Visual sensory stimuli are picked up through visual receptors located in the eye that are stimulated by light, color, and movement. Visual challenges and impairments can result in:
- a child being sensitive to light
- still images appearing to move or bounce around
- a child seeking out increased amounts of visual input
Visual sensory seekers will enjoy:
- colorful toys and learning materials
- light-up toys
- flashlights
- parachute play
- activities with colorful displays
Brightly colored paper or a lightbox under the child’s daily learning activities can provide the extra visual input that visual seekers need to help them engage in learning.
Many children who seek visual input are also first attracted to red or yellow-colored objects. They may even display a preference for one or the other, for instance ignoring a yellow-colored object, but engage with the same, red-colored object. Incorporating these high-contrast materials– such as bright yellow or bright red objects placed on a dark background– into lessons will grab a child’s visual attention more easily and increase their visual attention.
Visual sensory avoiders may process lighting as being much brighter than it appears to others. Strategies to help these children are:
- keep lights dimmed
- use natural light when possible
- teach them to wear sunglasses or a baseball cap outdoors
- prepare them when they are entering a new environment with different or strong lighting
- be mindful of reflective surfaces and glare
Download the following Sensory Needs Checklist to help determine your own or your child’s sensory needs and follow along for our blog series highlighting each of the sensory systems!
To learn even more about sensory adaptations and the importance of sensory play, enroll in our FREE online course “Teaching Strategies: Let’s Play!”