,Visual motor integration (often referred to as “hand-eye coordination”) is the ability to coordinate what we see with how we move. Visual motor integration helps children with tasks that require their eyes and hands to work together, like writing, cutting, or catching a ball. In occupational therapy, we work on developing these skills through fun, targeted activities that help children strengthen the connection between their visual skills and their motor control. For example, therapists might use games involving tracing, building, or copying patterns to help kids practice guiding their movements based on what they see. Improving visual motor integration can support children’s success with school tasks, self-care, and play activities.
Activities to Complete at Home:
- Copying pictures, shapes, designs, etc.
- Puzzles
- Coloring inside the lines
- Building with Blocks
- Matching pattersn with Tangrams
- Mazes
- Catching and throwing balls
- Using a “stomp and catch”
- Shape sorters
- Hitting targets with balls
- Stringing beads
- Cutting along a line
- Making shapes/objects/letters with Play Doh
- Craft projects
- Pop beads
- Ring toss
- Games such as Perfection, Lite Brite, or Thin Ice
- Draw half of a picture and have the child finish the other half
- Connect the Dots
- Tic Tac Toe