How a child understands shape, size, position, direction, and movement directly impacts their ability to plan their work on a page and interact with the environment around them.
Simple tasks like avoiding obstacles when moving, determining left and right, and crossing the mid-line require Spatial Awareness. Spatial Awareness, for example, is placing a toy on the table and discussing where the toy is, where the table is, where the specific room is, etc., using comparative terms.
To assist some in my class who had trouble relating to position in space to their work, I encouraged them to use visual clues, i.e., marking the left-hand side of their page. It gives them a starting point to start working. I also use the pointer finger to encourage a child to work top to bottom and where to start their letters and numbers.
Spatial Awareness can be reinforced by:
Encouraging active, physical exploration
Encourage spatial thinking and spatial talk
Explore direction, i.e., wave your right hand
Talk about locations and use words such as through, behind, above on, left/right, around, under, between etc.
Encourage building puzzles or spatial puzzles such as Logi Shapes (visual perception games)
Encourage construction of Lego Duplo or wooden blocks. Make this bonding time fun and memorable by building with your child.
Teach shapes and sizes by talking about things you use in everyday life, so they learn the language
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