Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination
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
Bring movement-based learning to life with expert-led, in-person training. ABL’s professional development team travels directly to your school or district to deliver hands-on workshops that equip your staff with the tools and strategies to build focus, improve behavior, and increase student success through physical movement. From full-day staff trainings to multi-day district rollouts, we’ll tailor the experience to fit your goals, space, and schedule.
Reading
Hand- eye coordination is crucial for reading and can be developed and strengthened through purposeful movement.
Writing
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.
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 add progressions at various grade levels.
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.
The ABL Numeracy Noggin Wall Station
is an easy to implement tool that allows for hundreds of action based learning activities inside the classroom or lab.
Simple Ways to Practice Hand/Eye Coordination Anywhere
Have students practice academic concepts while performing a task with manipulative's 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.
