VISUAL- MOTOR INTEGRATION (Hand/ eye coordination)

Visual-motor integration refers to the co-ordination and assimilation of visual perception (visual information processing skills) and fine motor output or movement. Visual-motor integration allows our eyes and hands to work together in a smooth, organized and efficient way. Sometimes it is referred to as hand/ eye co-ordination.

Visual-motor integration skills are required for all pencil-paper tasks. This includes such things as accurate copying of information (for example, from the blackboard), handwriting and drawing. Research indicates a high correlation between visual-motor integration skill level and competence in these skill areas. There also appears to be a strong link between visual-motor abilities and written language skills, reading skills, mathematical skills, academic performance and coping abilities.

Activity ideas to improve hand/ eye co-ordination

• Ball activities – roll, catch, hit, and throw, against a wall or with a partner. Encourage the use of both hands
• Use hands to hold a tub to catch a ball being thrown by a partner
• Peg board activities – using both hands to place the pegs in the board
• Lacing, threading, sewing cards, tying bows
• Finger painting, drawing around templates or stencils
• Craft activities and modelling
• Nuts and bolts sets, construction kits and Lego / Duplo bricks
• Bead threading (large macaroni)
• Draw shapes and pictures in sand, talc or shaving foam in a tray, two hands together then separately
• Scissor activities – cutting shapes and patterns
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Tower building with blocks or cubes
• Copy patterns in a peg board or with the cubes
• Dot-to-dots, mazes

Reference: Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Here you can find some inforamtion on the Role that Vision Plays in Hand Eye Coordination: Eye-Hand Coordination