Pediatric Occupational Therapy for Visual Motor Skills Delays
in San Diego, CA
Building Stronger Visual Skills for Success in Daily Activities
From catching a ball to copying letters in school, visual motor skills are essential for so many everyday activities. When these skills are delayed, children may struggle with play, self-care, or classroom tasks, which can impact their confidence and independence.
At SmallTalk Pediatric Therapy, our occupational therapists help children strengthen these important skills through engaging, playful therapy that makes progress feel fun.
What Are Visual Motor Skills Delays?
Visual motor skills are the abilities that allow the eyes and body to work together. They help children process what they see and use that information to guide the movements of their bodies. When these skills don’t develop as expected, children may need extra support to succeed in everyday life. This is because delayed visual motor skills can make tasks like reading, writing, or even playing with others more difficult.
There are several aspects of visual motor skills. A child could have difficulty with one or several of these skills, which include:
- Visual skills: involve the muscles of the eyes to move them around or to contract and relax to focus on an object. These skills can include:
- Visual tracking: following a moving object smoothly with the eyes
- Visual scanning: quickly and efficiently looking from one point to another (like reading across a page)
- Eye teaming: using both eyes together to track and focus on an object, person, etc.
- Visual perceptual skills: understanding how objects in their surroundings relate to one another. These skills can include:
- Visual closure: recognizing a form or shape despite a part of it being hidden or incomplete
- Visual discrimination: identifying similarities and differences between objects
- Visual spatial awareness: understanding where objects are in space and how they relate to each other
- Hand-eye coordination: deciding how to move the hands based on what you see (catching a ball, writing, stacking blocks, etc.)
Common Symptoms of Visual Motor Skills Delays
Children with visual motor delays may show one or more of the following signs:
- Difficulty with handwriting, coloring, or cutting
- Trouble copying shapes, letters, or numbers from a whiteboard or book onto a page
- Writing letters in various different ways or reversing letters
- Poor performance in ball games or sports requiring coordination
- Skipping lines in a book or losing their place while reading
- Holding books or papers too close to their face, or turning the head to one side to read
- Clumsiness or frequent tripping, especially in new environments
- Avoidance of tasks that require visual focus, like reading or writing
How Occupational Therapy Can Help with Visual Motor Skills Delays
At SmallTalk, our occupational therapists create personalized therapy plans to strengthen children’s visual motor skills through fun, evidence-based activities. By improving these skills, we can help your child gain confidence and greater success in both academic and social settings.
Depending on your child’s specific challenges, their therapy may include:
- Hand-eye coordination games such as doing puzzles, building with blocks, and playing catch with a ball
- Tracking and scanning activities like mazes, word searches, and obstacle courses
- Handwriting and fine motor practice to support school success
- Visual spatial exercises that help children better navigate and interact with their environment
- Parent coaching with simple activities to encourage practice at home
Why Choose SmallTalk?
When it comes to helping your child gain independence and confidence, you want a team that not only understands child development but truly connects with kids. That’s exactly what you’ll find at SmallTalk!
We help children throughout San Diego achieve their greatest potential. Our occupational therapists are committed to helping your child grow through playful, goal-oriented sessions. Whether we’re working on motor coordination, sensory processing, or self-care routines, we make therapy meaningful and fun.
We also know that parent involvement is key. That’s why we prioritize open communication and teamwork, so you always feel supported and involved in your child’s progress.
Schedule Your Child’s Evaluation Today
If your child struggles with tasks that rely on visual motor skills, SmallTalk Pediatric Therapy is here to help. Our experienced occupational therapists in San Diego can create a personalized plan to support your child’s growth.
Call us at (619) 647-6157 or fill out our online form to schedule an evaluation today. Together, we’ll help your child build the skills they need to thrive at school, at play, and beyond.