Visual-motor coordination involves using visual stimuli when performing extensive movements of the entire body, while eye-hand coordination is the use of visual stimuli when performing tasks with the hands. Thanks to them, we are able to type on a computer keyboard, select the right app on a smartphone, untangle hair, and tie shoelaces. Proper visual-motor coordination enables the performance of many everyday activities. It allows us to acquire new, useful skills and use them at work or while playing sports. What does improving visual-motor coordination involve?
What are visual-motor coordination and eye-hand coordination?
Eye-hand coordination allows us to perform precise activities with our hands by controlling their execution using our vision. We look at a monitor screen and see a typo in the text, causing our fingers to move the cursor over it and make a correction. While playing badminton, we judge which way the shuttlecock is flying and run toward it to hit it with the racket – that is visual-motor coordination. Unfortunately, problems with hand-eye or visual-motor coordination sometimes arise, which have far-reaching consequences.
Specialists emphasize that visual-motor coordination is a complex skill. On one hand, our eyes try to monitor the situation to use incoming stimuli for the correct execution of a task. On the other hand, well-functioning fine motor skills, which enable precise movements of the hands and fingers, are important, as well as gross motor skills. When visual-motor perception deviates from accepted norms, a child may have problems with learning and performing daily tasks. Putting on a scarf, buttoning a shirt, tying hair with a scrunchie, throwing, or maintaining balance while moving, etc., become difficult for them.
Problems with hand-eye coordination significantly limit a child's development and their daily functioning. We use visual-motor perception in many ways – while operating electronic devices, playing sports, writing, drawing, dressing, and washing our body. If symptoms of sensory integration disorder appear, you should consult a specialist. They will perform a reliable assessment, e.g., by conducting appropriate tests, and based on this, select suitable exercises for visual-motor and eye-hand coordination.
Why is motor coordination in children important?
Eye-hand coordination is needed by children while learning to write and draw. It allows them to outline the appropriate shapes that resemble the corresponding letters of the alphabet. It also enables them to draw a house, a diagram, or a coordinate system. The eye constantly monitors whether we are performing the task correctly. If we make a mistake, the hand can correct it. Good visual-motor coordination makes the act of writing or copying charts proceed with significant automation over time. This happens as a result of regular training that strengthens dexterity.
Visual-motor perception is used, among other things, while typing text on a computer keyboard or a smartphone. Our vision allows us to click the right letter and correct any errors in the content.
Visual-motor coordination proves indispensable while driving a car. You must constantly monitor the situation on the road and, if necessary, turn into a side street to avoid road repairs or a traffic jam caused by a traffic accident. Besides, as a driver, we ensure the car is in the middle of the lane and does not drift into the adjacent one. If hand-eye coordination fails in children, they may have a problem obtaining a driver's license in the future. Today, the aforementioned document is often required by employers during recruitment.
Problems with visual-motor coordination prevent children from playing sports. During a volleyball match, our vision monitors the flight of the ball, allowing us to run to it and hit it before it falls to the floor. Seeing that a turn appears on the road, we automatically turn the handlebars of the bicycle in the appropriate direction.
Hand-eye coordination problems often make themselves felt when inserting a key into a lock. Some children cannot hit the opening with it at the right angle. This makes it difficult for them to open and close their apartment.
The above examples show that developing visual-motor coordination is very important for a child's future. It enables them to complete their education, obtain a well-paying job, and function independently in society.
Motor coordination disorders
Problems with hand-eye coordination have various origins. Sometimes they result from improper development of vision or disorders in muscle function. However, it happens that nothing foreshadows the difficulties. The child has excellent vision. They are also able to move their hands and fingers. Motor coordination disorders appear only when the young person must coordinate visual stimuli with fine motor skills.
Visual-motor coordination is disturbed when a child:
- has muscle problems,
- struggles with strabismus,
- suffers from amblyopia,
- struggles with muscle hypotonia,
- suffers from vestibular system disorders,
- has damaged areas of the brain responsible for motor skills,
- struggles with damage to areas of the brain that are responsible for receiving visual stimuli.
Motor coordination disorders entail numerous consequences. It has been shown that they:
- hinder learning to write, draw, and read,
- make playing sports impossible,
- result in illegible handwriting,
- contribute to problems during a driving course,
- lead to the appearance of errors in notes and text editors,
- hinder the assembly of simple devices, e.g., assembling a router on their own or inserting a SIM card into a smartphone,
- deprive the ability to function independently; sometimes a lack of visual-motor perception makes washing, putting on clothes, and eating impossible.
Motor coordination disorders are sometimes linked to neurodiversity. They are diagnosed more often in people with ADHD, autism, and high sensitivity to sensory processing. Neurodivergent individuals are more easily distracted. They have weaker working memory and executive functions. If you notice that a child's visual-motor coordination is not proceeding correctly, also consider diagnostics with a child psychologist who specializes in recognizing autism and ADHD.
To summarize, motor disorders most often include problems with:
- putting on clothes, buttoning buttons, tying a scarf, etc.,
- difficulties in correctly catching and throwing objects, e.g., a Frisbee,
- maintaining balance while standing on one leg,
- using simple objects, e.g., a spoon, fork, or knife,
- drawing, painting, molding with playdough,
- legible handwriting,
- playing sports, e.g., hitting a shuttlecock during a badminton game, turning while riding a bicycle, etc.
Fortunately, help is available through visual-motor coordination exercises that a child can perform under the guidance of a specialist, parent, or teacher. These will be discussed later in the article.
Exercises for visual-motor coordination and visual perception
Problems with visual-motor coordination and eye-hand coordination are a premise to seek advice from a psychological-pedagogical counseling center. Specialists employed there will conduct appropriate tests, based on which they will make a diagnosis. They may recommend sensory therapy or simple visual-motor coordination exercises. It is worth remembering that the discussed irregularities often accompany ADHD and autism spectrum disorders. Therefore, it is recommended to also conduct diagnostics for the aforementioned neurodevelopmental disorders.
Visual-motor coordination can be developed through, among other things, games that engage the young person and bring them joy. Below are examples of tasks you can perform with your child in the comfort of your home.
1. Visual-motor coordination (eye-hand) exercises – assembling/stacking
- doing puzzles,
- creating structures with blocks,
- forming structures from sticks, e.g., ladders,
- creating tassels from wool,
- forming little figures from chestnuts and acorns.
2. Exercises for visual perception and visual-motor coordination – matching shapes to outlines on a toy
3. Visual-motor coordination (eye-hand) exercises – painting
- drawing patterns (szlaczki),
- sketching a person,
- finger painting,
- painting half of a sheet of paper,
- painting vertical, horizontal, and broken lines with a brush,
- coloring pictures without going outside the outlines.
4. Visual-motor coordination (eye-hand) exercises – drawing
- painting with chalk on a board,
- drawing on poster board,
- creating art to the rhythm of music.
5. Exercises for visual perception and visual-motor coordination – cutting
- specific shapes,
- strips of a given width.
6. Visual-motor coordination (eye-hand) exercises – games with pictures:
- searching for and marking differences between pictures with a pencil,
- searching for a missing part of a picture,
- pairing pictures with the same symbol.
7. Exercises for visual and visual-motor coordination – physical games
- playing badminton,
- playing with bean bags,
- going through a maze,
- exercises with jumping in a specific direction.
Visual-motor perception – how else can it be developed?
Visual-motor perception can be developed through regular exercises and games. The human brain demonstrates neuroplasticity. This means that under the influence of experiences, new neural pathways are formed, which we strengthen through systematic training.
Visual-motor coordination develops best through play. The young person does not feel pressure and does not treat the tasks as just another chore. They engage in hand-eye training and achieve subsequent successes, which motivate them to further work.
Wooden memory game with fruits and vegetables is quite a treat for the youngest children. Little ones learn what a strawberry and an eggplant look like. Besides, they perfect eye-hand coordination by matching memory cards in pairs with the same graphic.
Wooden puzzle pyramid tower of rings is a set that consists of a stable base and 7 large colorful rings printed on both sides. The child learns to assemble the tower according to instructions. They memorize colors and distinguish smaller elements from larger ones.
Wooden letter puzzles for children teach the alphabet. They are an eco-friendly toy with an educational character. The young person has to match the letter to the graphic showing an object whose name begins with that letter. The toy supports eye-hand coordination and concentration.
Wooden memory game – Fruits and vegetables
Wooden alphabet puzzles for children – Learn the alphabet, get to know the letters
Wooden Montessori puzzle – Leaves with educational cards
