Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination

April 16, 2020

DID YOU KNOW?

Approximately 35% of the brain’s motor cortex is dedicated to the use of the hands and the feet. The motor cortex helps the brain demonstrate what we are thinking by placing it on paper.

WHAT THIS MEANS

A large part of the brain’s ability to transfer information to the paper depends on good eye-hand, eye-foot coordination. For example, throwing and catching skills as well as soccer and dribbling skills prepare the brain for putting ideas on paper.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Hand, Eye, and Foot coordination aids the brain in processing by organizing thoughts in sequence, discriminating likenesses and differences, and discriminating sounds.

Performing a memory retrieval activity while doing a physical task sends the brain into higher-level thinking. For example: Reciting multiplication facts while tossing and catching a beanbag.

Handwriting: Visual-motor integration stems from eye-hand coordination. We need our eyes to guide our hand to form letters and symbols while staying within lines.

Reading: Hand-eye coordination is crucial for reading and can be developed and strengthened through purposeful movement.

Lab Stations for Eye/Hand Eye/Foot Coordination

The ABL Ele-Fun Ring Toss

Can be used with any age group. This ABL Station includes activities for layering academic content and adding progressions at various grade levels.

For a complete list of activities, see resources below

The ABL Monkey See Station

Used to work on multiple foundations, with the primary focus being on hand/eye/foot coordination and visual tracking skills.

This can be used with any age group (even adults practice hand/eye coordination when we play the outdoor game of corn hole!). Activities are adjusted based on students' age and milestones met, for example by using an underhand toss or overhand throw.

Monkey See Toss includes Activities for layering academic content and adding progressions at various grade levels. See Resources below

The ABL Numeracy Noggin Wall Station

An easy-to-implement tool that allows for hundreds of action based learning activities inside the classroom or lab. One key component of this station is the jumbo size, which requires more movement and encourages the child to engage in these kinesthetic purposeful movements in order to complete the activity.

Students can swat, clap, trace, tap, or toss a beanbag while problem solving. Add progressions using partners, or add a balance component below the station to allow varying degrees of challenge. Activities are designed to accommodate learners at all levels.

Numeracy Noggin Wall Mount includes an activity guide with unlimited ideas for skip counting activities, while teaching students to identify numbers and patterns, and strengthen hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills as the primary foundations. For sample activities, see resources below.

SIMPLE WAYS TO PRACTICE EYE/HAND COORDINATION ANYWHERE!

Have students practice academic concepts while performing a task with manipulatives like beanbags, balls, racquets, jump ropes, juggling scarves, scoops, and targets.

Create a simple station using a bean bag and a bucket, having students start by standing close to the monkey see station, and moving further away as they strengthen their skills. What to look for: Stepping and tossing in opposition, hand-eye coordination, focus on the target, and follow through to the target.

For an at-home station, toss a ball or object into a target (like a basketball net) suspended just above the child’s head. Stress focusing on the target and tossing the object up and over the front of the rim. To start, use a target on the ground as a lead-up to over the head.

Create a simple target toss and catch station, tossing the ring over the intended target; as students progress, they can move further away from the target for added difficulty. What to look for: Stepping and tossing in opposition, hand-eye coordination, focus on the target, and follow through to the target.