Develop depth perception by playing a game such as pick-up sticks. After dropping the sticks on the floor, ask children to pick up the sticks that are on top of the pile. Another activity to help with depth perception is to place a plastic cup on the table and ask the child to close one eye. Hold a penny about a foot above the table, move it around and ask the child to say "drop the penny" when it's right above the cup. Playing a game of darts or trying to throw an object at a target also helps with depth perception.
Matching activities help children see similarities in pictures or items. Create a sheet of pictures with three or four objects on one side and the same three or four objects on the other side but in a different order; ask the children to draw a line to connect similar objects. Playing a game such as memory or go fish, in which children have to find matching cards, is also helpful in developing this area of visual perception. A simpler activity is to present children with two objects that are the same and one that's different and ask them to pick out the object that doesn't belong.
Children with visual and perceptual problems often have difficulty distinguishing between left and right. When teaching to distinguish between the two, focus on one side at a time. For example, for a few days, ask children to use only their right hands, tie a ribbon around their right wrist or wear only the right shoe for 15 minutes to help recognize which side is right. Once the concepts of left and right are understood, sing songs such as "The Hokey Pokey" to reinforce the ideas of left and right. Show children pictures of arrows and ask them to identify which way each arrow is pointing.
Relating visual and perceptual skills to words and letters is crucial when it comes to teaching children to read. Label objects throughout the house so that children are able to connect words with objects. Cut out instances of a specific letter, such as the first letter of a child's name, from a magazine and make a poster containing all of the examples. Place magnetic letters or word magnets on the refrigerator for children to manipulate. Ask the children to practice matching pictures with the words that represent them.