Parents may want to know that there is a developmental sequence for introducing visual motor integration basics to children who have deficits in this area.
The sequence begins with having a steady base of support that acts upon a stationary target. (i.e. an infant holding onto a bottle with both hands while sucking). The progression develops so that the child can reach for moving target (the bottle) as it is moved into his field of vision as his mom moves toward him, As the child begins to creep, he can now move his body toward the stationary bottle when it is placed down in front of him. Within a few weeks the toddler can anticipate the trajectory of the bottle as it is moved towards him, and can plot the speed of his crawl to intersect the oncoming bottle.
The child in the photo is showing an advanced level of skill by being able to work from a moving base to place the fish into each ring while using a tool. The plan of moving from left to right serves to reinforce the visual pursuit skills needed for success with reading. Use of the reacher functions to fine tune motor pathways within the nervous system that act to coordinate muscles of the eyes with those of postural control and hand function skills.
The progression develops around these key points:
- Steady base to steady target
- Steady base to moving target
- Moving base to steady target
- Moving base to moving target
- Use of a tool to acquire the target
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