Spatial skills are the ability to mentally manipulate 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) objects. They are important for everyday tasks such as reading a map, packing a suitcase, or driving a car. Spatial skills are also essential for many occupations, such as architecture, engineering, and surveying.
Good spatial skills involve both visual and motor abilities. Visual spatial skills allow us to perceive the world around us and understand how objects relate to each other in space. Motor spatial skills involve the ability to physically manipulate objects in space. For example, when you catch a ball, you use motor spatial skills to judge its trajectory and position your body so that you can intercept it.
Most people use both visual and motor spatial abilities every day without even realizing it. However, some people have difficulty with one or both types of spatial skills. This can lead to problems with everyday activities such as getting lost or bumping into things. It can also make it hard to succeed in certain occupations that require good spatial skills.
There is some evidence that we are born with different levels of ability in visual and motor spatial skills. However, these abilities can also be affected by our experiences and environment. For example, children who spend more time playing outside tend to have better developed motor spatial skills than those who spend less time outdoors cite{Lopes}. Additionally, activities that require the use of both hands (such as video games) have been found to improve both visual and motor spatial abilities cite{Duchesne}.