During gameplay, the child has to manage the movement of their hands in relation to the visual prompts on the screen. They observe and coordinate their hand movements with the visual prompts while simultaneously adjusting to the changing pace and location of the stimuli, resulting in improvement of hand-eye coordination. Catching a ball exercise is the best exercise to increase hand-eye coordination.
Some games require the child to use both hands and both feet in a synchronized or coordinated manner to progress to the next level. This helps improve the child’s bilateral coordination by encouraging the left and right side of the body to work together. WonderTree’s special needs’ online games support development of bilateral coordination.
Most of the games requires players to engage in movements which strengthens muscles in the arms, legs, and trunk that enable children to walk, run, jump, climb, and maintain balance which is crucial for a wide range of activities, from everyday tasks such as walking and carrying objects to more complex activities such as playing sports or dancing.
In each game, the child needs to be mindful of the position of their hands, feet and overall body.The movements of the child’s body are mirrored on the screen, which allows them to see how their movements affect their performance and better understand the connection between their actions and the game. This increases self-awareness in the children which increases their confidence as well as self-esteem.
The child needs to precisely control their hands and feet movements to reach specific targets. The targets presented in many games challenge the child to improve their accuracy by refining and controlling their movements based on visual feedback on the screen. This helps the child develop their hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills.
Some games require postural adjustments which involve reaching and stretching movements that can help improve overall body control and posture. Visual feedback allows the player to see how their body movements are affecting the game. This feedback can help children with special needs develop a better understanding of their own body and improve their posture over time. Games like Balance It and Astro Blocks require the player to maintain their balance to control the game. This helps improve vestibular balance and stability in the gait.
Games such as Flash Dash, Bubble Pop, and Astro Blocks require the player to move their hands, feet and head in a variety of directions to control the game. This challenges and improves the child’s range of motion. Each game can be played by children with different abilities, whether they are standing or sitting in a wheelchair. Additionally, the child’s range of motion can be further adapted by varying their proximity or distance from the camera.
To optimize the child’s range of motion and improve their abilities, it is recommended to position them in a way that allows for maximum movement while playing.
In each game, a child must respond to stimuli that come at varying speeds. Quick reflexes are important in many of the games, including Flash Dash, Bubble Pop, and Kick Ups.as they require the player to react quickly to changes on the screen, improving reflexes and reaction time.
The experience can be tailored to suit the child’s requirements and rate of advancement by choosing the level of difficulty that fits their needs
Most of the games require the player to use their upper body to control the game. The player is required to move their hands up and to the sides, which involves working against gravity to enhance muscle tone and reinforce the upper extremities and core. For example, in the game Astro Blocks, the player uses their hands and arms to control the paddle at the bottom of the screen, while in Balance It, the player must hold their device and tilt it to balance objects on the screen.
Games like Kick Ups and Balance It require the player to use their lower body muscles to control the game. The player is required to steer themselves left and right to advance which helps reinforcing the lower extremities. Such Online Motor Games for children with special needs can help to improve their lower body strength and coordination.
