|
The visual system is the most complex sensory system in the body, but it is the least mature system at birth. The child needs to move from the blurry world of light and dark to the sophisticated ability to handle a variety of visual tasks in numerous situations. Well-developed visual skills are essential for academic achievement and athletic performance, as well as having an impact on the child's self-confidence. Children learn about the world around them through their natural curiosity, tendency to explore and play. There are many things that parents and caretakers can do during the child's early years to enhance and improve how the visual system functions later in life. Providing appropriate activities and opportunities integrated with the fun of play facilitates the healthy development of critical skills. Some toys target the development of a specific skill, while others stimulate a range of abilities through one activity. Some toys are designed to grow with a child and be used in different ways at different stages of development. Toys need not be expensive in order to be effective at enhancing the learning process. Inexpensive toys at the age and interest level of the child can be as effective as costly toys. Knowing what to expect at different ages can help you enjoy your child's visual development. While being aware of milestones, remember that children develop at different rates. BUILDING TOYS From as young as 6 months of age, children enjoy building and stacking toys. These range from the simplest blocks and stacking cups to sophisticated construction projects for older children. Building toys help to develop and strengthen focusing, depth perception and spatial awareness, organisation, hand-eye coordination, problem solving and the ability to visualise the finished product. Visualisation is important for visual memory which plays a vital role in reading and spelling. |
||||||||
|
VISUAL PROCESSING GAMES Visual thinking games such as puzzles, memory games, matching activities and board games help to develop the visual skills needed for reasoning and problem solving. They enhance fine motor skills and coordination, visual memory, depth perception and visual discrimination, the ability to detect similarities and differences between objects. Following instructions facilitates planning and sequencing skills. These skills are not only essential for reading comprehension and solving mathematical problems, but are also vital for many aspects of life, including the ability to understand directions, detect visual patterns, notice small details, and gather information from the world around us. SPATIAL AWARENESS GAMES Spatial awareness begins to emerge early in the child's visual development. It is the recognition of where people and objects are located in relation to each other. A range of visual skills is essential for the awareness of spatial relationships, including peripheral vision, depth perception, focusing, eye tracking and the ability to differentiate near and far distances. Different ball sports, as well as puzzles and games such as marbles all stimulate this skill. ART AND CRAFT MATERIALS Materials such as paints, crayons, play dough, scissors and glue stimulate the imagination and creativity of children, while at the same time fostering the development of focusing, eye teaming, hand-eye coordination, visual discrimination and visualisation of a creative project. |
||||||||
|
BOOKS It is never too early to introduce books to children. With infants, looking at brightly coloured pictures develops visual attention, focusing, convergence, eye teaming and the early recognition of shapes, colours and familiar objects. Following in the book as an adult reads to the child, even if he is unable to read yet, strengthens these skills, as well as tracking, visual memory and visual sequencing. The foundations for reading, writing and school readiness are laid in this early exposure to literacy. Because the child's vision system is the main system for learning, engage him in activities to strengthen the visual perception skills for tracking words on the page, writing words across the page, letter and number recognition, directionality, and processing information through the visual system. OUTDOOR PLAY The importance of outdoor play cannot be emphasised enough. The ability to change focus quickly and smoothly from near to far and back again, depth perception, spatial awareness, eye teaming and tracking, balance, and the coordination between the eyes and the rest of the body, are important visual skills which are refined and strengthened during outdoor activities. Throwing, catching, kicking or bouncing a ball require good peripheral vision, depth perception and accurate spatial perception. Encourage activities like riding a bike, climbing and jumping which develop physical and visual skills, as well as confidence in navigating their world. |
||||||||
|
SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR Effective development of social skills is fundamental to school readiness and positive interaction with others. Encourage sharing of toys, taking turns, listening while others are talking and following instructions to facilitate these critical social behaviours. |
||||||||