DIY: Visual Spatial Board for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Hot Glue = 1
Cindy's fingers = 0

So besides the fact I didn't manage to save my finger from the hot glue, this was an easy DIY project that can be easily done at home.  You could use PVA glue instead of hot glue... and save your fingers!

What you need:

• Cardboard
• Glue (your choice)
• Pom Poms (or buttons or small stones)
• Yarn in matching colours

What to do:

• Place your coloured pom poms on either side of the cardboard.  
• Make a path with the yarn joining the matching colours.  Make various patterns including loops, zig zags and steps.
• Secure yarn with glue and wait for it to dry.

How to play? 
Encourage your toddler or preschooler to identify the colours.  Use a finger to trace along the path.  You could also use a small figurine or car to follow the path. 

Encourage your child not to move the board or move their body.  Encourage your child NOT to switch hands as they follow the path.  These things will help with midline crossing.

Encourage your child to point with their index finger and tuck the other fingers into the palm of their hand. This will encourage separation of the two sides of the hand (fine motor skills). 

Place your board vertically on an easel and also encourage wrist extension and shoulder stability. 

Turn the board upside down or perpendicular (90 degrees) ... and you get 4 different paths using the same board! Work from side to side or top to bottom. ​

Try asking your child to close their eyes to trace the yarn so that they can bring more awareness to their hand and fingers.  

Adjustments:
Make it harder by using similar or the same colour yarn. 

Make it easier by not crossing the yarn over (ie. don't overlap). 

Why play this? 
Visual spatial awareness is an important skill to help children to understand their body in space.  It helps them to work out how things relate to themselves and between objects. This board will encourage visual spatial awareness and left to right tracking.  The benefit of yarn (and dried glue) over just a drawing of a line is that it will create a raised surface. This will give your child tactile sensory feedback and help with eye/hand coordination. 

Over time your child may easily move to drawn lines rather than a raised surface.  This book review is from the archives but continues to be one of my favourites with this age group ---->  Follow the Line to School. It contains one continuous line that moves through the book (and various spaces within a school).  You can use this to have a look at other aspects of visual perception such as figure ground; whilst talking about aspects of school. It is a wonderful book at this time of the year (in Australia) as preschoolers are beginning their transition to BIG school. 

Are you handy with the hot glue gun? 
​
​What are you Diy-ing this weekend? 

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a member of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​
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