S.M.A.R.T. at Home - nov. '23

This month has a focus on our Tactile Tracker activity. You know from the S.M.A.R.T. workshop how important developmental movement is in the maturing of our visual system. How can you convey this information to parents, encouraging them to try some fun activities that will add frequency and intensity to visual development? Keep reading…. 
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From the moment children are born, they begin developing strong neural connections with each and every movement and experience. Tummy time, rolling, belly crawling, learning how to pull themselves up to standing, walking, even running all played crucial roles in the development of their eyes. How can we keep this growth going? Vision activities are a really fun way to do this! Here are some suggestions of activities you can do with your child at home that help enhance their visual system. 
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• Blowing bubbles - our eyes naturally follow the calming flow of a drifting bubble. What is even better…popping those bubbles in flight. 
• Puzzles - Puzzles require children to differentiate between different shapes, colors, and patterns. Puzzles help to enhance visual discrimination skills that are necessary for recognizing and distinguishing between objects, letters, and numbers. They also are great for eye-hand coordination. ​

• Balloon tapping is a great game for when the weather demands that we play inside. Blow up a balloon and bat it back and forth, not letting it hit the ground. If you have paddles of some kind, even wooden spoons or spatulas, you can see how many taps you can give the balloon before it hits the ground. 
• Bedtime “Follow the Leader” can be fun once your child is all tucked in. Using a flashlight, slowly move the light on the ceiling or opposite wall in slow, smooth patterns like circles or figure 8s. Encourage your child to follow the light with their eyes. This helps improve their smooth pursuit eye movement and coordination.