The Best Games to Improve Visual Perceptual Skills
Updated by Rivkie Berger, OTR on 04/27/2025.
3 min read
You’ve probably never stopped to think about the amazing process that allows you to read a billboard or navigate a menu at a restaurant. Yet behind the scenes, your brain is relying on seven distinct visual perceptual skills to process the information it receives from your eyes. When one or more of these skills is delayed, it can lead to challenges in reading, writing and other everyday tasks.
The good news? Visual perceptual skills can be strengthened through fun, engaging activities! Below are some of our favorite games and tools to incorporate into playtime. Each is designed to enhance these crucial visual perceptual skills while keeping kids entertained.
1. Wooden Stackers
Colorful and captivating, the Rainbow StackerandWooden Wave Stacker are more than just beautiful toys. Stacking the pieces in different configurations encourages hand-eye coordination and boosts visual-spatial awareness. As you play, ask questions like, “Will this piece fit here? Will the stack stay balanced?” These questions challenge your brain to think critically and improve problem-solving skills.
2. Feel and Find Game
The Feel and Find Game is a multisensory experience that strengthens both visual and tactile skills. Matching pieces to their correct spots on the board and placing them in the divots helps build spatial awareness and visual discrimination. For an added challenge, close your eyes and try to match the pieces by touch alone! This is a fantastic way to refine tactile perception while enhancing visual processing skills.
3. Ready Slide Match
Looking for a fast-paced game that sharpens focus? The Ready Slide Match game challenges you to recreate patterns from cards before time runs out. Sliding pieces around the board hones tracking skills, while matching shapes and colors develops visual discrimination. This game also strengthens attention as players focus on completing each pattern.
4. Button Pizzazz
With Button Pizzazz, kids work on color and shape recognition (plus dressing skills) as they thread buttons through buttonholes. Following patterns on the included cards enhances sequencing skills, an essential component of visual perception. The vibrant buttons and fun designs make this activity a favorite for kids who love hands-on play.
5. Magnetic Puzzle Fidget
Can you transform scattered pieces into a perfect cube? The Magnetic Puzzle Fidget is an engaging tool for building spatial awareness and visual motor skills. Try following the guide to recreate shapes or challenge your creativity by inventing your own designs. This portable puzzle is perfect for on the go play!
6. Busy Fingers™ 3D Foldables
What will this shape become? The Busy Fingers™ 3D Foldables are gel-filled, foldable shapes that encourage kids to explore visual processing skills and math concepts. Fold and secure the sides together to create different geometric forms. Peek through the gel shapes for a unique perspective of the world around you.
7. Busy Fingers™ Tangram Gel Puzzle
Tangrams are a classic activity for enhancing visual and spatial processing skills. With the Busy Fingers™ Tangram Gel Puzzle, kids can challenge themselves to form a square, a cat or even a house, using all seven pieces. Add a timer to the mix for an extra layer of difficulty that builds focusing and problem-solving skills.
Explore Visual Stimulation Through Play
By incorporating these games and tools into your routine, you can help children strengthen their visual perceptual skills in an enjoyable and stress-free way.
Do you already have a favorite from this list? Or are you excited to try something new? Let us know what works best for you! We’re here to support you on this journey to enhance visual perception skills through play. Explore our other sensory tools for visual stimulation.
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