Bilateral Coordination & Midline Crossing Activities
Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body at one time. The midline is the center of your body, and you need to be able to cross midline to coordinate both sides of your body at one time. It’s a super important skill for children to have because so many activities of daily living require bilateral coordination.
Gross Motor Bilateral Coordination
Cross Crawls: touch your right hand to your left knee and then the left hand to your right knee
Jumping jacks
Skipping
Riding a bike
Swimming
Drumming
Catching/throwing a ball with both hands
Climbing a playground ladder with reciprocal movements (alternating feet)
Rock climbing wall with reciprocal movements
Hopscotch: switching between jumping with feet apart & feet together
Animal walk exercises (bear, dog, crab, frog)
Fine Motor Bilateral Coordination
Squeeze, push and pull on putty/ play dough with both hands
Pull apart construction toys (Duplos, Legos) with both hands
String beads to make jewelry
Cutting straws/play dough
Pop bubbles
Hold a paper towel roll/tube with one hand, insert small objects with the other hand
Roll play dough into a snake and cut it with scissors (this is also great for hand strengthening)
Chop/slice pretend food with plastic/wooden knife
Play with cars on a large path (you can also draw a figure-8 road on a large piece of paper/outside with chalk)
Paint cars & wash cars with a toothbrush/paintbrush
Spray bottle to water plants or squirt to hit a target
