Understanding Visual Spatial Learning: A Complete Guide for Parents and Educators

Visual spatial learning is an important skill that allows us to understand and navigate the world around us. As parents and educators, it’s crucial that we understand what visual spatial learning is, how it develops, and what we can do to support children who struggle with it. In this complete guide, I’ll break down exactly what visual spatial learning is, why it matters, and provide actionable strategies to help kids thrive.

What is Visual Spatial Learning?

Visual spatial learning refers to the ability to perceive analyze and comprehend visual information and representations. More simply, it’s the capacity to “think in pictures.” It enables us to understand the relationship between objects in space, like size, direction, position, distance and movement. Visual spatial learning allows us to perform tasks like

• Navigating from one place to another using a map
• Understanding that a cup is still a cup when rotated
• Comprehending charts, graphs and diagrams
• Playing sports which require hand-eye coordination like baseball or tennis
• Parking a car, merging safely, and obeying traffic signals
• Reading, writing and making sense of symbols like letters and numbers

As you can see, visual spatial skills are essential for many everyday activities. We use them constantly to interpret visual cues from the environment and interact with the world around us.

Why is Visual Spatial Learning Important?

Visual spatial abilities provide the foundation for key skills needed in school and life. Here are some of the reasons visual spatial learning matters

• Supports academic achievement: It’s intimately tied to success in math, science, maps and diagrams across subject areas.

• Enables independence: Visual spatial skills are needed for orientation, navigation and spatial awareness to get around independently.

• Boosts physical coordination: Important for sports, dance, using tools/utensils and other motor activities requiring hand-eye coordination.

• Facilitates communication: Provides the capacity to understand gestures, facial expressions and visual metaphors.

• Fosters creativity: Allows for imagining, reconstructing and producing visual information to be creative.

Given the far-reaching impact of visual spatial learning, it’s clearly an essential skill set for kids to develop. When challenges arise, it can really hamper a child’s ability to reach their potential.

Signs of Visual Spatial Learning Difficulties

Some kids have difficulty with visual spatial processing for a variety of reasons. Here are some common signs to look out for:

• Trouble differentiating left and right
• Difficulty reading maps or diagrams
• Gets lost easily even in familiar environments
• Messy and disorganized desk/workspace
• Struggles to visualize or draw images
• Poor hand-eye coordination and motor skills
• Difficulty with spatial concepts like “in front of” or “below”
• Misaligns numbers doing math problems
• Confuses similarly shaped letters like “b” and “d”

If you notice several of these issues, it may indicate an underlying problem with visual spatial processing. Some children are simply “late bloomers” while others have a true learning disability that requires intervention. Either way, don’t panic – there are many ways we can provide support.

Supporting Visual Spatial Learning Development

The good news is visual spatial skills can be improved with targeted practice. Here are some tips to build visual spatial abilities at home or in the classroom:

• Play with blocks and Lego: Building 3D structures bolsters spatial reasoning.

• Do jigsaw puzzles: Fosters spatial visualization to perceive how pieces fit together.

• Draw, paint and sculpt: Creating visual art strengthens mental imaging abilities.

• Play “I Spy”: Describing object locations boosts spatial language.

• Dance and move creatively: Links body awareness with visual input.

• Navigate on trips: Map reading practice builds real-world spatial skills.

• Trace letter shapes: Reinforces letter formation and symbol relationships.

• Cook and bake together: Following visual recipes develops sequencing.

• Try origami: Folding paper promotes understanding of spatial transformations.

• Play matching games: Identifying similarities/differences improves visual discrimination.

• Build with Lego: Enhances ability to construct 3D objects from 2D plans.

• Do maze puzzles: Strengthens planning ahead and spatial reasoning.

Integrating fun, enriching activities like these into everyday life provides organic opportunities to sharpen visual spatial abilities, setting kids up for success.

Professional Support for Visual Spatial Learning Difficulties

If a child still struggles considerably with visual spatial learning after targeted practice, consulting a professional may be warranted. Here are specialists who can evaluate kids’ difficulties and provide interventions:

• Occupational Therapists: Help kids strengthen visual motor integration skills for handwriting, coordination and visual perception.

• Vision Therapy Specialists: Work to improve visual processing skills through exercises targeting focusing, tracking and eye teaming.

• Educational Therapists: Teach strategies to interpret visual information, diagrams, maps and develop spatial reasoning.

• Learning Specialists: Help accommodate and strengthen visual spatial skills needed for math and reading comprehension.

• Neuropsychologists: Identify root causes through testing; recommend accommodations.

Seeking professional support can pinpoint why a child is struggling and outline a treatment plan to help them visualize pathways for success.

Accommodations for Visual Spatial Learning Issues

If a learning disability is identified, accommodations and interventions can really help kids circumvent and overcome challenges. Here are some accommodations to ask about:

• Provide graph paper for math: Helps align numbers correctly.

• Allow typing instead of handwriting: Removes demands on visual motor skills.

• Read test questions aloud: Assists with interpreting visual material.

• Provide written step-by-step instructions: Breaks down visual information.

• Allow asking for clarification: Helps ensure comprehension of visual input.

• Provide maps and advance notice of field trips: Allows extra orientation.

• Seat near the front of class: Reduces visual distractions.

• Offer checkpoints and redirection: Prevents getting lost in space/on paper.

• Provide a visual daily schedule: Helps orient in time and space.

Targeted accommodations equip kids to learn more effectively, while targeted interventions build the visual spatial skills needed to handle increasing challenges.

The Takeaway on Visual Spatial Learning