Vision Therapy Activities for Preschoolers - Wachs Analysis of Cognitive Structures (WACS) - Functional Vision Skills

Aug 31, 2026

Upload by Asher

Comprehensive preschool vision therapy training focused on typical visual development for children ages 3–6 and recognizing delayed functional vision skills. Covers the Wachs Analysis of Cognitive Structures (WACS) assessment framework, including object identification, object construction, general movement, and graphic design tasks. Emphasizes evidence from the Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) study, highlighting that early detection and intervention improve treatment effectiveness. Includes age-by-age functional skill targets (fixate, follow, focus, fuse) and developmental lag signs across oculomotor, eye-hand coordination, and space perception.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatDOCX

Pages7

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Course Objectives

Normal vision development (ages 3–6)

Delayed visual skills and WACS assessment

Age-appropriate vision therapy procedures

Visually-guided functional skills

Fixate, follow, focus, fuse, figure-out

Age 3 functional skills and lag signs

Age 4 functional skills and lag signs

Age 5 functional skills and lag signs

Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) research study

Early detection and prevalence of vision disorders

WACS framework

Identification of objects

Object construction

General movement

Graphic design

Visually guided motor activities

Eye/Body coordination and reflex-based activities

Vestibular and tactile preparation activities

Ball catching and gross motor coordination

Vision Therapy Activities for PreschoolersBoulder Valley Vision TherapyJen Simonson, OD, FCOVD Course Objectives: Learn about normal vision development in Preschoolers (ages 3-6) Identify delayed visual skills development Become familiar with the Wachs Analysis of Cognitive Structures (WACS) assessment Work-shop on Age-appropriate Vision Therapy Procedures Visually-guided Motor Tracking Accommodation Binocularity Visual-Perceptual Learn how to adapt common vision therapy activities to the appropriate level for this age group Vision in Preschoolers Research Study (VIP) Early detection increases the likelihood of effective treatment Fewer than 15 percent of all preschool children receive an eye examination. Fewer than 22 percent of preschool children receive some type of vision screening. Prevalence of Vision Disorders: Amblyopia (2-5%) Strabismus (3-4%) Significant refractive error (10-15%) Motor LEADS Vision Development: From Birth until Six Months, motor development drives visual development A child at one month can follow moving lights Accidental touch of objects leads to visual reach at 3 months A four month old can focus as an object is moved as close as 16 inches The Emergence of Vision Object Permanence develops between 9-12 months. The child will search for a covered object because they know that it still exists. First concept that an object isn’t gone if it isn’t seen. At the age of 9 months to 1 year, vision plays a key role in LEADING motor development Functional Vision Skills: Fixate Follow Focus Fuse Figure-Out Age 3 Able to switch attention from near to far Shows good spatial orientation Able to scan smoothly Can team the two eyes at near and intermediate distances (up to 7-10 feet) Ability to plan ahead and predict movements in space (better able to catch a ball) Able to name more objects seen Able to describe experience of space – over, under, back, bigger, more Able to turn eyes without moving head Signs of Developmental Lags (25% below Average) Oculomotor Unable to follow a moving object without moving the head Has to move the head to shift attention Unable to walk and observe at the same time – has to be still to look Eye-Hand Coordination Unable to complete a three-piece form board Cannot draw a circle Unable to fold paper Space Perception Few spatial words (does not use over, from, by, on top of) Unable to place an object as directed Cannot specify space details: kitchen vs. “house” Age 4 Able to make eye contact at 10 to 16 feet Able to make recognizable drawings The child can begin to visualize and look ahead to plan motor activities More peripherally aware Imaginative play Able to combine horizontal and vertical movements Signs of Developmental Lags (25% below Average) Oculomotor Can only watch an object as close as 5 inches Eyes move in large jumps to follow an object Loses track of target if keeps head still Eye-Hand Coordination Unable to do tasks without watching hands Unable to build a bridge with blocks Space Perception Unable to follow directions such as “place the toy (on, in, behind, in front, beside)” Unable to fit shapes together to make a design Unable to copy a sequence of four Age 5 Acuity has now developed to see clearly at 20 feet Able to maintain eye contact Can draw circle, cross and edges Can accurately judge where things are in space Can identify objects by color, size and position Improved tracking skills (fully developed at age 7) Improved binocularity (able to fill a cup without spilling) Signs of Developmental Lags (25% below Average) Oculomotor Can only watch an object to 3 inches Eyes move in small stops and starts Eyes overshoot or undershoot the target Eye-Hand Coordination Square looks like a capital D Unable to copy a triangle Unable to complete a form board Space Perception Unable to put two triangles together to make a rectangle Does not know his left or right side Cannot follow directions when drawing to place a mark under, above, behind, or in front of a printed shap

FAQs

What are the main learning goals for preschool vision therapy activities (ages 3–6)?

The course focuses on normal vision development, identifying delayed visual skills, understanding the WACS assessment, and practicing age-appropriate vision therapy procedures.

What are examples of developmental lag signs across age 3–5?

Lag signs include difficulty following moving objects without head movement, weak eye-hand coordination (e.g., form board or drawing tasks), and limited space perception (e.g., not using spatial words or placing objects by direction).

How does WACS guide vision therapy activity selection?

WACS organizes activities into functional domains such as object identification, object construction, general movement, and graphic design, helping match tasks to the child’s cognitive-visual processing level.

Aug 31, 2026

Upload by Asher