What is crossing the midline?
Crossing the midline is an essential skill for children's development, particularly during the preschool years. It refers to the ability of a child to reach across the imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves, using the opposite hand or foot to perform tasks on the other side. This skill involves coordination between the two hemispheres of the brain and plays a vital role in various aspects of a child's development, including physical, cognitive, and academic areas.
Why is crossing the midline important?
Bilateral Coordination
Crossing the midline promotes bilateral coordination, which is the ability to use both sides of the body together in a coordinated manner. It helps strengthen the connection between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, enabling children to perform tasks that involve both hands and feet simultaneously.
Fine Motor Skills
Activities that require crossing the midline, such as drawing shapes, writing, and using scissors, help develop and refine fine motor skills. When children reach across their body, they engage both hands, improving hand-eye coordination and fine motor control.
Gross Motor Skills
Crossing the midline also supports the development of gross motor skills. Activities like throwing and catching a ball, skipping, and crawling involve crossing the midline and help improve balance, coordination, and overall body control.
Cognitive Development
Crossing the midline skills stimulate the communication between the brain's left and right hemispheres. This enhanced connectivity has a positive impact on cognitive development, including problem-solving skills, language development, and creativity.
Ways to encourage crossing the midline
Dance and Movement
Incorporate music and movement activities that involve crossing the midline, such as dancing, marching, and playing "Simon Says" or balloon volleyball. Encourage children to use both hands and legs while following the rhythm or imitating various movements.
Art Activities
Provide art materials like crayons, markers, and paintbrushes, and encourage children to draw shapes, trace lines, or colour across the midline. Activities such as drawing horizontal or diagonal lines from one side of the paper to the other help strengthen the midline-crossing skills.
Bilateral Games and Puzzles
Introduce games and puzzles that require children to use both hands across the midline. Activities like stringing beads, building blocks, or completing puzzles help develop bilateral coordination and promote crossing the midline.
Outdoor play
Encourage outdoor play activities that involve crossing the midline, such as throwing and catching balls, jumping over obstacles, or playing hopscotch. These activities provide opportunities for children to use both hands and feet together in a coordinated manner.
Stretching Exercises
Incorporate stretching exercises, e.g. simple yoga, that involve crossing the midline, such as crossing one leg over the other while sitting or reaching across the body to touch opposite toes. These activities enhance body awareness and encourage midline crossing.
Each to their own
Remember, each child develops at their own pace, so it's important to provide a variety of activities and opportunities for crossing the midline. By incorporating these activities, you can support the development of this crucial skill and help children thrive in various areas of their development. Above all, have fun!
ONLINE RESOURCES
1. The Inspired Treehouse - particularly the 'Bilateral Coordination' page. There is a wealth of developmental information on this web site and loads of free stuff! LINK
2. OT Mom Learning Activities - particularly the 'crossing the midline' page. LINK
3. Kids Play Smarter - particularly the two 'Motor Activities' pages. LINK
4. Twinkl - this is a fabulous resource for both parents and teachers. The information on this website is also aligned with CAPS. LINK
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Little Star Educare Centre extends its thanks to Twinkl and ChatGPT for this article.