copy maze forms while developing visual perceptual skills such as visual figure-ground, visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, and spatial relationships. The maze is a great self-confidence booster for children as they complete mazes for the battery operated mouse. This game provides an opportunity for developing and introducing coding skills. When watching the mouse as it travels through the mouse, children can enhance visual scanning skills.

        Let’s Go Code! Activity Set– (affiliate link) This visual perception game requires children to hop, turn, step, and move through a gross motor maze of directions. Children can develop visual perceptual skills such as visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, and spatial relationships. Directionality is enhanced with movement activities such as this one and is much needed in tasks such as writing and identifying direction of letters and numbers. 

        Spot It– (affiliate link) This game is a fun way to help children develop and strengthen visual perceptual skills like figure ground, visual attention, visual discrimination, form constancy, and visual memory. The game is small enough to be used as a busy activity while waiting at restaurants and appointments. It’s a game that boosts skills and can be used during family game night, too.

        Q-bitz Jr.– (affiliate link) Noticing differences in colors, forms, and directions are important skills needed in visual discrimination for reading, writing, math, and spelling. These skills are important for fluency as children age and need to complete reading and math skills at faster levels appropriate for grade advances. This game is a fun way to address skills like visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, spatial relationships, and visual sequencing.

        Wooden Pattern Blocks Set– (affiliate link) These copying puzzle activities is a great way to develop skills like form constancy and visual discrimination. Children can look at the picture card and recreate the form using three dimensional blocks. It’s a nice way to develop visual perceptual skills like visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, spatial relationships, and visual sequencing.

        Classic Tangoes– (affiliate link) Similar to the tangrams above, children can view the image on a card and use tangrams to re-create the picture in this classic game. This activity develops visual perceptual skills like visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, spatial relationships, and visual sequencing, form constancy, and visual discrimination, all needed for handwriting and reading. Read more about using tangrams in visual perception and handwriting.

        Equilibrio Game– (affiliate link) This building activity requires players to copy forms from a puzzle book while re-creating buildings that challenge balance and gravity! When copying and building the forms, kids develop and build eye-hand coordination skills and visual perceptual skills like visual attention, visual memory, visual sequencing, spatial relationships, and visual sequencing, form constancy, and visual discrimination.

        Use visual perception toys to support the development of visual perceptual skills in kids.


        More Therapy Toys

        Looking for more toys to address specific skill areas? Check out these occupational therapy toys:

        1. Fine Motor Toys 
        2. Gross Motor Toys 
        3. Pencil Grasp Toys 
        4. Toys for Reluctant Writers 
        5. Toys for Spatial Awareness
        6. Toys for Visual Tracking
        7. Toys for Sensory Play 
        8. Bilateral Coordination Toys 
        9. Games for Executive Functioning Skills
        10. Toys and Tools to Improve Visual Perception
        11. Toys to Help with Scissors Skills 
        12. Toys for Attention and Focus

        Printable List of Toys for Visual Perception

        Want a printable copy of our therapist-recommended toys to support visual perception?

        As therapy professionals, we LOVE to recommend therapy toys that build skills! This toy list is done for you so you don’t need to recreate the wheel.

        Your therapy caseload will love these VISUAL PERCEPTION toy recommendations. (There’s space on this handout for you to write in your own toy suggestions, to meet the client’s individual needs, too!)

        Enter your email address into the form below. The OT Toolbox Member’s Club Members can access this handout inside the dashboard, under Educational Handouts. Just be sure to log into your account, first!

        Therapist-Recommended ​
        VISUAL PERCPTION TOYS HANDOUT

        ​

          We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

          Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

          Left Right Discrimination

          by
          Picture of hands tying a pink shoe. Text reads "left-right confusion and functional tasks"

          This is an older blog post on left-right discrimination, and includes left right discrimination activities, information, and even a free, hands-on slide deck activity you can use in right left discrimination occupational therapy activities to support these areas.

          Picture of hands tying a pink shoe. Text reads "left-right confusion and functional tasks"

          Working on left right discrimination with kids? It can be difficult to teach left right awareness because there’s so many areas of development that play into this awareness.

          We’ve talked before about mixed dominance vs. ambidexterity, which is a concern that comes up when kids don’t use one hand or one side for motor tasks. You’ll want to start there to read more about this issue.

          The thing is that the confusion between left and right becomes an issue in play or learning tasks, especially when children are asked to follow directions that require a knowledge of left and right. When children don’t have a strong awareness of left and right, you’ll see confusion and even embarrassment in a group setting.

          This other post on hand dominance offers 3 activities to work on left right awareness, and can be a great way to expand this left right discrimination activity to hands-on activities that build motor skills.

          Left Right Discrimination Activity

          In left right discrimination activities, kids can gain more awareness of their body and how it moves during functional tasks.

          As pediatric OTs we might try a variety of activities to support development of right left discrimination.

          These strategies might be accommodations or modifications to functional tasks or it might be occupational therapy activities to help with these discrimination skills needed for handwriting or establishing a dominant side.

          First, let’s talk about why an awareness of left and right is important.

          Picture of hands cutting with scissors. Text reads "left/right confusion"

          Left right confusion can make functional tasks very challenging.

          Why Worry about Left Right Awareness with Hands?

          Left-right discrimination can be memory, attention, or visual perceptual.  If left/right confusion is a memory problem, it is probably the easiest to remedy with a visual prompt like a sticker on the hand. A lot of the OT practitioners I know simply use pictures, labels, games, or the trick with the “L” in the left hand. What are some easy tricks you can think of to send reminders of left and right?

          Often left-right discrimination difficulty is more than just attention or memory. It is a perceptual issue.

          Visual perception is the way we “perceive” information that our eyes see.  People with visual perceptual difficulties might perceive items backward, or different each time.  The “L in the left hand” technique is not reliable for these people, because they can never be sure they have the L in the correct direction.

          While you are working on improving visual perceptual skills, use the labels, or tricks listed above. These labels and hints may need to be used long term, because not all visual perceptual deficits will be remediated.

          Once you have learned to identify which is the left and right side of the body, it gets trickier. What if you have discrimination issues and someone says to move your right arm forward, or your left leg to the right?  Directionality is even more confusing than left/right discrimination. 

          Another difficulty with directionality is, it changes. If you are facing forward, the left might be toward the front of the class, but as soon as you turn around, the left is at the back of the class. 

          There’s a body awareness and motor planning component at play here, too.

          This translates into map reading and directionality, or following directions through space during movements. If you are facing north, east is to your right. But if you are facing south?  I love when the car says “head west on elm street” What?  West is left if I am facing north, but what if I am facing east?  Is it behind me?  Usually I pick one direction, and if it says “rerouting”, or “proceed to the route”, I know I guessed wrong. 

          Left/right is not always clear either. Is the left side of the stage when I am standing on it, or facing it. I am thinking the left side of the car is the one I am driving on, but if I look at it from the front, that is the right side. 

          We have an RV that usually requires me to help with the parking.  My job is to tell my husband which way to turn. If I say left, is that my left or his? Should he move the RV to the right or left? Or the car?  Which needs to go left, the front of the camper or the back? Do not get me started on trying to think which way he needs to turn the wheel to get the camper to go in reverse to the right. I end up pointing, but even that is not clear. Luckily, we find humor at these times in our lives, and are still married. 

          Left Right Confusion and Shoe Tying

          Another example of left right confusion shows up during daily self care tasks like Tying shoes. You see the left right confusion as struggling to follow the motor directions when you are not clear which side is which. “Am I using my left hand, or my right hand?”

          Not only are you trying to keep left/right straight, but then use this information to complete a challenging task. 

          Think of shoe tying for example. To teach a child to tie their shoes, we use one step directions all based on left or right. We might say, “Take the left lace and put it over the right. Now slip the left lace under the X that was formed by crossing the laces. Once you get that part sorted, you need to find one to make a bow (left for lefties, and right for righties).” Then, there are the nuances of shoe tying where right-handed kids loop the shoe lace counterclockwise, while lefties go clockwise around the loop. 

          Because shoe tying is such a struggle with directionality, we often provide visual examples such as colored laces, visual diagrams, or songs that do not use left/right. 

          Left Right Confusion and Cutting with Scissors

          As if left/right discrimination was not hard enough, directions are often reversed for lefties.

          For the student with left right confusion, this is a real challenge in the classroom, when things move quickly. The teacher might hand out papers, tell students to cut out sections of a worksheet and glue them onto the page in the right spaces. The rest of the class might be done with the activity by the time our student with left right confusion has even figured out which hand to use to hold their scissors.

          Cutting with scissors requires an automatic awareness of how to hold the scissors and how to cut around shapes.

          Did you realize that “righties” cut counterclockwise, while “lefties” cut clockwise?

          The differences continue with reading. While we lefties scan left to right and read books from front to back, it is not natural. I prefer to flip through magazines from the back.  It makes some articles confusing, but feels more natural. 

          I am on a line dance team, and as I am new to the team, there are some struggles I experience with body awareness and directions. Directionality and discrimination have been a challenge, even though I am sure of my left and right. We go one direction facing one wall, then another direction facing the next wall.  I have to depend on my body direction, rather than using visual cues for help.  When we are facing the front wall, I tend to center myself thinking about heading toward the door, or the mirror.  Once we turn around, I am lost all over again. If I feel lost, I tend to look at my peers to see what they are doing. Sometimes we end up facing different directions, and I can not figure out who is wrong. 

          The good news for shoe tying, dancing, driving, parking an RV, and 100 other things we learn is muscle memory. We talked a bit about the muscle memory in tasks in our blog post on handwriting, because there is an automaticity piece to this puzzle.

          After a while you no longer think of the left and right lace or stomping the right foot, your body takes over.  As I was describing the shoe tying above, did you have to take your shoes out to figure out which side you make the loop on, or close your eyes and picture the movements?  Me too.  Fortunately, we do things so naturally after we learn them, we do not have to keep thinking of each direction as we do each task.

          Our muscles build a plan with our brain to create a pattern. Imagine how tough touch typing would be if you never remembered where the keys were. How much of a challenge would it be to write a sentence if we needed to stop and think about which direction the lines in each letter go. It’s a motor plan that’s been established and marked into our brains. 

          People with sensory processing difficulties have difficulty with motor planning or creating muscle memory. They need to rely on directions for much longer. This can be especially difficult for the child with sensory processing difficulties, AND directionality struggles. 

          Just thinking about all these directions makes my brain hurt. I am realizing how much of a struggle this is in our lives every day. So much of our day includes some sort of direction.  Next time you think someone is “cheating” doing an activity, take a moment to see if they are compensating rather than cheating. This may be their effort to get the task done and fit in. It is actually very clever to check the people around you for guidance. Use this as a clue to see where the struggle lies.

          Picture of hand. Text reads "left/right discrimination activities"

          So what are some activities to support left right awareness?

          left right discrimination Activities

          First up is a visual graphic that helps kids to understand their left and right hands using their left hand as a visual reminder.

          On the slide deck (below), kids can look at the visual and follow the directions:

          1. On both of your hands, stick out your thumb and your pointer finger.
          2. Now look at what shape that made on each hand! One hand looks like the letter “L” and the other is a backwards “L.”
          3. The word “left” starts with the letter “L!” This means that the hand with the “L” shape is your left hand!

          Kids can use this trick to help them remember which way is left and which way is right.

          Want to know the quickest way to determine who does not know their left from right?  Play a group game of Simon Says or dance the Hokey Pokey.  You can quickly see who not only knows their left and right, but who does it with confidence, versus following along. 

          Circling back to Simon Says. Be especially mindful of who is “cheating” or depending on others for information. Are they unsure which is the answer, or just relying on their peers? It is natural to check those around you to see what your peers are doing, but how can you be sure your peer is correct?  What if you are the one that is correct? Or are both wrong?

          • You do not need to remember left and right, just one.  If you know which left is, you will know the other one is automatically right
          • If your child knows what left/right means, but can not remember, start labeling things.  Put an L inside of the left shoe for example. Check out these cute stickers (amazon link)!  I like that these stickers do not specify left/right, but have puzzle pieces that fit together correctly to show which shoes go on which feet.
          • Wear a bracelet or watch on the same side each time. Memorize which side it is on. The watch is always on the left, this is my left side. 
          • Learn which hand you write with. I write with my left hand, and I can easily raise that one. 
          • Make a mark or label on your child’s arm/hand daily to give a visual reminder
          Left right discrimination with a picnic theme to help kids with left right awareness in functional tasks.

          We have put together a slide deck of activities to help with left right confusion.

          Left Right Direction Activity

          The slide deck is an interactive tool that allows children to sort items that are directionally pointing to either the left or right sides on the screen. There are several left right discrimination activities to work through on this picnic themed slide deck

          Today’s free therapy slide deck is a left right discrimination activity with a picnic theme, going perfectly with our virtual picnic therapy activities slide deck.

          The slide decks in this post not only give practice to picking the item on the left or right, but ask which way the item is facing. The item may be on the right but facing left, or visa versa.  Woah!  That became tricky very quickly. 

          When using these slide decks, be sure your child has the basics before trying the more challenging cards. You may need to start at the beginning, labeling items left and right for a while before moving on to determining which item is on the left or facing that way. 

          After kids have a kinesthetic and visual approach to remembering left and right, there are slides that work on sorting images into categories of left vs. right.

          This interactive portion allows kids to click on the images and sort them into left or right.

          If the user needs prompts, remind them to use their hands to make the L with their fingers to recall which side is their left side. This can help to establish memory by using several sensory methods: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic within several repetitions.

          Left Right Sorting Activity

          Next, you’ll see several slide decks that ask the user to move a circle to cover the item facing either the left or the right. The directions are written at the top of each slide deck and changes on each slide. You can again remind users to use their hands to remember which side of the screen is their left and which is their right.

          This can be helpful for teaching left right discrimination because through a screen like in teletherapy services, it can be difficult to address the left or right awareness (especially if there is a screen flipping issue that comes up with teletherapy services).

          The picnic themed visuals are fun for a picnic theme and includes things like a grill, hot dog, picnic kids, backpackers, etc.

          Left Right Discrimination Matching Activity

          Finally, there are several slides that ask the user to move the circle to cover a matching image across the slide. This visual perception activity addresses several areas typically developed through therapy activities:

          The user can also address eye-hand coordination as they move the mouse or click and drag to move the circles to cover each matching item.

          Again, work on left right discrimination by asking the child to name the direction that the item is facing: Is it facing the left or is it facing the right?

          All of these left right discrimination activities are powerful ways to help kids with directionality that is needed for functional tasks.

          Free left right discrimination slide deck

          Want this picnic themed therapy slide deck to work on left right discrimination? Enter your email address into the form below to grab this teletherapy activity.

          When kids go through the slides, you can reset the movable items to their original state by clicking the history link at the top navigation bar. Simply click the “last edit” link and then go to the right side bar. You’ll see a link that says “reset slides”. Click this link and then go to the top navigation bar again and click the button that says “Restore this version”. Then, all of those movable pieces on the whole deck will reset to their original spots and you can restart the therapy activities.

          Don’t forget to also grab the virtual picnic therapy activities slide deck, too!

          Left Right Discrimination Picnic Theme Activities

            We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.
            Built with ConvertKit

            Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.