There are different aspects to visual perception including visual spatial relations, visual discrimination, visual memory and visual closure. The therapy links below provide full definitions and examples. Different strategies are suggested depending on where your child has difficulty. Here are some general ideas that will help in the classroom:
- Reduce visual clutter: take unnecessary pictures off homework sheets; don’t seat child near a window where they can be distracted; clear the desk.
- Have visual cues: use a coloured dot or sticker to show what side of the page to start writing on or reading from.
- Graph paper: can help with word spacing and sizing.
- Highlight the line: to encourage correct line alignment.
- Paper copies: don’t expect the child to copy from the board; maybe have their worksheet to copy from next to their workbook on their desk
- Alphabet strip: place one on the child’s table that they can refer to for correct letter formation.
- Position desk away from distractions: sit the child’s desk in an area closer to the front to avoid the distractions of other students.
How can I get professional help?
An occupational therapist can offer a visual perceptual assessment to help determine if your child has difficulty with particular visual perception skills.
Other links
Therapy Fun Zone also has some ideas for activities to help visual processing.
For some fun visual processing activities try:
Edhelper and
