Free Guide | Fun Ocular Motor Activities For Your Child

If you’d like to learn all about ocular motor activities, you’ve come to the right place. Ocular motor activities can be helpful for many children, from those on the Autism spectrum to those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Ocular motor skills are how you use the muscles in your eyes to scan and locate an object in your field of vision. They are key for success in the classroom environment and beyond, and lay the foundation for visual motor skills (when your hands and eyes work together to complete tasks).

In this article, we will give you a brief introduction to what ocular motor activities are and why they are important for children with Autism or ADHD.  We will also share our groundbreaking auditory program Soundsory®, which comes with three different levels of equipment-free exercises to boost neurodevelopment. These exercises can be used in conjunction with Soundsory® or on their own. Read on to learn more!

Key Take-Away Messages

What are ocular motor skills?

Ocular motor skills are how you use your eye muscles in order to scan and locate an object in your field of vision, and they can be broken down into five different types. We have six muscles in each eye, and each type of movement uses the muscles differently. The five different skills are as follows: 

Visual tracking 

Using your eyes to smoothly follow a target moving through space without moving your head. For example, watching a pendulum swing backward and forward.

Fixation 

Holding your gaze directly at something in front of you that may be stationary or moving. For example, watching from the audience as someone gives a speech on stage. 

Convergence and divergence 

Moving your eyes inward to keep your focus on an object that’s getting closer to you and then back out again as the object moves away from you. For example, watching a dog run toward you. As the dog gets closer, you can still maintain focus on it. 

Accommodation

Adjusting your eyes as the distance between you and an object changes. For example, reading something on the board at the front of a classroom, then looking down at a textbook to read it. 

Saccadic motions

Moving your eyes side to side to the next target without overshooting or undershooting. When you read, saccadic motions allow you to focus on the next word or line in a book. 

Why are ocular motor skills essential for children?

Ocular motor skills are essential for children because children use vision for most of their daily activities. They are key for development in a learning environment, especially for tasks like reading or copying text from a whiteboard. 

Many children could benefit from training their ocular motor skills. If your child is struggling with visual attention, visual memory, spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, reading, writing, or balance, it could be due to weaker eye muscles and poor ocular motor skills. 

Ocular motor skills also lay the foundation for visual motor skills, when your hands and eyes work together to complete tasks. This describes a huge number of your child’s daily activities. 

How do ocular motor skills develop?

Your child’s ocular motor skills started to develop while they were still in the womb. The first skills to develop are accommodation and convergence, which are established by 2 months old.  As they continue to move through the developmental process, they continue to train and develop these skills.  Crawling is one of those ways, as the child looks at something close in front of them and then far in the distance and crawls towards that object.

Ocular motor skills continue to develop until around 5 years old. At this point your child should be able to track a moving target without moving their head, and control their eye movements as needed. However, for children with Autism, ocular motor skills can take longer to develop than they should [1]. The same is true for children with ADHD [2]. 

What are the warning signs of atypical ocular motor development in children?

If your child’s ocular motor skills haven’t fully developed as they should, there will be some warning signs. Here are some things your child may struggle with:

1. Throwing and catching a ball 
2. Reading and writing
3. Copying text from a book or whiteboard
4. Writing words with inconsistent size and spacing
5. Reading the same line several times
6. Writing letters above or below the line
7. Navigating their environment
8. Overshooting and undershooting targets (difficulty placing a lid on a bottle, dropping a coin in a piggy bank etc.)

How can ocular motor activities help?

Ocular motor activities help build the muscles around the eyes in order to improve your child’s visual tracking, fixation, convergence, divergence, accommodation, and saccadic motions. This can improve your child’s reading and writing skills, visual attention, performance in physical education, and ability to copy text or pictures.

If your child appears to be struggling with their vision, the first step is always to have their vision checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Ocular motor activities will not improve your child’s vision if your child has a diagnosed vision problem that requires glasses.

 What are fun activities to improve ocular motor skills in children?

In this guide, we’ll present what we consider to be the best ocular motor activities for children. For most of our exercises we’ve included three different versions of the exercises. These include: 

1. A standard version which is ideally how the exercises should be completed. 
2. A modified version for children who find motor skills a bit more challenging.  
3. A simplified version for children who struggle with more complex motor skills and directions. 

These all have instructions for you to guide your child through the exercises, with varying degrees of support. It’s important to make these exercises as fun and engaging as possible to encourage your child to take part.

It is important to rest between eye exercises using either blinking or the ‘cover your eyes’ exercise.  In addition, if you or your child can only repeat the eye exercise 1-2 times, that is okay. We are working to build the strength and coordination of the eye muscles!

1. Blinking

Purpose: Use this as a break following vision challenges. This allows the visual system to ‘reset’ and can assist with visual fatigue and muscular endurance.

Original: Gently close and then open your eyes. This is one blink. Do this 9 more times for a total of 10 blinks.

Modified: There is no modified version of this activity.

Simplified: There is no simplified version of this activity.

Fun Add-On: Turn this activity into a “Blink Challenge.” Start off by saying, “How many slow blinks can you do in 10 seconds without giggling?” or “Who can blink 20 times without stopping?” This makes the exercise feel like a game and encourages repeat engagement.

2. Cover your eyes

Purpose: This is another way to give the eyes a break and assist with fatigue or strain.

Original: Place one hand over each eye. Cup your hands so they are curved. This allows you to open your eyes comfortably but prevents you from seeing out. Hold this position for a count of 20 to allow your eye muscles to relax.

Modified: Have the child use a fuzzy blanket, scarf, plush animal, or another soft object to help cover their eyes. They can close their eyes, then gently place the object in front of their face so that it touches their eyelids. Or they can lay down and place their head directly on the object.

Simplified: An adult can either cover the child’s eyes or help the child cover their own eyes for a count of 20.

Fun Add-On: Do this activity with a friend. Sit criss-cross applesauce on the floor in front of one another. Reach forward with both hands and gently cover your friend’s eyes. Have them do the same for you. Count to 20 as you rest your eyes together!

3. Eyes up/down

Purpose: By practicing these movements, it makes it easier to follow objects with your eyes.

Original: Stand up with your head in neutral, looking forward. Move just your eyes up to look up for a count of 3, and then look down for 3 then pause. Repeat 4-6 times.

Modified: Sit down in a chair with your back supported and your head in neutral looking forward. Move just your eyes to look up for a count of 3, then down for 3 then pause. Repeat 4-6 times.

Simplified: Lie on the ground looking up at the ceiling. Move your eyes up as far as possible, then down as far as possible. Repeat 4-6 times.

Fun Add-On: Find the nearest wall and place two stickers on it. Ask for an adult’s help putting one close to the top of the wall, then put the second one at the bottom of the wall closest to the floor. Be sure they are even with each other. Go to the opposite side of the room and do these same exercises, but pretend you are using your eyes to draw a line between the two stickers!

4. Finger side to side

Purpose: This is another exercise that helps you follow objects with your eyes. Side-to-side movements are even more common during daily activities, as we often look between people when listening or talking to them in groups.

Original: Stand up, hold up each pointer finger shoulder-width apart. Keep your head facing forward and shift your eyes to the right to look at your right finger. Hold for a count of 3, then shift your eyes to the left to look at your left finger. Repeat 4-6 times. 

Modified: Sit down in a chair with your back supported, holding up each pointer finger less than shoulder-width apart. Shift your eyes towards the left and hold for 3, then towards the right and hold for 3. Repeat 4-6 times.

Simplified: Sit down, holding up each pointer finger shoulder-width apart. Slightly turn your head to look towards your left finger, hold for 3, then repeat to the right. Repeat 4-6 times.

Fun Add-On: Have someone else hold up two crazy straws instead of their fingers.

5. Finger side and middle

Purpose: This helps strengthen eye gaze in the extreme ends of our visual fields, which is not something we get a lot of natural practice doing.

Original: Stand up and hold your right pointer finger in front of your nose about 10 inches away. At the same time, hold your left pointer finger up in front of your shoulder, the same distance as your right pointer finger. Hold your gaze at the right pointer finger in front of your nose then switch, keeping your head straight to look at the finger at the side. Repeat on the opposite side. Try to shift your gaze from the finger in front of your nose to the finger at the shoulder 4-6 times.

Modified: Sit down in a chair with your back supported and hold your right pointer finger in front of your nose about 10 inches away. At the same time, hold your left pointer finger up in front of your shoulder, the same distance as your right pointer finger. Hold your gaze at the right pointer finger in front of your nose then switch, keeping your head straight to look at the finger at the side. Repeat on the opposite side. Try to shift your gaze from the finger in front of your nose to the finger at the shoulder 4-6 times.

Simplified: Lie down with your back supported and hold your right pointer finger in front of your nose about 10 inches away. At the same time, hold your left pointer finger up in front of your shoulder, the same distance as your right pointer finger. Hold your gaze at the right pointer finger in front of your nose then switch, keeping your head straight to look at the finger at the side. Repeat on the opposite side. Try to shift your gaze from the finger in front of your nose to the finger at the shoulder 4-6 times.

Fun Add-On: Make a funny noise each time you look back to the finger positioned in the middle.

6. Finger circles

Purpose: This exercise works on the full range of motion the eyes have, so it is a really comprehensive way to strengthen the ocular motor system.

Original: Hold your finger up in front of your face about 10-12 inches away. Slowly move your finger in a smooth circle while following it with just your eyes, keeping your head straight. Look at your finger and follow in a circle. Move clockwise and then counterclockwise. Move clockwise 4-6 times and then counterclockwise 4-6 times.

Modified: Sit down in a chair with your back supported and hold your finger up in front of your face about 10-12 inches away. Slowly move your finger in a smooth circle while following it with just your eyes, keeping your head straight. Look at your finger and follow in a circle. Move clockwise 4-6 times and then counterclockwise 4-6 times.

Simplified: Lie down with your back supported, hold your finger up in front of your face about 10-12 inches away. Slowly move your finger in a smooth circle while following it with just your eyes, keeping your head straight. Look at your finger and follow in a circle.  Move clockwise 4-6 times and then counterclockwise 4-6 times.

Fun Add-On: Find (or put) a circular item on the wall and ‘trace’ that with your eyes. You can use a clock or make your own cut-out of a sun, planet, flower, or something else!

7. Converge and diverge

Purpose: Being able to look back and forth between items at different distances is crucial for academic tasks such as copying from the board.

Original: Stand up and hold your pointer finger up in front of your nose about 10 inches away. Slowly move your finger towards your nose so that your eyes come together, then slowly move your finger away from your nose so your eyes move apart. Pause for 10 seconds, then repeat 2 more times.

Modified: Sit down with your back supported and hold your pointer finger up in front of your nose about 10 inches away. Slowly move your finger towards your nose so that your eyes come together, then slowly move your finger away from your nose so your eyes move apart. Pause for 10 seconds, then repeat 2 more times.

Simplified: Lie down with your back supported and hold your pointer finger up in front of your nose about 10 inches away. Slowly move your finger towards your nose so that your eyes come together, then slowly move your finger away from your nose so your eyes move apart. Pause for 10 seconds, then repeat 2 more times.

Fun Add-On: Pick out a color on the wall in the room you’re in. Try to hone in on that color when you are looking at the finger that you’re holding around 10 inches away. Then let the color fall out of focus as you move your finger closer to your face.

8. Clockwise and counterclockwise

Purpose: Rotational movements can be difficult, so this exercise helps strengthen these more complex movements to prevent symptoms like dizziness.

Original: Stand up with your head facing forward. Move your eyes up and around to the left counterclockwise, and then clockwise up and around to the right. Pause for 3 seconds between each rotation. Try this 3 times on each side.

Modified: Sit down with your back supported and your head facing forward. Move your eyes up and around to the left counterclockwise, and then clockwise up and around to the right. Pause for 3 seconds between each rotation. Try this 3 times on each side.

Simplified: Lie down with your head facing up, move your eyes up and around to the left counterclockwise, and then clockwise up and around to the right. Pause for 3 seconds between each rotation. Try this 3 times on each side. 

Fun Add-On: If you have a ceiling fan in your house, try to trace this with your eyes. It’s best to do this when the fan is off. Start with one blade at the top, go down and around the fan for one repetition. Then start with the same blade up top, but go down and around in the other direction for the opposite movement.

9. Eye 8s

Purpose: Eye 8s are some of the more detailed exercises. They require a lot of coordination and incorporate many of the skills we’ve been practicing in other activities, making them a well-rounded vision exercise.

Original: Stand up with your head facing forward. Trace a lazy 8 shape with just your eyes, don’t move your head. Trace starting in the middle of the 8 and up to the left, then start in the middle and up to the right. Try this 4-6 times.

Modified: Sit down with your back supported and head facing forward. Trace a lazy 8 shape with just your eyes, don’t move your head. Trace starting in the middle of the 8 and up to the left, then start in the middle and up to the right. Try this 4-6 times.

Simplified: Lie down with your back supported and head looking up. Trace a lazy 8 shape with just your eyes, don’t move your head. Trace starting in the middle of the 8 and up to the left, then start in the middle and up to the right. Try this 4-6 times. 

Fun Add-On: With a piece of string, rope, or a shoelace, make a figure eight design on a flat surface such as a table. Trace this design with your eyes as you practice this exercise.

10. Eye walk

Purpose: This exercise combines bodily movement with ocular motor skills, which further enhances coordination.

Original: Stand about 10 steps away from a wall, keeping your eyes straight at the wall. Walk slowly towards the wall and then back away from the wall. Your eyes converge when walking toward the wall and diverge when moving backward. Try this 4-6 times. 

Modified: Stand about 10 steps away from the wall. Walk towards the wall, keeping your eyes on the wall or a target placed on the wall. Then turn around and walk back, then walk towards the wall again. Try this 4-6 times. 

Simplified: Stand about 10 steps away from the wall. While holding an adult’s arm for support, slowly walk towards the wall keeping your eyes on the wall. Then turn around and walk back. Try this 4-6 times. 

Fun Add-On: Put a funny picture on the wall to help you focus even more!

11. Two fists

Purpose: This helps our eyes learn to navigate obstacles in our environment and adjust to various conditions we may be in.

Original: Stand with two closed fists in front of each eye. Slowly open the right fist and look through your fingers with your right eye for a count of 3, then close your right fist. Then open your left fist and look through your fingers with your left eye for a count of 3, then close your fist. Repeat this alternating pattern 4-6 times.

Modified: Sit down with your back and head supported. Hold two fists in front of your eyes and slowly open your right fist to look through your fingers, then close. Repeat 4-6 times.

Simplified: Lie down with your back and head supported. Hold two fists in front of your eyes. Slowly open one hand as you try and look through your fingers for a count of 5. Close that hand and then slowly open the opposite hand as you look through your fingers for a count of 5. Try this 4-6 times. 

Fun Add-On: Add some silly designs to the palm of your hands with paint so you can look at them each time you open your hands.

12. Diagonals

Purpose: These are another complicated eye movement that many people don’t practice enough. Diagonals allow us to practice looking in the small corners of our visual fields, which can help with activities such as sports, driving, and more.

Original: Stand up, look up to the right corner on a diagonal, then down to the left corner. Repeat on this side. Pause., This time look up to the left corner and down to the right corner. Repeat this pattern twice, looking up to the right and twice, looking up to the left, 4-6 times. 

Modified: Sit down with your head and back slightly supported. Look up to the right corner on a diagonal and then down to the left corner, and pause. Then look up to the left corner on a diagonal and down to the right corner, and pause. Repeat this 4-6 times. 

Simplified: Lie down with your head supported, looking straight up. Slowly look up at a diagonal to the right corner and then down to the left corner, and pause. Then look up to the left corner on a diagonal and down to the right corner, and pause. Repeat this 4-6 times.

Fun Add-On: Pretend you are visually making the letter X with each diagonal you practice. You can also try to make other letters that have diagonal lines in them!

Conclusion

Practicing ocular motor activities like these ones can help your child to build the skills they need in the classroom and beyond. This paves the way for optimized learning and behavior in children with ADHD and Autism. These exercises are a great complementary treatment to the Soundsory® program, a 40-day program of movement to music. 

Soundsory® is specifically designed to boost the neurodevelopment of children with ADHD, Autism, and sensory processing disorders. It includes a wide range of exercises, such as auditory processing activities, to target multiple aspects of neurodevelopment. 

FAQs

How can I make ocular motor exercises fun for kids?

Incorporate play and their interests. You can use bubbles, toys, games, and sports equipment in the process, or find apps and online games that address these skills.

How often should my child practice ocular motor exercises?

For the best results, your child should practice these exercises daily. However, these can cause fatigue, so it’s best to keep practice sessions under 10 minutes to avoid strain.

Can ocular motor exercises help with learning difficulties?

Yes, they can. However, an integrated approach is important for learning difficulties, so children often require other forms of support, too.

What are some signs that a child might need ocular motor exercises?

Ocular motor difficulties can manifest as difficulty reading (following lines of text on a page in order or trouble keeping their place as they go along) and trouble with physical tasks such as catching, throwing, or hitting a ball.

References 

1. Johnson, B. P., Lum, J. A. G., Rinehart, N. J., & Fielding, J. (2016). Ocular motor disturbances in autism spectrum disorders: Systematic review and comprehensive meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 69, 260–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.007

2. E. Mark Mahone. (2011). ADHD: Volumetry, Motor, and Oculomotor Functions. 17–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2011_146

3. Niechwiej-Szwedo, E., Alramis, F., & Christian, L.W. (2017). Association between fine motor skills and binocular visual function in children with reading difficulties. Human Movement Science, 56, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2017.10.014. 

4. Barnhardt, C., Borsting, E., Deland, P., Pham, N., & Vu, T. (2005). Relationship between visual-motor integration and spatial organization of written language and math. Optometry and Vision Science, 82(2), 138-143. DOI: 10.1097/01.OPX.0000153266.50875.53

5. Solan, H. A., Larson, S., Shelley-Tremblay, J., Ficarra, A., & Silverman, M. (2001). Role of visual attention in cognitive control of oculomotor readiness in students with reading disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 34(2), 107-118. https://doi.org/10.1177/002221940103400202

6. Rafique, S.A., & Northway, N. (2015). Relationship of ocular accommodation and motor skills performance in developmental coordination disorder. Human Movement Science, 42, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2015.04.006.

7. Maldarelli, J.E., Kahrs, B.A., Hunt, S.C., & Lockman, J.J. (2015). Development of early handwriting: Visual-motor control during letter copying. Developmental Psychology, 51(7), 879-888.